restarting tank. need help

[bingus]

I'm moving back home to my parents so I can save money to buy a house for my self. I've had all HOB stuff on my tank this whole time but I want to drill my tank and add a sump. what size sump do I need? what all goes in a sump? what size hole do I need to drill? my tank is 55 gallons. I have tons of questions and looking for help please

 

[hambandit]

Most 55g tanks are tempered and will be difficult if not impossible to drill. Additionally the narrow width of a standard 55g tank does not lend itself to easy aquascaping, in my opinion. Would you be open to a different tank? You may be able to find one locally on the used market that is already drilled.

 

[bingus]

Most 55g tanks are tempered and will be difficult if not impossible to drill. Additionally the narrow width of a standard 55g tank does not lend itself to easy aquascaping, in my opinion. Would you be open to a different tank? You may be able to find one locally on the used market that is already drilled.

ive seen people say that there are overflow boxes that you can put in instead of drilling. are those good? or is trying to find a tank already drilled the better option? could i use the tank i have now as the sump and just glue in smaller pieces of glass for the baffless?

 

[Uncle99]

ive seen people say that there are overflow boxes that you can put in instead of drilling. are those good? or is trying to find a tank already drilled the better option? could i use the tank i have now as the sump and just glue in smaller pieces of glass for the baffless?

There is overflow boxes. I would never use them. They scare me.
Drill or Pre-Drilled.....be safe

 

[hambandit]

ive seen people say that there are overflow boxes that you can put in instead of drilling. are those good? or is trying to find a tank already drilled the better option? could i use the tank i have now as the sump and just glue in smaller pieces of glass for the baffless?

You could but you would have to have a stand that would take a 55g underneath whatever the display is, so likely something fairly large - 6' 120+ or so just based on physical dimensions. which isnt the worst thing ever. Or you could just flip the 55 and get something else.

re: overflow boxes - you could, lots of people ran them back in the day idk if thats still a real common thing or not.

one thing ive learned over the years is that if you want something a certain way and end up settling, you will likely end up with a higher investment because the thing you settled for wont make you happy and youll end up doing the thing you wanted to do initially at the end of it. ymmv here that is just my experience. buy once cry once where possible.