Planning a 2ft tank.

[Evolutionz]

Hey fellas, i have been planning of a new upgraded tank and hope to hear some advices.. Once again, very budget set up. so most of the stuff either going for cheaper kind or 2nd hand stuff.

Tank size : 1) 2x2x1,5 with 6" IOS at the back. (8 or 10mm?)

2) 2x2x1.5 bare tank.(10mm) Use canister filter Link to chiller and back to tank. Canister will be empty with just a bag of rowahpos, purigen or XL biopellets to prevent it becoming a nitrate factory.

Skimmer : If going for option 1 tank size, will be using BM Nac3.5.

If going for option 2, will be using either BM E3 or Q3.

Chilling : 1/10 HP chiller.

wavemaker : 2 x sunsun 3000l/hr wave maker. (is this enough?)

Lighting : 1) 2 units of 18x3W par38 light set.

2) 3 units of 12x3W par38 light set.

This are my equipments plan as of now.. im leaning more towards option 2 tank size mainly because it gives me more space (15cm more width!), tank is cheaper to build and i find it hard to clean IOS.

Sump is not really possible because im planning to put this 2ft on my 4x2x2ft freshwater tank's cabinet.. so i can have another exact tank size for my freshwater set up (2 2x2x1.5ft tank on a 422 cabinet).

Sump could be possible if i DIY a overflow PVC pipe, flow down to my exisiting 1ft cube tank, return pump to chiller, than back to tank. Will this be better? I don't really fancy many equipments so i hope that the return pump can just pump through the chiller and back to the tank.

What do you guys think?

[peacemaker]

You might as well build a 4 x 2 x 1.5 tank and have a partition right down in the middle...? But I'm not sure if there are any implications as the water density is different between salt water and fresh water.

[Evolutionz]

Though of that before. But worried the middle glass may not be able to take it. Rather not take the risk..

[Kelvin81]

Salt water density is much greater than freshwater. So is your cabinet are purpose built for such weight? I daying id the middle part of the cabinet got the proper support? My 2 cents.

[Evolutionz]

Yes middle part got support. This my cabinet currently carries the weight of 4x2x2 freshwater tank + heavy overhead filter and 2x 30L tank. Been holding for months already.. It's not those open cabinet meant for sump. There's middle compartment and there's middle leg support too. Definitely safe.

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Anyway I have been googling about DIY pvc overflow and it seems rather simple and easy. My current plan is to use this overflow, flow to my 31x31x36cm tank with no compartment, return pump 1200l/hr connect to chiller, den chiller return back to tank. The sump will hold a nac 3.5,maybe got space can even run a FR. I'm wondering if the skimmer will work with 15 to 20cm water height? I need to make sure in the event the pump fails, the sump tank is able to hold the overflowing water from the 2ft.so only going to fill up half the sump tank.

[Kelvin81]

Your 1 feet cube should be fine to use as a sump coz Im using even smaller than that for my 2 feet cube with 2.5 feet height.

[Evolutionz]

That's great to hear. Do u use diy overflow? Have u tried testing the event in pump failure can yr sump hold the water?

[Kelvin81]

Mine built in overflow compartment. I tried switch off the pump and its fine.

[Evolutionz]

Any idea what kind of overflow boxes are available other than the Skimz kind? only seems to see skimz being used in singapore..

[Evolutionz]

Currently considering a Skimz or Reef octopus overflow box. Worried i may DIY wrongly and flooding may occur..

Considering using a 2ft 4 tube T5HO housing and use the space in the 2 middle tubes to DIY a LED light set. meaning 2 Tubes t5 + LED... wondering if this is better than using just LEDs..

[DeadmanZ]

Any idea what kind of overflow boxes are available other than the Skimz kind? only seems to see skimz being used in singapore..

There is also tunze and Iaquatic overflow box too..

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

[Evolutionz]

thanks bro, tunze out of budget liao.. where to get this iaquatic overflow box?

[DeadmanZ]

You can do a search in Google for iaquatic..

I think u need to order then they start to fabricate..

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[Evolutionz]

You can do a search in Google for iaquatic..

I think u need to order then they start to fabricate..

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

found their website and enquired about it.. the price is definitely over my budget.. seems like skimz is the cheapest one.

Thanks anyway!

[nicreef]

i am using skimz now. just make sure to ask them to replace the air tube knob (not sure what you call that lol attached is a pic).

the original is some transparant screw type that leaks air!!

First time i used it overflow stopped working because of the air leak within 1 day! (well less than a day...left at 5pm and my friend came in at 4am to a slightly flooded office).

changed to this and i usually only have to suck air once a week =p beside that the overflow box works great for me.

my current set up is kinda like what you are considering canister to chiller to tank to overflow to sump. only fear is the overflow box air leak and stop working as such it would be best if the canister intake is placed at a higher level (for example the hook on type) so that even if overflow stopped working you won't have all your sump water on the floor the next day.

another option is to have a back up...i have been toying with the idea of drilling a hole in the top of my tank. a small horizontal hole than glue half a cut plastic box to the external that has a pipe flowing down to sump.

[Evolutionz]

Woah thats pretty bad! luckily u managed to fix it.. Anyway i'll be getting another overflow box from a reefer.. no idea what brand is it but should be able to work well.

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Item plan as of now :

Tank : 2x2x1.5 + 34L Sump with overflow box.

Skimmer : Bubble Magus Curve 5 (if sump tank can fit), if not Nac3.5

Lighting : same as above stated. Might consider 2x T5 + LED combo.

[reef garden]

Bro, any updates on your new tank eg. list of livestock? How's the overflow doing and are your wave makers too strong? Are your PAR38 lights sufficient to provide the lighting for your corals?

[Evolutionz]

change of plan, already upgrade to a 4x2x1.2ft tank

[Legent]

hahahahaha

[nickykoo]

good....