Reef Tank Dilemma

[virginreef]

Reefing family I need your help. Brace yourself for this. My wife and I started reefing about 7 months ago. We had a 32g biocube and we enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, the tank got damaged so be got rid of it about a month ago. We decided to get another tank, a little bigger but not by much, 50g. I went to one of my favorite sites "Marine Depot" to look for a tank.
Let me back-up a bit. When my 32g was up and running, we decided to get a little fancy and make some modifications. Removing the lid.. purchase a lid for top lids; incorporate a sump and even dosing as we were thinking about moving up to SPS corals in the near future. I purchased the Innovative Marine APS Cabinet Stand with Matte Black Finish for Nuvo 50 Aquarium (Stand Only) and I made some modification to it, adding some plywood on the sides, lighting, ledges, etc (pic is below)
So moving on... when my 32g got damaged, I went back to marine depot and purchased the Nuvo-INT 50 Internal Overflow Aquarium-50g tank to go with the stand. I specifically asked Marine Depot if this tank internal overflow mean that there are holes in the tank and they told me no is wasn't. I was like, great... I would like this tank. So I purchased it. I went forward and ordered a skimmer and sump to accommodate the additional volume of this new 50g tank.

so the tank arrived today and we were super excited we finally got to start on our new tank. Due to COVID-19, the guys were were only allowed to place the tank on the in the driveway. the box would fit through the door so I broke the box down and placed the tank on my dolly. Unbenounced to me, when I placed the tank on the stand, it was much smaller than the stand; my wife and I thought that it would look like the pic.. flushed. I called Marine Depot and they told me that "some tanks come that way," I wasn't excited about it but it will have to do.
Then I looked in the tank, pulling out the pipes in the back and noticed 4 holes drilled into the bottom of the tank. Guys you have no idea how heated I was and still am. So now I am sitting here with a tank that can work with modified stand.
Neither Marine Depot or innovative marine could help. Oh and the boxing was cut up by me because I had to break the box down in order to get the tank.

I am reaching out to you guys to ask what I should do.. here are my options:

Order the stand that comes with the tank $550
Pros: I will have the stand made specifically for this tank, all parts included
Cons: the stand will not fit my sump and reservoir. I will have to put the reservoir outside the stand. I am not sure there will be enough room for my dosing either. the stand is 19x19 and my sump alone is 18x18. What will I do with the dosing system, APEX, reservoir, etc??

Purchase the tank for the stand: $750
Pros: External overflow hook up, fit the stand I have flushed and my DIY work won't go to waist.
Cons: the tank will not be in stock until May some time; I'm stuck with the new tank with holes and can send it back. Will cost over $300 to ship back with a 15% restocking fee; I will have to wait for another two months or so before we can start reefing again.

Have a custom tank made here locally with my own specifications (I have a 700$ credit with a local marine store who knows a guy that designs tanks): $650 starting
Pros: I don't have to get rid of my stand or make any adjustments to what I want to go below the tank.
Cons: will have to weight for the tank to be built 1-2 months, would I be able to sell this new tank

 

[Copingwithpods]

I'd keep it and make it work, it's a very nice tank and looks very nice on the stand. The lip around it just means you have somewhere to put your drink down while you stare as it

I wish I would have made my stand wider with maybe a 4 inch lip on one side or both. It's nice to have a "shelf" for drip acclimation, testing equipment or just to add small reef related decorations.

 

[robbyg]

Yeah I would keep it on the existing stand and cut out the area for the four holes.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Yeah I would keep it on the existing stand and cut out the area for the four holes.

This is exactly what I would do too!

I would make sure to make the holes big enough so that if you have to manipulate a bulkhead after it’s full of water, you have room to work. (I have a friend who didn’t do this and it became a big problem down the road when his bulkhead started to leak.).

Having an ledge around the tank is nice, mine has a ledge and it’s nice to have a place to set things down.

Don’t be too upset, it’s a really nice looking setup and when it’s full of fish and corals it’s going to look great!

 

[virginreef]

Thank you all for your feedback. I will cut the holes through the stand. I thought about that earlier, but I was feeling some kind of way about the experience I had with the companies. But I should have done more research for sure. Thanks again reefers, we will post pics on the process.

 

[virginreef]

This is exactly what I would do too!

I would make sure to make the holes big enough so that if you have to manipulate a bulkhead after it’s full of water, you have room to work. (I have a friend who didn’t do this and it became a big problem down the road when his bulkhead started to leak.).

Having an ledge around the tank is nice, mine has a ledge and it’s nice to have a place to set things down.

Don’t be too upset, it’s a really nice looking setup and when it’s full of fish and corals it’s going to look great!

Rick... so let me make sure I understand exactly what you are saying. With regards to "making the hole big enough"... I was going to make the whole the same size as the pre-holes of the tank. Should I start off making a hole smaller than the size of the hole in the tank?

 

[Rick.45cal]

Thank you all for your feedback. I will cut the holes through the stand. I thought about that earlier, but I was feeling some kind of way about the experience I had with the companies. But I should have done more research for sure. Thanks again reefers, we will post pics on the process.

I would have been frustrated too! But you should make it a happy moment and save that money for livestock to fill it with!

 

[Rick.45cal]

Rick... so let me make sure I understand exactly what you are saying. With regards to "making the hole big enough"... I was going to make the whole the same size as the pre-holes of the tank. Should I start off making a hole smaller than the size of the hole in the tank?

You need to make the holes big enough that you can get your hand or a tool around the bulkhead (the part that the pipes fit into, that keeps water from leaking out of the tank). So you can tighten it or replace it, should you need to. Bulkheads look like this...

 

[virginreef]

You need to make the holes big enough that you can get your hand or a tool around the bulkhead (the part that the pipes fit into, that keeps water from leaking out of the tank). So you can tighten it or replace it, should you need to. Bulkheads look like this...

copy that!!

 

[Super Fly]

If it was me, i'd just cut out one opening so I don't have to deal with precise location bc no one's gonna see it. somthing like this but u can cut it as neat as u want...