new to 3reef. Hi!

whats going on everyone. I have been doing a decent amount of research the past couple of days, because i was thinking of taking down my current 75g freshwater tank and into a saltwater tank. after doing some reading i feel that it is not going to be big enough tank for what i am invisioning in my head. Now i am the type of person that is very hands on and personal so i want to build everything tank, sump, refug. etc. except for the skimmer. while i was doing some reading and sites kept on refering me to 3reef.com. well all in all i was hoping to get some ideas and ask a few questions from people with more expiernce.

was wondering if someone could post a decent link on specs on building a tank. found a few but i always like different views on things so i can better form my own opinion. im sure its not to complicated to actually build a tank it just seems more of a tedious task then anything. im lookin to do an all acrlyic tank. Im hoping to build about a 150gallon tank. now to the next questions

for the sump/refug for a 150 gallon tank how big should i make the sump/refug. i have seen the links on the site on the diy on sumps so ill refrence those on the build, just more or less a how big shold i go.


Something tells me i should probably just shell out the cash for a tank and go from there, but i have always wanted to build a tank. any suggestions would be grand, thanks for takin the time out to read this lengthy post.

Cheers,

Underx

 

Noice! 75 gallons is alot to me! welcome to 3reef what kinda fresh water fish do you have?

 

Well I will be no help hear.. I just wanted to say welcome to 3reef.. You came to the right place for sure!! You will get your answers hear!! Sorry I am no help.. for we bought our stuff but someday when we have a house and we will be doing the exact same thing as you.. Best of luck!! Cant wait to see your progress!!

 

yea here in a month or so i am going to start the build on the tank i will document it and post pics of the progress if you all would like. i want to get everything planed out before i even think about buyin the acrylic of the tank and sump/fuge. now another question at hand that has been rattling in my head. its about the skimmer i have seen photos and videos showing the skimmer attached to ( i think the overflow box) and also seen it in the what would be the fuge chamber. kind of confused. actually kinda confused on the whole setup on a sump system. i get the general idea, but my brain is not really wracking around the concept of the the overflow box, proper placement for the plumbing of the system. right side, left side, or center? does it really matter where they are placed? i know that water flow is good for saltwater tanks, am i going to need to put power heads in the tank, or is the return line good enough?
those are my few more questions for now.


and i have assorted african chiclids in my tank now, a dragon goby, a dinosaur birchir and a pleco. nothing too special.

Underx

 

Building an aquarium seems like a daunting task for a novice but good luck. You must be very handy to consider doing it.
A general wet dry / Refugium for a 150 gal tank IMO is usually 30" - 36" long and 12" - 14" wide with about 18" in height. This is an estimate. Here is a web page that might give you some ideas. Remember bigger is always better with wet dry's and refugiums.
http://www.sealife-systems.com/reefmaster.html

 

ehh i am always up for a challenge. its fun and worth it in the end, i am no where near as to even start building yet, to much research to do still and i am starting to get a better understanding on how the sump filter system. now with an aquarium with precut holes for overflow box thats in the tank is it going to be the same style set up on the back like what i have seen with hanging overflow boxes, or is a pvc pipe connected from the tank say the skimmer then the skimmer run off goes into the sump filter and so forth?sorry for my horrible wording on this question i cant think of a better way to describe it then how i think i see is supossed to be in my head.

underx

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!
Good luck on the tank build.. Keep us posted!

 

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Hi,
I would shy away from building your own tank! Not that you can't do it but with that much riding on the tank, for piece of mind I would just buy that end of the aquarium set-up!
As for the sump, their are different ways of looking at it. Do you wish to incorporate a refugium into the mix?
How much room are you going to have under your main tank that will be designated as sump space?
How much are you willing to spend ona sump/refugium?
What do you want to store in the sump?
By addressing these needs, you will better be able to answer your question regarding the size of the sump!
Good luck!

 

Welcome to 3reef!