New 220 gallon setup needing guidance

I recently came across a 220 gallon tank/stand setup at a really good deal, so I couldn't turn it down. My past experience is with a lot of freshwater(breeding African Cichlids mostly), and within the last 2 years, a 55 gallon FOWLR tank, and a 38 gallon brackish tank with a green spotted puffer. Needless to say 220 is a HUGE jump! (I was looking for a 120) So, this new 220, I was planning a FOWLR, because I was thinking it would be cheaper, but the cost I was most worried about, lighting, fell into my lap as well. I ended up with a Coralife t-5 setup with 12 bulbs, so according to my LFS, I shouldn't have any problem supporting a reef! I bought it used and it doesn't have a model number anywhere, so I'm not really sure what it is exactly. Now I'm trying to figure out where the heck to start! Everyone in every site has different opinions on everything! I have a 55 gallon I wanted to use as my sump, but it doesn't fit under the stand which is the only place I can fit it, so I plan on using a 40 gallon long tank I just broke down. I have ZERO experience in sumps, I use a canister filter and HOB skimmer on my other tank. My tank is not drilled, and I don't think I can stomach drilling holes in glass myself, so I'm planning on using overflow boxes to get the water down there. I was wanting to do a sump/refugium combo, but I was also thinking I have a 20 gal tank that could fit in there as well... maybe a remote DSP? along with the main sump. Thoughts and opinions? I know I'll need about 200lbs of rock, and I'd like to do some sort of sand bed. I'm thinking I'd just do a shallow sand bed because everyone has such varying opinions on DSB, and I'm not a fan of bare bottom in a display tank. There's so much to think about and I'm having a hard time finding information for tanks of this size.

If anyone could help guide me in the right direction I would thoroughly appreciate it! I'm struggling trying to figure out how to even do water changes in the darn thing, but I'm a long way from there! I just want to get started the right way, I've lived and learned with my 55 tank, and I've got a lot more to lose on this one! Feedback on anything is appreciated!

 

Sounds good , be careful with hang on overflow boxes they can lead to a wet floor.

 

there is a great overflow set up in the DIY forum it is in the stickies you may want to look at it....
note to jason04r
AQUARIUMS lead to wet floors hahahahahahaha sorry could't resist

 

I have a esshops over flow box on my 75 and have never had a problem with it. The T-5's will be fine as long as the tank is 20" tall or less (sofe corals and lps). A FOWLR will be alot cheaper than a reef, as you don't have to worry wih calcium, mag, and so on. The over flow boxes are rated in gph, so the return pump in the sump has to be rated same or less than. Do alot of reading and research on stuff before you buy.

 

Dont get a hang on the back over flow. I have a CPR overflow and it has stoped siphon a few times and leaks at the bulkhead.

Take your time. Make a coast to coast overflow and drill the bottom or back. It will be a hell of a lot less hassle, if thats what you are after from the gist of this thread.

If I had the time again, when everyone said drill it, and I didnt listen. I wish I had listened.

There are some great sump stickys in the refugium section.

 

Thanks for all the replies! I'll be digging around the threads a lot more until I can come up with a perfectly planned design... Although nothing in the hobby can ever be perfect since there's never just one "right" way to do things. My plan for the tank right now is Fowlr, but stick with reef safe so I can venture into that as money allows.

 

Ooopsss, sorry ...wrong thread. LOL

 

I'd really consider drilling it. If you don't want to do it, I'm sure a local glass company will for pretty cheap.

 

I like the idea of calling a glass shop! That way I'm not the one risking ruining my tank lol. My concern is that I have no idea if any of the tank is tempered, and not knowing what brand it is, I don't really have a way to figure it out. Maybe the glass shop could tell? I was also thinking about a Lifereef overflow box, because they have gotten a lot of reccomendations on this site. They seem like a good alternative if drilling doesn't work out.

 

From everyone I talked to, including a glass manufacturer in my own town, there is no way to tell the difference from tempered and plate glass when there's no recognizable marks. I'm having my tank drilled and all the labels had worn off, but luckily my shop owner was the one who sold the last owner this very tank I bought, and he knew what kind of glass it was. If not for that, I would have been screwed. It's a huge risk cutting into the unknown.