Reef ready or Drill
 

So I might be tanking a drive to scope out a reef ready tank. 75g with stand and sump for $250. This tank is drilled from the bottom.

Or I could get a 90g no stand for 150 and drill it myself. But the bottom pane of this tank is tempered. So it would have to be a backside overflow.

I need help deciding....

Anyone had both style overflows with input?

Any suggestions?

It depends on what you want and willing to do. Also the condition of the tanks. Everyone will say bigger is better and with that I agree, but..... I've drilled many tanks in my day and my 56 I drilled it for coast to coast. My new tank,125 is RR. It is new and was a steal at $350. I've just completed building a stand for it. Building stands can and do cost money, depending on how you build them and what materials you use.

Reef ready tanks have so much bottom real estate taken up by the overflow. But back drilled tanks need room between them and the wall for plumbing. I personally prefer back drilled, the overflow need not be be the length of the tank. Mine is 2 feet wide and maybe 3 inches deep.

Drilling is very easy to do.

My next tank will be a back drilled tank with the overflow on the back of the , AKA a Coast to Coast overflow but as James said It doesn't have to be the entire length of the tank

Sorry for the highjack, but a true c2c is the entire length of the tank. The idea is to maximize the skimming ability of the surface with the overflow lip area. It allows better chances of capturing matter floating on the surface. You can build the c2c out of glass or acrylic and attach it to the tank or as a box that is attached to the tank through the bulkheads. I used acrylic box on my 56 knowing that that tank would be used in my larger build and would allow me to take the box out and use the tank as a qt latter.

I think I am done with the rr tanks. I enjoy the real estate you gain from not having the big boxes in the tank....

+1 ditch the RR tanks, so many more options with the DIY tanks that provide better surface skimming, improved water quality, more real estate, and just look better.

My favorite form of overflow, hands down, is the externally mounted 'scupper' box with a three drain system. If I ever go with a custom tank, that is what I would choose.

My tank is back drilled & I like it. Personally bottom drilled tanks make me nervous.

I like to drill the back in the top corner and use a 90 to drain the water out of the tank. Minimal impact in the tank.

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