Help Me Build My Dream Aquarium

[GoBigGuy]

Hey All,

Just started to get back into aquariums this year and now I am totally hooked on reef tanks!

My current tank is a 90 gallon SeaClear System II tank with the built in filter in the back which makes my display part of the tank more of a 55 gallon tank which is just too small for me. I have been looking around and leaning towards a 150 gallon, (60"x24"x24"), which would fit perfectly in my living room.


Here are some of my questions regarding he tank:
1) Should I get a single overflow on one side or get 2, one on each side?
2) TruVu offers either their standard 1" drain hole or do I want to go with the 1 1/2" drain hole?
3) What type of Refugium Sump should I be looking at?
4) What type of protein skimmer?
5) Anything else I'm missing?

This isn't going t happen for about a year depending how quickly I can save up but I figured that gives me plenty of time to really do some research and put some thought behind it.

THANKS!

 

[Emac909]

Everything depends
On how much u want to spend. I truly say if u really want to go with a dream tank go 200+ gallons.
This is from my own experience. A few years back I did what I thought was my dream tank at that time. It was a 180 (72X24X24). In the last 2 years my fish have out grown the 180 and I'm looking to upgrade to a 300. Here's the problem. I invested so much money and time make the stand and canopy for the 180 I don't want to do that again on a 300 gallon build. Maybe the dream tank term is a bad idea. Cause most all of us won't something big and better a few years down the road.

 

[BeanMachine]

You'd have a similar sized tank as mine... I use the ATB 840... have had it three years... its real nice.

Um, I would go with a Coast to Coast style overflow if it fits your budget with a bean animal design, much more room and added depth and it woudl be really quiet... plus you don't have the coraline in the corners of say a trapazoid overflow... mine is terribly hard to clean.

Something like this-

 

[GoBigGuy]

Money is always tight when you have kids so trying to do this the right way but not going overboard.

As far as the size of the tank of course I would love to go bigger but I also don't want to get a divorce over a tank so I've been told I can stay in my current space where the 90 is now and I have about 12 inches to the right of it but you can see from the picture don't really have more than that to grow lol

 

[Emac909]

Nice entertainment center. But doesn't that pesky tv distract people from viewing the tank lol
I like beans overflow idea if that's an option for u? But really just look for deals on here for used equipment and make it what u make it. It's really hard to tell u what u should get and what u like. For me I love my itech skimmer it's a beast and handle my 180 really well.

I liked it so much I bought a second one for when I upgrade to the 300 I'll run 2 itech 200s on that one tank

But some people here will tell u to get a bubble king or reef octopus. I say it's really what u like and can afford.
I do say go 1"1/2 on the drain tho. U never know what type of return u might get. I also say have a few hole drilled in the over flow box bottom. One for return and 2 for drains at least.

 

[GoBigGuy]

Now I'm thinking of spending the extra couple of hundred dollars and going 60x24x30 for the extra 30 gallons but will I really gain anything else with the taller tank or am I going to deep for cleaning and lighting?

 

[krayzie321]

Its a pain to reach down 30

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[BeanMachine]

I wouldn't go taller than 24.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

If you have the room in front of the tank go 60 x 30 x 24 making the depth 30 instead of the height. Of course if you go external overflow its gonna push it out even farther from the wall. 1- 1 1/2" drain and two returns minimum.
From my perspective if I did internal overflows I would do one in each rear corner. Makes plumbing the sump/refugium easier. Also if one drain plugs up you still have the other
Also equipment is a preference/affordability thing.

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[solitude127]

Does it have to be acrylic? Glass is much easier to maintain

 

[GoBigGuy]

Does it have to be acrylic? Glass is much easier to maintain

Worried about earthquakes with glass

 

[solitude127]

Worried about earthquakes with glass

Definitely understandable. I beleive a well built glass aquarium along with a well built level stand, it should be able to hold in an earthquake. Many of us on here have glass tanks and are in the same situation you are.

 

[Usingthejohn]

Worried about earthquakes with glass

Definitely understandable. I beleive a well built glass aquarium along with a well built level stand, it should be able to hold in an earthquake. Many of us on here have glass tanks and are in the same situation you are.

My tank and stand were fine after that 5.1 quake that hit Fullerton this past april

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[GoBigGuy]

Ok, still up in the air whether to go glass or acrylic. Right now I'm leaning towards acrylic because I have CRAZY kids and acrylic is stronger. Guess there is more thought to put behind that decision but I have time to figure it out.

What I do know is I will be going with the 150 gallon, (60x24x24), this will fit in my spot perfectly!

I was on the TruVu site tonight and was playing around and think I'll go with an overflow on each side of the tank with 1 1/2" bulkheads. I like their integrated return system, just not sure if I would go single or double. Does anyone have one of these tanks with the integrated return system?





Now I want to start putting some thought into refugiums and wanted to see what all of you recommend? TruVu has one with the skimmer chamber: http://www.truvuaquariums.com/mwdpsrf300.html

Where should I start looking?

 

[babyjess210]

Just to point out when you swing around that doorway your new tank will stick out 6" more from the wall your family might clip the tank. Maybe put blue tape on the floor to see if it will work before you get a deeper tank

 

[GoBigGuy]

I measured it out last night and if I keep the overflow boxes on the inside of the tank it will only stick out 3" more so I'm good at 24" width

 

[solitude127]

IMO, no real need for dual drains if one of the drains is 1.5". With 2 o/f boxes, you'll be losing precious real estate. What kind of return pump are you thinking of using?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I would look into doing a herbie style overflow in one box. Have them do a corner overflow (preferably on the opposite side of where u view the tank) big enough for 2-1" holes. U can make a herbie overflow in the overflow box. Then have them drill a 1" hole on the back wall on the opposite side of the overflow box for your return. No standpipe can run as smooth or as quiet as a herbie.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

 

[nl5882]

I like the dims if you don't want to go longer. 2 overflows on a 150 is overkill imo. Like they said one 1-1/2" should be good. I'd just have the do bigger teeth on the overflow so it does not restrict, or as Nick said stated 2 one inch drains for a Bernie. I'd talk to John at AA for acrylic tanks just get your order in way before you need it. And pay for thicker acrylic and geyt the biggest opening you can get. I think that's the biggest regret for most reefers is not enough top room.