[Lowej82]

First off I picked up a used 55 gal, hoods, lights, marineland emperor 400 filter, 48" light strip, & stand for $125.00............cleane d with vinager water.

my lighting will come from (2) 2 x 54 watt Nova extreme T5's, sometime down the road I may build them into a bigger hood with 2 75 watt MH's with ballast wired from some where
else to help deal with heat

Im debating on drilling or not to drill. think i might get some diamond tip bits and a couple cheap tanks from wally world to pratice on. I plan to do a sump/fuge below i just dont want the overflow box on rear of tank, or pvc going over backside for return, id like to drill 4 holes in rear glass, 2 for 3/4" return and 2 for 1 1/4" overflows.

If I dont drill, would my 600gph overflow work? or would i need to pick up another 600 or use 1 1200? 1 600gph in each rear corner would probally work good.

Think im going to make a undersand jet//spray bar system around the aquascaping powered by 2 maxi jet 900's.

I plan to start of with 90 lbs of LS and about 75 lbs of cured LR ( that ive cured myself )

Any good i deals for a fuge/sump uder the tank inside the stand?

I thought about placing the stand about 16" from wall so that you can see in from the rear glass, by doing this I could place my 29 gal sump fuge that I built on the floor behind the 55 and use it..........

I will try and post updates, pics, and possibly some short videos ( def 1 if I do drill ) of the setup from start to....................... ..........well do you really ever complete a tank?

[glampka]

I would drill the tank - in fact I plan on drilling my 55 when I start it. Internal overflow is much better than the external. Instead of getting cheap tanks why not go to a glass shop & get some scrap & practice on that? When drilling be sure to cool the bit with plenty of water & let the bit do the work - don't force it.
The MJ 900 probably won't have enough push for the spray bars. Suggest the 1200s or take a look at what Sanjay is running on his 180 build.
I picked up a used 29 that I'll use for a sump/refugium. Will have 3 sections - intake/skimmer, refugium & then return.

[Lowej82]

I can figure out the thickness of the glass.1/4".. theres a tag that says bottom is tempered do not drill.

Are the sides regular glass? if not what should I ask for ? as far as scraps to practice on ?

I will be grateful for any advice given. Thank You

[glampka]

Only the bottom should be tempered. Sides are regular glass. Just measure the thickness & get something close to that. All you want to do is get a feel for how the drill goes through the glass.

[Lowej82]

heres a pic of tank and stand

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/HPIM0587.jpg

[Lowej82]

So it sat around and this is what I did with it
http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/c...html#post52305

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

I can figure out the thickness of the glass.1/4".. theres a tag that says bottom is tempered do not drill.

Are the sides regular glass? if not what should I ask for ? as far as scraps to practice on ?

I will be grateful for any advice given. Thank You

Take some silicone or plumbers putty and make a circle with it around the area you are going to drill. Fill it with water and then drill the hole. This helps keep your bit and the glass cool. SSSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWL LLLLLLLYYYYYYYY. It should take 10-15 min to drill one hole. Keep the water to it! Dont push at all.

[Lowej82]

I never got around to having it drilled, Didnt like the 12" width, I picked up a 18" wide x 36" long 45 gallon tank.The LFS has a 90 on sale for $237.00 thinking about getting that.

My second plan for the 55 was to trade it for some frags or coral. Now as we know its gonna be a prop/frag grow out tank.

I just figured once I set up that I wouldnt like it based on the 12" width. Unless I went with aggressive fowlr I still feel I wouldnt be happy with it, if I was to do a reef tank in it

[jimw369]

Probably a smart move John!

[e_baer]

to get a sump/fuge to fit under a 55g stand is a pain!

[Lowej82]

Was at the LFS today it wasnt the 90 for $237.00, it was a 75 which aint all that bad, The reason I like the 75 over the 90 is,,,,,,,,

75 gal is 18" tall ( T-5 SETUP? ), 90 gal I belive is 24". With a 24" depth I would probally need MH lighting wouldnt I? (followed with a chiller)......... they had a couple 125's I am thinking of putting a 75 or 90 on layaway, that away It will give me more time to plan how I want to do it. The stand they had was$250.00, think id build my own out of 4 x 4 & 2 x 6 framing.

Sounds like the glass flip tops cost extra, I would probally leave these off anyone see a good reason to get them?

[Lowej82]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

I picked up a 18" wide x 36" long 45 gallon tank

This one was $20 never used

[jimw369]

T5HO or VHO as long as all bulbs have individual reflectors will work fine in a 24" deep tank for most anything and you can avoid all those extra things like chillers.

You dont want glass tops.

Originally Posted by Lowej82

Was at the LFS today it wasnt the 90 for $237.00, it was a 75 which aint all that bad, The reason I like the 75 over the 90 is,,,,,,,,

75 gal is 18" tall ( T-5 SETUP? ), 90 gal I belive is 24". With a 24" depth I would probally need MH lighting wouldnt I? (followed with a chiller)......... they had a couple 125's I am thinking of putting a 75 or 90 on layaway, that away It will give me more time to plan how I want to do it. The stand they had was$250.00, think id build my own out of 4 x 4 & 2 x 6 framing.

Sounds like the glass flip tops cost extra, I would probally leave these off anyone see a good reason to get them?