33 gallons of confusion

[scrogathon]

I'm new here so and new to reef tanks.

I recently purchased an all in one tank from a store that was closing down.
It was a last minute purchase and I don't know what I have got myself into really.
The tank is a 33 gallon cube with a sump in the bottom of the stand. It also has an internal overflow with surface and below gravel intake.
It came with no instructions as I bought it impulse and he wanted to close the store indefinitely.

Long story short I bought the tank for 360 bucks and the price tag said 1000$ plus tax so I kinda ran out the store with it all happy I saved so much.

I don't know where to start and I planned to actually use this tank for freshwater and plant it heavily.

I'm going to try and show what the tank looks like so maybe someone could show me how to hook it all up...

The part that confuses me the most is why is there a water intake at the bottom where the sand or gravel would essentially be?

 

[Crreef]

To start the tank I would buy live sand, live rock, and saltwater from your nearest reef store. Then I would cycle the tank until some type of algae began to grow and your nitrogen cycle has ended. After that I would add a hardy fish like a clown. If it does well for a week then I would add some coral. Do you have any lights for it?

 

[scrogathon]

To start the tank I would buy live sand, live rock, and saltwater from your nearest reef store. Then I would cycle the tank until some type of algae began to grow and your nitrogen cycle has ended. After that I would add a hardy fish like a clown. If it does well for a week then I would add some coral. Do you have any lights for it?

I dont have lights yet.
I need help with plumbing the tank.
Not sure if you read all I wrote but I'm confused how this all works.

 

[Crreef]

Oh I’m sorry. Well at least you know how to cycle it now. I’m afraid I cannot help you with the plumbing portion. Sorry, good luck!!!

 

[MSB123]

What is your budget to get this thing up and running? It would help a lot to figure out how much you want to spend.

 

[MSB123]

#reefsquad

 

[Finhead]

Personally I would not run it how it's setup. You have one bulkhead as your overflow pipe (large one) and one as your return pump pipe (smaller one) and no secondary overflow. If it were me I would open that second smaller hole up to fit the same size overflow pipe for a secondary, run that in a Herbie Overflow config. Then route your return line over the back.

 

[scrogathon]

No worries I will likely be asking for that help at later date.

Oh I’m sorry. Well at least you know how to cycle it now. I’m afraid I cannot help you with the plumbing portion. Sorry, good luck!!!

What is your budget to get this thing up and running? It would help a lot to figure out how much you want to spend.

I'm not looking to spend a ton of money but I'm open to any options. I enjoy the nice things in life so I don't mind if it costs a lot to get running.
I know this is a reefer forum but I kind of had intentions in setting this tank up for freshwater planted tank. But I realize that would be pointless to have all this filtration and not actually setup a reef.

 

[scrogathon]

Personally I would not run it how it's setup. You have one bulkhead as your overflow pipe (large one) and one as your return pump pipe (smaller one) and no secondary overflow. If it were me I would open that second smaller hole up to fit the same size overflow pipe for a secondary, run that in a Herbie Overflow config. Then route your return line over the back.

Not sure if I'm comfortable drilling this tank. Is a 3/4 hole not big enough?

 

[Finhead]

Not sure if I'm comfortable drilling this tank. Is a 3/4 hole not big enough?

How large are the pipes. I was not suggesting drilling another hole but enlarging the smaller one to fit a larger bulkhead/pipe. Fairly easy to do with a tile bit in a dremel.

 

[GoVols]

@scrogathon

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef.

Don't know the setup or brand that you bought but hopefully someone will know it and can help you.

Going to need an return pump for the sump and the right connections to pull it together.

 

[MSB123]

I would start by getting a light- it will probably be about $350, just a heads up if you get a nice one. I would suggest a kessil a360 tuna blue- i really love kessils and I swear by them
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kessil-a360w-tuna-blue-led-aquarium-light.html

 

[scrogathon]

How large are the pipes. I was not suggesting drilling another hole but enlarging the smaller one to fit a larger bulkhead/pipe. Fairly easy to do with a tile bit in a dremel.

The pipes included were 1" and I think 1/2".

 

[Finhead]

The pipes included were 1" and I think 1/2".

Yes that's what it looked like. So they have it configured as a single overlfow pipe and a return pipe.
So first off the noise would drive you crazy on a single overflow pipe. Second there is no backup pipe, if this one gets clogged or backs up for some reason your pretty much SOL.
The 1/2" second pipe would not be ideal for a secondary overflow, that is why I say I would open up the hole and install a larger pipe. Then route your return over the back.

 

[scrogathon]

Yes that's what it looked like. So they have it configured as a single overlfow pipe and a return pipe.
So first off the noise would drive you crazy on a single overflow pipe. Second there is no backup pipe, if this one gets clogged or backs up for some reason your pretty much SOL.
The 1/2" second pipe would not be ideal for a secondary overflow, that is why I say I would open up the hole and install a larger pipe. Then route your return over the back.

Good to know. I'm in no rush to set this tank up so any thing I learn about it the better. I just scooped it up since it seemed like a great deal for a 12mm thick starphire tank and sump setup.
Really happy with the forum I chose and the responce time. So far I already enjoy reefing. (Coming from a freshwater background)

 

[GoVols]

Yes that's what it looked like. So they have it configured as a single overlfow pipe and a return pipe.
So first off the noise would drive you crazy on a single overflow pipe. Second there is no backup pipe, if this one gets clogged or backs up for some reason your pretty much SOL.
The 1/2" second pipe would not be ideal for a secondary overflow, that is why I say I would open up the hole and install a larger pipe. Then route your return over the back.

Unless I'm crazy ;Wacky, the overflow box has holes at the bottom, but the inside glass of the overflow could have them sealed up

 

[scrogathon]

Unless I'm crazy ;Wacky, the overflow box has holes at the bottom, but the inside glass of the overflow could have them sealed up

Not crazy they are open... That's the part I was confused about originally.

 

[GoVols]

Not crazy they are open... That's the part I was confused about originally.

I would not want sand or other things inside my overflow but that's JMO.

Might be better to run it as a Bare Bottom setup.

 

[scrogathon]

I would not want sand or other things inside my overflow but that's JMO.

Might be better to run it as a Bare Bottom setup.

It all makes sense to me why this was the last tank in his store. Originally marked 1000 dollars but I offered him 360 plus tax and he took it.

I could likely modify new acrylic pieces as I do have a cnc router.

Any possibility using this tank for an aqua scape with plants. Or should I keep on keeping on and learn more about this one.

 

[GoVols]

It all makes sense to me why this was the last tank in his store. Originally marked 1000 dollars but I offered him 360 plus tax and he took it.

I could likely modify new acrylic pieces as I do have a cnc router.

Any possibility using this tank for an aqua scape with plants. Or should I keep on keeping on and learn more about this one.

It maybe a home made tank.

I'd plug up the down holes and water test the tank for at least 24 hours before you went any further.