2 reef ready or not reef ready, this is my question

So I will be moving in a few months and I am planning on upgrading. I am looking at getting an 80 gal frag tank (48X24X16) or maybe a 75 gal (48X18X20). My biggest hurdle ATM is "reef ready" or drill my own? I believe just the one overflow would not be nearly enough flow.

 

DIY, youll take more pride in it and itll involve you more in your setup. at least thats how i feel about it.

 

I'm in the process of building my first reef tank. I went back and forth before finally deciding on drilling my own. I wanted to be able to build my own overflow for greater surface area, not quite coast to coast, I shortened it by 6 inches on each side. Drilling wasn't bad, and I'm extremely happy with my choice.

 

I like the glass holes overflow box a lot. You could put 2 of them on and get good pull. I have 1-700gph box on a 90 and no film on top but I have a lot of movement on top! They would be easy to build your own of the same design!

Drilling tanks is easy. Get a good bit, glass-holes.com carries them as well, second have water more the better IMO, next I like to useable guide a 1/4 plywood works well. I Put a couple cuts in the other edge of the hole to give the water some drain spots. Then duct tape down where you want the hole, then put tape on inside of tank. This will help to keep the glass from falling and breaking the other side of the tank. Also smart to have a catch lol.

Use lots of water on it while drilling. I like garden hose with a slow stream to keep glass washed out of the cut. Let the drill do the work, do not apply pressure. The weight of the drill will cut in, just keep it straight!! It's not hard to do but is nerve racking the first time!!

 

I drilled my current setup but I was just wandering if reef ready was worth it.

 

My 400G I drilled now my new set up I bought "off the rack" with dual overflows.
I'd have to say if your going to do a unique set up and a standard tank will not do, than sure drill it yourself, But otherwise I'd stick with the off the shelf tanks

 

Just make sure it's not tempered glass when you drill and its easy as eating cake.

 

+1

First, if you break it or otherwise screw it up, it's yours... and tanks that size aren't cheap. Furthermore, the built-in overflows are usually rated much higher than what one would actually need; the flow rate should be relative to the size of the sump for maximum filtering efficiency, while powerheads provide the rest of the DT current.

 

i like per drilled but i dont like taking chances drilling my tanks had bad luck in past