Newbie Help

Lance · #1 09-07-2008, 02:27 AM

I ran a 90 gal. for a couple of months with no sump. (only had a few fish, softies, and LPS at the time) I used a large canister filter and cleaned it twice a week, along with weekly 20% water changes. It worked fairly well but was a pain in the a$$. A lot of work to keep water parameters decent.
When I finally got the overflow, sump and skimmer installed the tank water was much clearer, (no scum on the surface), and the maintenance is much easier. Fewer water changes; less algae; equipment is easier to get at in the sump; dosing is easier, etc. etc. I would never go sumpless again. Not even for a short period of time. I would rather wait if I had to than set up a tank without a sump.

md14 · #2 09-07-2008, 06:48 AM

Hey thanks alot guys, I really appreciate it..

I dont know if it's just going to be easier to to buy a tank with a corneroverflow.. or do it all my self.. seems like a pain to drill and construct an overflow.

I'll look into it I guess, if anybody sees anything in calgary in terms of a tank let me know!

Thanks!

(Wow this completley just went over my head... what about an overflow box? like a Lifereef are they any good?)

Midknight · #3 09-07-2008, 02:19 PM

One important thing is to check the glass on the tank first.
If it is a Hagen Tank the bottom is going to be tempered and can not be drilled. So you have to drill the back.
Also being a freshwater tank for so long you have to be careful because if you have use copper based medical treatments in the past the residue could be toxic to your corals.

I am using that skimmer and I have a 10g tank right below it... just in case it over flows... again.

Hairytank · #4 09-07-2008, 04:43 PM

LifeReef overflow boxes are one of the best as they do not require the lifters and pumps a CPR one requires so the siphon does not get broken. I have never had the siphon break on the LifeReef after a power outage or pump restart. There have been times though where the overflow could not keep up initially when the pump restarted and therefore the water in the tank was very high, near overflowing.

One other drawback of a HOB overflow is they don't seem to have the same flow capability a drilled tank would have. Finally, I am not a fan of the look, as there is a big box in your tank, which I find more obvious than the corner overflows.

A drilled tank is a better option, but a HOB overflow can work.
I have a LifeReef and it is easy, but I can't wait until I have a drilled tank and built in Herbie overflow.