Well, for those of you who don't believe that there are no stupid questions, don't reply <grin>. For those of you who don't mind stupid questions, I could really use your help.
I have talked my lovely wife into replacing our freshwater aquarium with a marine aquarium. Instead of simply buying a new one, I am going to tear out a wall and build one in. The dimensions are 44.5x23.5x32.5. Most of you immediately notice that the reason that this is important is because this is an exceptionally tall tank (nearly 33"). Anyway, I'll tell you what I intend so far (and please feel free to tell me if there is a superior alternative: I have not yet bought any supplies, so I'm happy to change my mind). Then, I'll mention the questions that I have.
The tank can be seen from two different rooms, which means that you can look at it from the front and back, but not the sides. I plan to use 36" Outer Orbit Model 1076 (2-250MH, 2-460nm, 2-420nm, and some lunar lights). This will hang 4" above the tank. The tank will have a an acrylic lid spanning the entire top. It will be 3/4" acrylic on the front and back. There will also be a 3/4" thick acrylic lip along the top edge (this will serve as a reinforcement, and as a track for the lid to sit on). The sides and bottom will be made up of 1/8" or 1/16" solid blue acrylic epoxied to 3/4" plywood. I plan to have three 250W heaters. I also plan to have a protein skimmer, but have no idea which one. I also plan to have a canister filter or a modular filter system that does mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. I don't really care about mechanical filtration, because I know that a good biological filtration system will address all unwanted particulate matter, but I figure it can't hurt. I want the the chemical filtration system because I like to polish the water every other week or so. The bio filter will supplement the protein skimmer and plenum. I do NOT plan to have a refugium, wet/dry filter (that's the same as a sump, right?), or uv sterilizer. As I mentioned, I do plan to have a plenum, which will be my primary bio filter. I plan to use about 7 Maxi-Jet power heads. I also know that I need a pump, but have no idea which one. Oh, I know that having a lid spanning the entire top causes oxygen intake issues. I plan to offset that using air strips on both sides of the tank, and possibly through running a venturi system on my power heads.
First, how does all of that sound? I can take constructive criticism, so if you have a better idea, let me have it...kindly <grin>.
I might add the Eheim Wet/Dry filter if I go for the Eheim modular system.
The part where I'm really stumped is plumbing. My freshwater systems have always used over-the-tank gizmos. On this tank, aesthetics is VERY important...FREAKISHLY important...just ask my wife. So, nothing is hanging off of anything. If it doesn't look natural, I have a problem. So, I have to send the plumbing through the bottom. I'm a skilled craftsman, so I don't a problem cutting the holes or putting the tank together or anything like that. But, frankly, when it comes to how to set up the plumbing, I just can't wrap my head around it...and plumbing is kind of important. So, here are my questions concerning plumbing:
What's with the "overflow"? Can't I just stick a pipe a couple inches above the gravel with a strainer on top to intake the water that is going to the skimmer and filters? The reason that this is important is because I can SEE the overflow, but I could hide a shorter "strainer" within the coral.
Does the return pipe from the filters have to be a certain way (tall, gooseneck, etc.)? Or, can I connect it to a bunch of buried PVC and have undergravel jets (similar to
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ug_jets.php)?
How does the protein skimmer, filters, and pump all connect together? Okay, that seems like a silly question, so let me ask it another way. Since both my filters and skimmer will be under the tank (in the cabinet), do I have to have one intake for the skimmer, and one for the filters? Or, do I chain them together? The protein skimmers that I have reviewed all have their own pump. So, how does that jive with the water pump that is driving the filters?
Do I need a wave creator?
Is the Eheim module system a good choice, or would you recommend a different brand? Would you recommend a single canister instead? Would you recommend an entirely different filtration system <hmmm>?
Is there a way to have the power heads without it looking unsightly. Is there a way to run the air tubing for the air strips from the bottom (instead of over the side and all the way down to the bottom)? Again, anything that doesn't look natural is an issue, so if you can tell me any clever (or obvious) ways to hide things, that would be a huge help.
Okay, my book is complete. Any help your provide is greatly appreciated, and thanks very much!
-Daniel Keith