Sump, fuge, return line, skimmer :)

[kmaintl]

Water changes: you will want to change 10-20% every week or two. If you are able I would recommend a 5 gallon water change once a week. That would be about 10% weekly.

I measure out my salt (by weight) at 1.4lbs per 5 gallons. I currently use reef crystals brand salt. The link below has the best deal I have found. They offer free shipping at $50 so I get a box. I just noticed they have a sale that puts it below the free shipping.
Saltwater Aquarium Salt: Aquarium Systems Instant Ocean & Reef Crystals Synthetic Sea Salt

Once I weigh my salt, I pour it over into my bucket then add the water. I have a heater and pump designated for mixing my water for water changes.

Let the salt and water mix in the bucket for 24 hours. This allows a good amount of time for the salt to fully dissolve. It is necessary step to not introduce non-dissolved salt to the tank. Non-dissolved salt can cause damage for your tank inhabitants. Never mix salt water in the tank or sump directly.

Pump: Get a maxi-jet 600 for your water changes. It is a small pump that has an output that is easy to attach a hose to. The diameter is 1/2". Home depot/lowes sells 1/2" hose by the foot. Get how much ever you want. When it's time to transfer the newly mixed saltwater into your sump, turn the pump off and attach the hose. Put the pump back into the bucket/container and the hose into your sump. Turn the pump on. No need to pick up and pour ever again

this is good advice!

 

[Loki]

thank you. One thing I would like to change. 1.4 lbs of salt per 5 gallons is really 1.4 lbs of salt per each 5 gallon bucket. It ends up being a little less than 5 gallons of water per bucket.

Always check the salinity of your tank and new saltwater with a refractometer before adding the new saltwater to your tank.

 

[jtgordon20]

I read through some of this and if.you ask 10 people you'll normally get 10 different opinions on how to do this, so here's my 2 cents
On a budget is what I'm doing as a teen.
So for an overflow check out glass - holes dot come. I ran the 700 gph kit on a 40B. This comes with everything you will need to drill and hook it up, besides PVC. Now if you don't know how to drill then you can look at their videos, or if you are scared, ask lfs or reefers in your area.
Next, the sump. On my 40B I did the 20L due to it's length and I didn't want a tall tank in there, like the 29 or 20H. A 10 will work but with limit Skimmer size and fuge size. You don't need to buy a sump or use acrylic. The glass tanks are fine and the 1/8" glass from Lowes will work, I used it. They will cut it for you, just make sure to sand the edges haha. For the sections, I'd do Skimmer -> fuge -> return. My reasoning is that the Skimmer will pull out copepods if it follows the fuge. Another way is to do skimmer->return->fuge. With the fuge wall will be the highest, and you either split the return or drain into it. This way the fuge contact time can be controlled.
The Skimmer I went with was bubble Magus nac3. It performed well for me and had no complaints.
I can't recall the return pump I used though.

Hope I helped

 

[Loki]

^^ good advice. With the 20 long you will have more total water volume. You would need to just be careful not to have too much water that at resting state it overflows the sump.

How tall did you make your baffles? How much (in inches) does you water level drop in your display?

 

[jtgordon20]

The baffles were 10" and I made a stand for the Skimmer. I think 9" would be more assuring. I also drilled a anti-siphon hole in the return piping.
It didn't drop much from the display because of that though.

 

[Loki]

Oh man. I would lower the baffles for sure. With only two inches of room left for the resting water it doesn't leave much room for error. If I remember correctly a 20l is only 12" tall. So that would only leave about 3-4 gallons. Lowering another inch would get you maybe one or two gallons. You could run your return area lower and that would give you more room.

 

[jtgordon20]

I acutally had room for complete power outage. But an inch lower would help further insure no overfilling.

 

[Loki]

Cool. It sounds like you have it. Try to always keep your return close to the top of the water level. It sounds like you got this figured out.

 

[BullSnapper]

okay Loki its oN!

I have decided to drill my tank and just balls out on this decision.

What size of a hole do I need to drill to fit my bulkhead? I don't know anything on sizes required at the moment. The equipment I plan on using are the following, not sure if this dictates the size of the holes so just posting in case.

[TABLE="class: tborder, width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="class: alt1, bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]so I am about to start ordering my PowerHeads, return pump, and overflow box but i have a few concerns, not sure how much GPH flow i need.

My tank is a 40 Breeder and was thinking of going with eshopps overflow box but not sure the nano, the 300 or higher...here is the specs

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18358

as for Powerhead, how is the Tunze Nano 6015? 2 of them or should i go with Koroalia 750s instead? I like the TUnze because i read you can increase the flow up to nearly 1000 gph..

FOr return pump, not sure how strong i need one but thinking of a cheap one such as a team rio pump thats like 40 bucks but not sure how many gph i'd need.

lastly, skimmer i am thinking of using a Octopus 100 hob but in the sump.

as for heater, thinking of a 150 Watt but not sure which one as i got an ehiem jager before and honestly don't realize a difference in $ justification on this. would 1 150 watt be good in my sump?
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[BullSnapper]

Also, if I drill, do i still need an overflow box inside the tank? and how much re those?

 

[Loki]

I would drill holes for 3/4" bulkheads for a 40g tank. I would drill three holes on the back glass(or bottom if you want to build an overflow box) one on each side and one in the middle. The two outer holes would be drains and the middle a return. I would get LocLine 3/4" and put it on your return to point wherever you want.

 

[Loki]

I ordered my drill bit from Aquacave.com. Just get on the site and look at a 3/4 diamond coated drill bit. If you order from them go ahead and get 3/4" schedule 40 bulkheads. I would get one extra of each just in case. I have had one break on me. The drains I would go slip-slip. (that just means that neither side is threaded). For the return I would get slip-thread (because LocLine will thread into it)

Here is the link to the bulkheads. For drain you need slip-slip so #1 and for return thread-slip so #2 http://www.aquacave.com/075-Bulkheads-P395C586.aspx

It also shows a link to the drill bit you need

They also have the LocLine. You would need one threaded 3/4 adapter one 6" locline and whatever nozzle you want. I got both and actually changed them out last week.

 

[BullSnapper]

So basically I need a bulkhead 3/4 inches than make probably a 1 inch hole.

How far apart or that can be anything? I think the holes will be at the top as that's generally where they are correct? also, do I need an overflow box inside the tank?

 

[Loki]

I am not familiar with powerheads anymore. I have the vortech MP40's. So someone else will have to answer.

You don't have to have an overflow for a drilled tank but it makes it look better imo

 

[BullSnapper]

Can I get all that at lowes?

 

[BullSnapper]

Sk without one inside all u will ser are

 

[BullSnapper]

Whoops ignore that last post. I meant without a overflow inside all u will see are 3 pipes about 1" in the tank?

 

[Loki]

That and you will have less surface skimming. An overflow makes the top of the water flow over the top of it and then it goes into the overflow to be removed from the tank.

Yes drill the top side and high on the tank. The higher you drill the less water difference you will have when your tank is at a resting state.

I think the holes are 38mm or 1 1/2" if I remember correctly.

 

[BullSnapper]

So if my tank is 18" high, and the rim is 1 inch, I should drill the hole about 4 inches below?

What I am wondering is, if the lower I go and place a overflow box, than the less amount of water I can have to the rim correct? SO instead of say a 14" deep tank it would be less.

 

[BullSnapper]

also, do i drill all the holes on the same line in terms of how deep they are, meaning all on a 4 inch deep line from the top of the tank