edorama
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2019
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 23
- What state or country do you live in
- Florida
Hello. I'm new to posting, however I've been in the hobby for over ten years. Knock on wood, I have a successful (fish & coral) 110 gal main tank with a 40 gallon fuge. I guess what makes my tank unique is that when I purchased it I removed both overflows, installed a coast to coast overflow that I made out of glass sheets, and drilled multiple holes into the back glass and floor for circulation and return pumps. First, I drilled two (3/4") holes in the base, at the front corners. Next, I drilled two additional holes half way up the back glass and connected a manifold & pump that turns the back jets on for 2 minutes, then stops them for the front jets to turn on for two minutes, and it continues this cycle. I drilled the return bulkhead for this pump into the back glass. I have two return bulkheads for the main pumps drilled in the back glass and located inside the coast to coast overflow. The uniqueness of these returns is that I plumbed them through the cinder block wall behind my tank, outside the house, and into a 10' x 10' shed where I house my refugium, protein skimmer, two return pumps going back inside the house, and 7 stage RODI filter. I plumbed a feed line from the main (city) water supply to this RODI and I store fresh (RODI) water and Tropic Marin saltwater mix in two 35 gallon drums. The "waste" from the RODI gets stored in two additional drums, and each day I pump this water to our outside landscape fountains and irrigation lines. I used to perform 40% water changes once per month, however now I drip water out of my protein skimmer and drip "new" saltwater back into the sump each day. I remove about 5 gallons every three days. This is much easier, and the only maintenance I do is rinse filter pads in the fuge bi-weekly, turn the cheato and plants every other day, and dose on alternate days with two part, magnesium, iron and kalk. I tried to automate everywhere possible. The best part is the main display tank inside the house is silent, and any water "accidents" happen in the outside shed. I do have a 1/3 HP chiller running inside the house that I couldn't do without living here in Florida. Our local fish store loves us for the many anemones and frags we've brought to them over the years. It's not a very big tank, but it's fun. Thank you for listening.
