Hey everyone,
Starting my first reef tank and I am very excited and nervous.. I am still several months away from getting a tank up and going but I have been reading everything I can find on every possible subject.
Of course I have a million questions and I figured I had better start asking so I have time to get the answers I need.
First what I have tank wise:
150 gallon 48W x 24D x 31T 1/2" glass aquarium with plastic trim and a single plastic cross brace.
I guess I will start my questions here about what I would like to do with the tank.
I would like to have an external coast to coast overflow on the back of the tank with a beananimal silent siphon. (I was going to do an internal coast to coast but since this is a narrow tank I figured the more surface area I can keep for the tank the better)
I would like to remove the single cross brace and replace it with euro bracing (whence comes my first tank design question). (I have read that plastic cross braces can get hot and crack or break and also obviously block lighting.)
Replacing the cross brace is where I am struggling. what I would like to do if possible.
1. Remove top trim and cross brace.
2. Have a notch cut (approx 1.5" down) in back panel of aquarium as long as possible to facilitate overflow.
3. Eurobrace front panel and side panels with 1/2" glass
4. Build a full length external overflow basin on back panel of aquarium with 1/2" glass bottom to act as eurobrace for back panel.
5. Cut holes for return lines into bottom corners of back panel if possible or upper corners through overflow basin and back into tank.
Basically with the back panel notched there is nothing to hook a eurobrace to on the top of the tank so I was curious if what I outlined would work for strengthening the back panel.
Any feedback on this would be appreciated.. This is my first big hurdle in getting my setup started conceptually..
Thanks again.
Starting my first reef tank and I am very excited and nervous.. I am still several months away from getting a tank up and going but I have been reading everything I can find on every possible subject.
Of course I have a million questions and I figured I had better start asking so I have time to get the answers I need.
First what I have tank wise:
150 gallon 48W x 24D x 31T 1/2" glass aquarium with plastic trim and a single plastic cross brace.
I guess I will start my questions here about what I would like to do with the tank.
I would like to have an external coast to coast overflow on the back of the tank with a beananimal silent siphon. (I was going to do an internal coast to coast but since this is a narrow tank I figured the more surface area I can keep for the tank the better)
I would like to remove the single cross brace and replace it with euro bracing (whence comes my first tank design question). (I have read that plastic cross braces can get hot and crack or break and also obviously block lighting.)
Replacing the cross brace is where I am struggling. what I would like to do if possible.
1. Remove top trim and cross brace.
2. Have a notch cut (approx 1.5" down) in back panel of aquarium as long as possible to facilitate overflow.
3. Eurobrace front panel and side panels with 1/2" glass
4. Build a full length external overflow basin on back panel of aquarium with 1/2" glass bottom to act as eurobrace for back panel.
5. Cut holes for return lines into bottom corners of back panel if possible or upper corners through overflow basin and back into tank.
Basically with the back panel notched there is nothing to hook a eurobrace to on the top of the tank so I was curious if what I outlined would work for strengthening the back panel.
Any feedback on this would be appreciated.. This is my first big hurdle in getting my setup started conceptually..
Thanks again.
I'm sure there are a few that can chime in to help you - I'd be hesitant to even try on that one
