75 vs 90 gallon- opinions and thoughts

[starypotter]

I would do the same for that price. if you dont want to drill look in to the life reef overflow boxs there the best HOB overflow on the market been around for years and years. you would have to cut your canopy tho...just an option if you dont want to drill.

Thanks, with so many people suggesting drilling, and even LFS guy suggesting it I feel fairly comfortable with it. I'll make sure I read a lot and everything before I take it on, but I've cut glass before and I know that's a very different thing from cutting, but I guess it just helps me feel a bit more comfortable knowing how glass behaves as it breaks/cuts.

 

[starypotter]

I just completed my first reef build back in March. I chose to go with a standard 75 rather than the reef ready for a couple reasons. One being the amount of real estate used up by the internal overflow and two being the amount of holes drilled.

I chose to go with an eshopps L overflow which comes with the necessary bit and template plumbed for bean animal. Drilling my first tank was nerve racking but quite easy. In hindsight I should have drilled for returns but what I did was plumb my return with 1" and wye into two 3/4 loclines with RFGs. Brought over the rear rim of the tank.

That sounds fair, I'm thinking I'll drill for my returns as well because I'm rather reluctant to cut my canopy. Here's a bad picture from when it was mid construction but I apparently don't have any other pictures of the stand with all of the doors and things closed up, but at least gets the point across somewhat I feel.

 

[Emerson]

I was looking at the exact same dilemma a year ago: had an old 75 that I had built an entire system around including a custom stand. When I started to worry that the tank had a weak seal (and a lot more scratches than I remembered) I was stuck with the 48" x 18" footprint. I went with the 90 gal with a ghost overflow and two returns. I really like the additional 4" vertical. It allows me to aqua-scape up and leave more room in the water column towards the top for fish and (hopefully) coral growth. I'm also glad for the extra water volume.

All that said, what I really wish I would have done is never used the old 75, and instead gone with a 120 gal with a 48" x 24" footprint for my original build. Live and learn...​

 

[pshootr]

As far as overflow Kits go, which come with bits. The one I could not remember last night is Glass Holes. I've seen a handful of people here use them, so it might be worth a look.

https://www.glass-holes.com/

Of course another thread specific to overflow choices might be a good idea. [emoji106]

 

[Stevenlburton]

Drilling is easy