[kazin]

i have done a lot of reading, and i know some info on sumps, but i was just wondering.

because i have a fish tank and its in a stand but the tank is practically on the floor, can i put the sump next to it, and not need a pump to bring the water from the tank to the sump?
---------
| |
from bottom of tank -> ------- ^ into sump

would that work with a siphon method? and would that work with a drilled tank? or would i have to use one of those siphon things that hang off the tank to pull the water out?

EDIT: i will tell you how its suppose to look... the first vertical line is right above the last dash in the bottom horizontle line, and the second verticle line is right under the top horizontle line. and the top horizontle line is between the two verticle lines... meh i hope it makes sense please help :x

[WILLIAM1]

Are we talking refugium. How low is the tank? thats kinda odd being less than 24 inches tall for a stand. I would build a nice overflow from homedepot for 20 bucks or so. You could have it next to the tank but unless its a barebottom tank sand and even fish might get sucked into the mix youll be wondering why all your fish are in the sump. Basic overflow to the sump and a return pump back to the tank where it splits with a T into the tank. Run a insump skimmer.

[kazin]

ok so i got pics of my three tanks... figured it would be eaiser to talk about them when other can actually see them :x so please look at my gallery. note: most of these tanks have been empty for 1yr+

in this post im talking about the 90 gal. i want to work on the 45 first, so i got some practice in, yah know...
unless some think thats a bad idea and i should just do the 90?

but anyways, its not really a stand its more of a case, so the tank is practically on the floor... if it isnt just on the floor.... it looks nice... the tank looks like crap though it been sitting for a long time, with nothing in it. it was originally a fresh water tank... but why waste such a nice tank on fresh water

[ChocolateChipStar]

Kazin ~

I'm still very new to this, and I'd like to hear what everybody else has to say on the topic, but from all I've previously read from many different sources, it's ben said to just go as big as you can afford and manage. The larger the tank, the less those small changes have an effect of the reef environment.

Again, I'm new, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I say go gor the 90 gal.

[WILLIAM1]

I honestly think you should use the bowfront for the main tank... The one on the floor might not be the ideal tank. Heres a link to a simply but nice little set up.20 Long Reef Ready tank/stand/light - Atlanta Reef Club Forums its goes in the direction of a reef tank overflow, lights, ect... The needs of a reef tank are much greater than a freshwater tank. I have seen a ton of nice used tanks that are reef ready. If you could break all your tanks down clean and sell them that would be a good start to a new hobby . Is the case built around a 90 gallon tank some more info would be great.. Take some pics of the inside of that case so we can see whats going on.

[kazin]

Yeah, thats what i heard also, about going bigger. the bigger the better. and we have this 90 gall so im going to see if it'll work... my dad had this case built before i was born so i doubt ill be able to just get rid of it, so ima see if i can get this to work

will >>> i have been cleaning off the case to get some decent pics (my mom thinks its a storage shelf now :x) now im waiting to upload them, my brother locks his pc so i have to wait till hes ready to let me upload so maybe later tonight they will be up but i can explain what its like now

there are 2 cabinets on each side of the tank (we use the left side for alcohol and put our fish stuff in the right.)

then the middle holds the tank. it had an open back until buddy :/ the brown cat in the pic thought it would be fun to go fishing x.x so we nailed a piece of ply wood to the back which can easily be taken off, i know that salt water and fresh water tanks are different, if drilling was an option i was gonna see where/how much it would be to get it done, or see if i could trade it for a drilled tank (with a little bit of money transaction ofcourse), do you think the tank will get to hot?

the tank isnt covered, but the case cover encloses it, other then that its just a 90 gallon rectangular tank,