Hey folks, I will be using this thread as a chance to show new reefers (like myself) can accomplish alot with some research and patience.
I am planning a 40 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. 40 gallons is the largest saltwater tank I have ever used. I have never used a sump and never skimmed anything.
I had a old aqueon 40 gallon tank that I had freshwater fish in for 8 years. And a 20 gallon long for the same. I got a wild hair up my you know what and I decided it was go big or go home (for me. I know lots of you folks have hundred gallon tanks and up. One day friends)
So first I had to figure out if I wanted to do an internal or external overflow. I wanted to try internal but that meant drilling some holes. Never drilled holes before. Decided that I wanted to do a 1 inch drain and so I I got a Figi cube overflow box that could handled up to 660 gph. Now there's some math that you are supposed to do here to figure out the exact flow appropriate for your overflow.... Just look up the info on the overflow box in relation to your tank and you will do fine. I could have gone with the 450 gph box but it had a 3/4" drain. If you want a 3/4" drain then do it!
The overflow box came with the diamond drill bit to attach to a drill and make the overflow box. So I went on BRS to figure out what size drill bit I needed for a 3/4s return hole that i could throw a bulkhead in. They have great info on there. With the 2 drill bits acquired it was time to prep and start drilling. Using the guides attached were a godsend.
I am planning a 40 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. 40 gallons is the largest saltwater tank I have ever used. I have never used a sump and never skimmed anything.
I had a old aqueon 40 gallon tank that I had freshwater fish in for 8 years. And a 20 gallon long for the same. I got a wild hair up my you know what and I decided it was go big or go home (for me. I know lots of you folks have hundred gallon tanks and up. One day friends)
So first I had to figure out if I wanted to do an internal or external overflow. I wanted to try internal but that meant drilling some holes. Never drilled holes before. Decided that I wanted to do a 1 inch drain and so I I got a Figi cube overflow box that could handled up to 660 gph. Now there's some math that you are supposed to do here to figure out the exact flow appropriate for your overflow.... Just look up the info on the overflow box in relation to your tank and you will do fine. I could have gone with the 450 gph box but it had a 3/4" drain. If you want a 3/4" drain then do it!
The overflow box came with the diamond drill bit to attach to a drill and make the overflow box. So I went on BRS to figure out what size drill bit I needed for a 3/4s return hole that i could throw a bulkhead in. They have great info on there. With the 2 drill bits acquired it was time to prep and start drilling. Using the guides attached were a godsend.