Reef ready or Drill

reepher315 · 07/26/2014, 07:45 AM

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?

reepher315 · 07/26/2014, 09:44 AM

Any suggestions?

Flippers4pups · 07/26/2014, 09:56 AM

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.

James77 · 07/26/2014, 01:26 PM

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.

azjohnny · 07/26/2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James77

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

Flippers4pups · 07/27/2014, 06:56 PM

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.

Dline Bullyz · 07/30/2014, 10:50 PM

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....

SGT_York · 07/31/2014, 07:38 AM

+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.

ca1ore · 07/31/2014, 07:54 AM

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.

Fish Biscuit · 07/31/2014, 09:49 AM

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

jda · 07/31/2014, 10:45 AM

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.

07/26/2014, 07:45 AM	#1
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	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?

07/26/2014, 09:56 AM	#3
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	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. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led. Last edited by Flippers4pups; 07/26/2014 at 10:03 AM.

07/26/2014, 01:26 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	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. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

07/27/2014, 06:56 PM	#6
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	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. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

07/31/2014, 07:54 AM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	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. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

07/26/2014, 09:44 AM	#2
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	Any suggestions?

07/30/2014, 10:50 PM	#7
Dline Bullyz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 39	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....

07/31/2014, 07:38 AM	#8
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	+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.

07/31/2014, 09:49 AM	#10
Fish Biscuit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,164	My tank is back drilled & I like it. Personally bottom drilled tanks make me nervous. __________________ Michele I enjoy vodka entirely too much to share with the fish. Current Tank Info: 65 rimless with Eshopps R200 sump, current inhabitants randall goby, helfrichi, possum wrasse, barnacle blenny, mandarin, pistol, peppermint, & fire shrimp, snails, hermits, & LPS

07/31/2014, 10:45 AM	#11
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	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.