75 gallon Drilled or AIO?? Need Help Picking

[Reefguy13]

Sooo I am going to do a bigger tank (currently have a 20g peninsula AIO). I love the peninsula and the wife said I could do a bigger tank as a room divider in our new remodeled basement. My initial thought was doing a 75 gallon peninsula with the Fijicube AIO kit installed and be done with it. With a bigger tank though I am wondering if I should try to find a corner drilled tank and do a sump. I have never ran a protein skimmer and am thinking I may need to on the 75. If i do I do not want it hanging off the back as I like the clean look. Its not going to be a heavily stocked tank in terms of fish (but were talking tons of corals though or course ) Anyone have thoughts. I love the look of my peninsula tank currently and it keeps the tank looking clean and free of equipment. I know the mass majority will say corner drilled with sump but I have never plumbed a sump and if i mess up and get the new basement wet it may be game over ha!

 

[GoonReef]

Do you have the budget that would allow you to buy a RedSea peninsula tank ? i know they are expensive ... but the amount of time you will be looking at the tank, the quality, forum support on them would really make up the cost of the one time purchase.

 

[Reefguy13]

@GoonReef no the budget does not allow. I wish though i want a redsea tank so bad.

 

[GoonReef]

ok so would you be buying a used or new system here ?

 

[Reefguy13]

Probaly a used system if i go drilled. If im doing the AIO Ill buy the tank new and then install the AIO from Fijicube my self. My big concern is if i do the AIO down the road ill regret not doing a sump to have more space for equipment shoudl I need it.

 

[GoonReef]

you should be able to source a new 75 gallon for pretty cheap.

example: https://www.petswarehouse.com/aqueo...MI0-yp54H24wIVy5yzCh2yGwcqEAQYAiABEgKGLfD_BwE

you could then do a "ghost style" over flow box

example: https://www.fijicube.com/collections/overflow-box/products/low-profile-external-overflow-box-1200pgh

This ^ would give you everything needed, drilling is also not very hard and it helps to have the above provided guide in this kit. There is also lots of youtube help, also try to reach out to local clubs they would have the ability to possibly help you in person.

nice sump for easier pluming

example: https://www.fijicube.com/collection.../fiji-36-advanced-reef-sump-2nd-gen-fiji-cube

you could go cheaper if you built you own from a 50ish $ 40 gallon tank from petco, but ill admit acrylic is nice.

You can get even more assistance on plumbing from here, BRS, and local clubs


Hope this is helping.....

 

[GoonReef]

also here is a DIY way to build a rock solid stand this guy is mainly fresh water, but knows his stuff and makes very good detailed videos of DIY'ing a lot of stuff for the hobby.

 

[Katrina71]

Excellent info!

 

[Reefguy13]

I have a stand for the 75 already and the over flow from fijicube is nice but drilling it scares the daylights out of me. Might have to consider it though

 

[GoonReef]

for the stand make sure you have a LOT... of repeat it again a LOT of room. The most you can get, the sump area is going to be the heartbeat of the entire system, its also the trash can lol. Think about it this way... how much time do you spend cleaning you current AIO sump ? i bet a lot... then take a drilled sump and add in the same area... sump, ato, Doser, Dosing container, every power cord for every piece of equipment, plumbing etc. A lot of reefers regret not have enough room under stand. BRS (BulkReefSupply) says it best, if you make it easier to do and access your more likely to do it ...

For drilling the guide provide almost make its bullet proof. When i did my first drill i actually went to a glass shop and bought a 10x10" piece of 1/4" glass, he actually just gave me it cause it was scrap, but you should be able to get on for sub 15$. I practiced on that with some drill bits from amazon... when i was done the first hole i was like whatttttt that's it ?

trick is go slow, keep it wet, tape the back side so the glass chunk doesnt fall and hit the other side and never, never press with the drill just let the drill weight do it all.

 

[Reefguy13]

@GoonReef great idea on the scrap piece of glass idea. I might try that. Im gonna wait again till petco or petsmart have their $1 per gallon sale cause usually the 75s are half off at that time as well.

 

[GoonReef]

no problem, thats a great idea for a cheap 75 gallon, heck the beauty of receipts and stores like petco is return policy, try and get 2 tanks and then drill away, if it breaks its a 75$ lesson, if not then you return the one you dont use!

 

[GoonReef]

make sure the tank is not tempered glass, would be a crazy experience if you tried to drill a tempered tank !

 

[Reefguy13]

Thanks and i found a nice acrylic peninsula style tank with drilled overflow in my area but only 55 gallons so now i have another decision ha! has a nice stand and hood which i want as well.

 

[GoonReef]

have you had acrylic before ? if you are going to have sand you might want to really think about how easily you can scratch the heck of them

 

[Reefguy13]

Good call