Found some tanks!

[Iconz]

Alright, i have found some NEW tanks for what appears to be a REAL good price.

75 gal for 110.00
48" x 18" x 21"

55 gal for 69.00
48" x 12

[MedicMike]

Sounds like a reasonable price for just the two tanks and as far as the starfire or clear glass goes its not really a big deal in my opinion a tank is a tank. Ordering the special glass is just one more place to spend a little extra money

[perpetual98]

If they don't charge much for the Reef Ready tank, I'd get the 75. Don't bother with the Low-Iron glass, unless you have lots of money to burn. It's nice, but in a smaller tank, I wouldn't bother.

[Iconz]

how much is "much" for the reef-ready? i've heard $4.00 / hole, i've heard 10. The overflow, I think I'll pull a DIY on that.

[perpetual98]

If it's from a fish store, they're probably buying it reef-ready already. Some stores charge up to $35 per hole, if they're jerks. They also can't drill the bottom on most tanks because they're tempered. If it's reef ready from the factory, you're good to go.

[seahorsedreams]

It's easier to drill a hole than it is to install an overflow wall.... trust me on that one.

[Iconz]

well, then that brings up my next question.. hehehe... an overflow wall needs to be how big for a 75g tank? I had thought of cutting a piece of 6" pvc in half and match their height to the top of the tank, then cut teeth into the top of the pvc. Then place each 1/2 on the 1/3 marks of the tank. I.E.: if a tank is 48" long as this one is, they would be centered on the 16" marks coming from each side. Of course, pre-drill a hole at each of those marks as well... Or would this not be enough overflow?

[Fatman]

BUY ONE READY. Do not make an overflow wall or anything else its usually a pain in the A$$.

[Iconz]

:( k. I was kinda lookin forward to the challenge. heh

[seahorsedreams]

I'm sorry.... I think I am missing that description.... I'm a visual girl so I really have to scrunch up my nose to try and picture something. Did you mention an overflow wall in that description or just pipes? You need a wall.

Did you mean a 6" diameter pipe? You'll have more noise than niagra falls.

I don't know what your experience level is with building tank stuff but it's best to start simple. An overflow may sound simple but is a very fine tuned piece of equipment, if you will, that can give you all sorts of trouble if not done correctly. Start simplier IMO. I've built many things... but trying to get my 50 gallon pent converted to a reef ready tank almost resulted in it flying out the window.

[Iconz]

K, the only LFS within 90 miles quoted me $219 on a reef ready tank. How does that sound?

[Iconz]

Gotya, I have NO experience in building tank stuff, I had gotten the idea off of some diy pages i've found online. Lemme see if i can get you a pic.

[seahorsedreams]

219 for a reef ready tank? Sounds good to me.... you won't regret it. The overflow wall I bought for my 100 gallon cost me 90 bucks to get built.

Did I say you won't regret it :-)

[Iconz]

Something like this, only 2 or 3 of them instead of just the one.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Saltwater/10%20Gallon/OverflowCrack.jpg

[seahorsedreams]

Well, that is very interesting..... but oh the noise and the flushing effect that could possibly have.

I wouldn't do it.

[Iconz]

Hmm, K. Noise reduction is going to me one of my future questions. :)

So, if I go with a overflow "wall", is the hole for the drain in the bottom or on the back of the tank?

[seahorsedreams]

Lemme take a picture of the wall I bought... I have to install it yet... be right back.

[Iconz]

Thanks!

[seahorsedreams]

The hole would be in the bottom of the tank.... you could build a standpipe yourself (that is a very good first project when learning plumbing).

But there's lots of different way to do it... this just happens to be the way I like to do it.

[Iconz]

Gotya, Similar Design, though! So, are holes in the back of the tank more noisy than those in the bottom? Or, what is the advantage of it being in the bottom? Thanks for the pics btw!

Man, I wish i had some good CAD software!

[Iconz]

I don't know anything, but to me, it seems that one in the side might actually drain better? I can also see where it would be more noisy though.

The reason i say that, is because a hole in the bottom NEVER gets any air in it, its just gravity-fed. Right? If that is correct, I would think it might be a little slower draining, which again, may be a better thing, I really don't know how much flow you need! :p

[seahorsedreams]

Without a standpipe you will hear the water hitting the bottom as it drops and you could also get the toilet flushing noise without a means to adjust it easily. Not sure what you mean by one side draining better.

[Iconz]

Sorry! I mean a hole in the back of the tank vs a hole in the bottom... Looking up what a standpipe is now, and how it works!

[Iconz]

K, i figured out what a standpipe is...
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

[seahorsedreams]

I also made a thread on here of one I made if ya wanna have a look. Same idea.

Renee's Standpipe Thread (http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=3764)

[Iconz]

awesome! I actually read through that a couple days ago, didn't know what I was looking at at the time, but Learned shortly after!

[lReef lKeeper]

here ya go man, this is pretty cheap for one of these ...

http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=4037

[Iconz]

I've already got my 20L bobby, but thanks anyway!

[stevebla]

Don't buy the 55 they are to narrow. I wish i had gone with a 75 to start!