Upgrade tank input needed

C

ClownsRCoo

New member
Hello all,

My current tank is in my signature and my plan had been to start smaller to prove to myself that I can be successful and when I feel confident then I will upgrade to a bigger tank like I've wanted.

The next step was to figure out where this was going to go and just how big I could get. I feel like a 60x30x24 is my best layout for my space. I got a few quotes for a fully custom tank and most were out of my budget. Miracles was one I really wanted because I have read a lot of good things about them and their pricing for that seemed much closer to my budget than reef savvy. However I have decided that they are still out of my price range. I am now thinking of using planet aquariums.

The features I want are blacked out back, 3 sided starphire glass, pvc bottom, rimless, black silicone, and external overflow. I've already gotten a quote for them to do all of that but have requested another for just a non reef ready rimless tank that is drilled for the reef savvy ghost overflow. I want to see if that route is any cheaper. They only make a 20" overflow though so do you feel that is large enough for this tank? Does the size of the overflow box matter that much?

The second thing I need help with is plumbing size. This will be double the size of my current tank which only had 3/4" plumbing. How big should I go for a 180g? I will have the overflow centered in the tank with holes for return lines on either side of that drilled into the back glass. Anyone have any feedback on that? I'm going to make a floating canopy so looks are a priority and over the top returns will be visible.

I want to make the stand out of 80/20 as well just because I'll have the piece of mind that it will last forever and won't deteriorate due to water exposure like wood might. I also like the ability to be able to change the skin of the stand as I like if my taste in style were to change. Anyone have any input on the sizing I should use?

I'm going to try to utilize all of my current equipment for now until I have the money to slowly upgrade so I might be a bit underpowered on things like flow for a bit. Here is my future equipment list so please tell me what you think:

Return pump: really not sure on this. Would like your input.
Lighting: 60" ATI LED Powermodule 8 bulb
Water movement: currently have 3 MP-40's. Thought about a combo of those with an MP-60 or gyre maybe. Open to suggestions
Skimmer: im thinking my 24" Lifereef may be underpowered. If so I might try a aquamaxx EM-300
Dosing: want to try to get away from 2 part and go calcium reactor. It's intimidating though. I'm thinking a Geo CR618

So I'll start this post with this and go from there. I'm looking for advise, tips, thoughts, anything you guys can offer.
 
I think you'd be fine w the 8x80w powermodule in 48 inches i did a 60 inch over my 72x32x28 rimless tank it lights plenty and looks wise I like it over a light full tank length. Also saves electricity.Just my opinion tho u may have reasons for the larger version
 
Wel I really wanted the boost in par that the 60" bulbs would bring. I want it heavily stocked with sps I just don't want to spend that kind of money on a light and regret not going bigger after the fact
 
For pumps also the ecotech submersible looks like a very attractive option for me. Mainly because I can hopefully hook a battery backup to it and have that going in a power outage which happens a lot near me.
 
I would ditch the idea of using a 20" ghost overflow. Been there done that. I made my own For around $40. I have it on a 65 gallon and wish I had gone bigger such as coast to coast.

I recommend that you look at doing a coast to coast using a combless weir. Also instead of plastics for the external box, use glass and seal it to the aquarium. The use of glass for your internal box will allow you to use a small (in length) external box. Helpful when you turn off the pumps. Just that much less water going back to the sump.
 
Why didn't you like the ghost overflow? I don't understand your comment about how using glass for external box would be any different than acrylic.
 
I think he's stating the external box is the same length on the ghost overflows as the internal box. But if you were to build it yourself with glass you could make the external box as small as you like, as long as it is covering your holes coming out of the back of the tank of course and could hold your drain pipes. I don't know that it's a better design to do it that way, but I'd be much more worried about a leak if I did it myself.

I'm leaning towards a ghost overflow when I get my new tank. You can get them on ebay from modularmarine, up to 24 inches. I contacted him and he can even go 30 or 36 inches.
 
Yeah I don't trust my glass or acrylic work. I've never worked with either and don't want to find out I suck at it with a PIA water leak
 
Hmm, here's my thoughts:


If cost is an issue but you still want custom I think that you should consider Glass Cages (especially if you can pick the tank up form one of their drop off sites, which saves big $.) I have 2 and have been very happy with them. On the display tank I specified extra thick glass for added safety.

Return pump: Tunze return pumps are fantastic. Eheim is also good.
Lighting: Save a bunch of money with a DIY solderless kit from Rapid LED. Very easy to put together and you can pick your own premium LEDs, reflectors, power supply, and controller. You're not stuck with whatever component was cheapest for the manufacturer.
Water movement: Nothing beats a Tunze wavebox for realistic motion IMHO. You will need to supplement with additional powerheads (and controllable ones for extra chaos in the water is a good thing.) 3/4" return lines are more than adequate. My experience is that most folks try to move way too much water through the overflow (3-5 times tank volume/ hour is really ideal) but don't move enough water inside.
Skimmer: Aquamaxx is a great choice
Dosing: Honestly, the easiest thing I have found is to plumb a kalk stirrer in line with my auto top off water and dose kalk. If you have a ton of demand you can supplement with 2 part. Automating the dosing at that point isn't terribly difficult but most tanks need to be very mature with a lot of SPS before they'll need more supplementation than kalk water can provide. CO2 is expensive to set up right and it's killed an awful lot of tanks over the years.
 
ClownsRCoo said:
Why didn't you like the ghost overflow? I don't understand your comment about how using glass for external box would be any different than acrylic.
Click to expand...

The ghost overflow is fine for implementing a bean animal drain. It's the size that going to be a limitation. (If ordering from them). Now if you go custom, I would have it built out of glass and use a full coast to coast on the inside.

Using glass allows it to be attached via silicone and not on two weak points such as bulkheads.

Working with glass or acrylic is very simple. For ease of assembly, have a glass /plastics company cut your pieces.
 
Last edited:
Ok thanks. That flow calculator on the home page doesn't seem right to be. It sounds like really low flows through each sized pipping.
 
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