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View Full Version : Upgrade time! advice?


E46er
12/31/2015, 03:14 PM
So I will be upgrading my tank in the very near future here. Im thinking of a typical 220 (72"Lx24"Dx30"T)

I emailed concepts for a ballpark shipping quote to Vancouver which turned out much much lower than expected. so It looks like ill be getting it from them.

tank will be visible from the front and right side the left side will be roughly a foot off the wall just for cleaning purposes
so my initial thoughts are:

a bean animal drain

what size holes? 1.5"? for 1" piping or 2" and run 1.5" piping?

returns will go over the top. I want one hole in the back glass somewhere to hookup to a hose so I just open a valve and water drains. My current tank is drilled for CL and this works well for WC even tho I don't use the CL anymore.

current sump is a 40 breeder but I think a 75 would be a better choice. more volume and still shallow. I will obviously need to order another light since my 48" evergrow IT2012 wont have enough spread, so probably the 16" controllable one.

the rest of my equipment will just transfer over.
apex, dosing pumps, top off pump, vertex in 280, snapper running GFO and carbon once in a while, and powerheads

internal or external overflow? my only concern with an external overflow is fitting it through doorways......currently where I live my sliding door is 10' so not an issue but I dont plan on being here forever.

either way I would prefer the bulkheads out the back as opposed to the bottom.


Im thinking just regular glass since Ive never complained about my current tank and I didnt get a price for starphire but from what I gather its quite a bit more expensive.

i have a canopy so I dont see the point in paying for eurobracing over regular trim since its hidden anyway.


any comments, ideas or advice? it will be an SPS tank

E46er
01/01/2016, 01:51 PM
No thoughts or advice?

thegrun
01/01/2016, 02:02 PM
Size your holes according the the bulkheads requirements for the size you choose, there are variances in the required hole size from one manufacturer to another and the schedule of bulkhead (Schedule 40 versus schedule 10). I would run either 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" drains, not 1".
I like an external overflow, it opens up a lot more space in the tank and gives you better water flow. Unless you plan on moving soon I would go external.
I'm a fan of low iron (Starfire) glass, you can see the difference between the two, especially in tanks with glass over 1/2".
I also like eurobracing, center braces will cast a shadow in the tank.