Stock or modified marineland 300DD?

[KSzegi]

I'm in the process of planning an upgrade to the 300DD tank. Looking at a few older threads it seems as though a common complaint about the tank would be the overflows. Both the corner location for aesthetics and the only 700gph that each handles.

I don't know yet what the additional cost will be to modify the stock overflows so that of course will help determine the answer to my question ..... but since this tank will be long-term I do not want to be penny wise/pound foolish in the initial investment either.

For those of you that have this tank or experience with it ..... is modifying the location of the overflow to a single center and/or increasing the size or number of the drain/return holes worth the extra investment?

My current 180 has probably only about a 4x turnover through the tank, I guess I tend to slow it down to move through the fuge and sump so I would think that the 1400gph turnover capacity total for the 300 gallon tank would be on the light side but sufficient ..... obviously assuming you were providing enough flow with the use of other ph's.

Tank will be a mixed reef but predominately sps, open aquascaping, and flow provided by vortechs .... thinking of 2 MP60's and 3-4 MP40's?

 

[on the spot]

I cannot speak to that specific tank however for any general upgrade this one suggestion I have: overflows work best at removing waste when they remove the most surface water. A coast to coast removing the upper most surface is far more efficient.

Jim

 

[launchnukes]

I have a standard 300dd and I'm using all 4 holes as overflows and my returns are coming over the back.

 

[KSzegi]

I cannot speak to that specific tank however for any general upgrade this one suggestion I have: overflows work best at removing waste when they remove the most surface water. A coast to coast removing the upper most surface is far more efficient.

Jim

I'll have to see if marineland will do that upgrade! I'm afraid to see what they are gonna charge if they do .... might be enough to scare me off!

I have a standard 300dd and I'm using all 4 holes as overflows and my returns are coming over the back.

Thats a good idea if there customized price makes me fall over!!!

 

[launchnukes]

I'll have to see if marineland will do that upgrade! I'm afraid to see what they are gonna charge if they do .... might be enough to scare me off!



Thats a good idea if there customized price makes me fall over!!!

I tried to get custom quotes though two lfs's but after a month and a half with no reply, I grabbed a standard starphire one. My lfs also told me that customizing takes forever and is pretty pricey.

 

[KSzegi]

I tried to get custom quotes though two lfs's but after a month and a half with no reply, I grabbed a standard starphire one. My lfs also told me that customizing takes forever and is pretty pricey.

That what I'm kinda afraid of .... guess it's worth a quick check while I'm having the stand made but will go into it assuming that gonna get the standard and work with it.

Have you been happy with your tank? ..... anything else you wished you'd have done differently setting it up??

 

[skanderson]

if you are not getting the standard dd marineland tank i would look into getting a glass cages tank with the overflows however you want it. i have 2 of their large tanks and am pleased with them, not all people are but they are a large company that makes a significant number of tanks.

 

[KSzegi]

if you are not getting the standard dd marineland tank i would look into getting a glass cages tank with the overflows however you want it. i have 2 of their large tanks and am pleased with them, not all people are but they are a large company that makes a significant number of tanks.

Thanks for the input. I'd seen some not-so-good reviews on them and really hadn't been thinking of having a full custom tank built ..... but might be worth a pricing comparison if I decide I can't live with the standard marineland dd!

 

[on the spot]

It never hurts to shop around. There are a few tank builders that will do what you want for not much if any more than the traditional builders charge.

If pushed into a corner you could always add a coast to coast to a standard non reef ready tank and only have one hole drilled in the back. You would need to add a box on the back, but it's simple easy and never seen, just in case your neatness with silicone is an issue .

 

[Killer Tangs]

I have a Glass Cages 240, 72x30x25 and am very happy overall with the build. The stand I had them build came a little nicked up and I called them about it and they refunded my delivery charge. There is no way I could have ever afforded a tank this size, and the features I wanted through another builder. I read all the negative reviews about GC before I ordered as well but thought what the heck and gave them a shot. I think most of the negativity stems from when the company was a lot newer and yeah they probably were really bad about customer service. I also think there are people who aren't going to be pleased no matter what you do. Hope you get the tank you want with the features you want at a doable price.

 

[theshiver]

A friend of mine had a custom 250 DD built with a coast to coast on the end of the tank and like 19 holes drilled and the bottom euro braced and the cost was right at 2k

 

[KSzegi]

Thanks everyone for the input and help, appreciate it! I did start looking around and actually got lucky and I found a used tank that seemed to fit what I wanted - or at least what I think I want for right now! 300 gallon dd with starphire front, coast to coast external overflow, eurobraced. Getting it on Saturday and can't wait!! I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a lot happier with this set-up over a stock marineland!!

 

[laredo300c]

Wow pics pics

 

[KSzegi]

Well, at long last the tank finally did get cleaned up and up and running!!! Here's a couple shots .....

 

[jt48]

My LFS got a qoute from ML to custom build the 300DD. They wanted $700 for the following changes:

Remove plastic center braces
Remove corner overflows
Add Eurobracing
Add centered rear wall overflow box with two 1.5" drains and two 1" returns

 

[adam87]

WOW, nice tank!!!

 

[biecacka]

you could always drill the back wall yourself or have someone do it and then build the C2C overflow
corey

 

[aandfsoccr04]

How do you just stumble upon a used tank that is exactly what you are looking for? Sounds really lucky to me so congrats. Craigslist or local club? Looks great so far

 

[rpjaws74]

Nice find..

 

[KSzegi]

How do you just stumble upon a used tank that is exactly what you are looking for? Sounds really lucky to me so congrats. Craigslist or local club? Looks great so far

Actually it was on the sale forum on RC!! Tank was a lot of work to get ready .....when I bought it, what I thought was just a little bit of deposits on the glass that needed a vinegar bath - turned into a major issue that took cerium oxide and hours of buffing and polishing ..... but in the end it's all been worth it! :beer:

This is the tank - after already trying all the 'usual' suggestions for cleaning ..... the clear spots are my "test plots" when somebody here had suggested the cerium oxide ..... it was the only thing that worked.