New 75 gallon tank w. overflow

[Bertsch]

Yesterday I became the proud new owner of a 75 long tank which includes an overflow. I am now looking for a quality sump or wet/dry filter system. I have done some searching around coralforum for information, as well I have checked out Dr. Foster Smith, marinedepot, and of course ebay, but I have a couple questions.

1 - what size do I need? I have read the system should have anywhere between 40 - 60% capacity of the tank, is this true? This would mean the system would have to hold anywhere between 30 - 45 gallons of additional water. Some of the systems I have looked at are rated for a 75 gallon tank, but it only holds 20 gallons, is this enough?

2 - what is a quality manufacture? Dr. FosterSmith has a "Pro Clear Aquatics Wet/Dry Filter" which is reasonably priced, but I dont know if its junk.

3 - should I just purchase a 20 or 30 gallon tank and build my own?

Thanks guys

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Edited on 10-11-2005
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I spoke to the LFS about transfering the fish and the substrate I wanted to use, normal sand not live sand or crushed coral. He gave me the information on the sand I needed and how to transfer the fish. So over the weekend I put the sand in the tank and let it clear up, did what he told me and what I have read here, and the fish are in the tank. I will post pics once the fish stop churning up the sand. I am beginning to think I made a really bad choice by putting sand in the tank instead of crushed coral, and I am in for a long long process of getting this tank right. Pics should be posted tomorrow if the tank clears up.

[tim_coville_]

For the size, just go with what can fit in your stand.

I would build your own, just get a 20g tank or 29g tank or w/e can fit. Buy some acrylic sheets from Home Depot with silicone.

Snap the acylic peices at home (make a section out used a razorblade) and just snap it off (should break clean if you create a crevice with the razorblade) and put in the sheet with silicone.

here is a pic of my homemade sump/refugium:

http://www.coralforum.com/files/sump_101.jpg

[TranZ]

I agree with tim on DIY sump. less expensive and gives you more option but the question is what are you planning to do with this tank? REEF, FOWLR and just FO. if you go with reef and FOWLR don't get a wet/dry filter. on the a reef tank and FOWLR tank all you need for biofiltration is 1-1 1/2 lbs per gallon of LR. Let us know what are your main goal.

[Doctor_Reef]

Ditto's with Tranz...we need to know what your plan is....what you are going to keep in this tank...

[Bertsch]

Sorry I have not responded sooner, I am building my own system. I ened up buying a 29 gallon tank and found some information online, basiclly pictures of other DIY's and went from there.

My plans for the tank is going to be FO I am going to move the fish from my 45 into the 75. I need to update my profile since I have moved fish around and had a death in the 45. The fish with the new home will be a Niger trigger, Picasso Triger and a Maroon clown. They are doing fine in the 45, I am surprised the two triggers are doing so well. I have half of the tank full at the moment, I am waiting until I get this sump system finished to start adding more water from the 45 into the 75 so I can get the tank moving. I will post some pics when I am finished. Thanks all

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sounds like a great plan Bertsch - can't wait to see pics of the new set up!

[TranZ]

Can't wait to see some pics.

[Bertsch]

Here are some pics, I cant put water in it until this weekend, the silicone has to cure. Once I get this completed and into the stand on the new tank, then the fun begins. I have to pull the old tank out of its current possition, move the new tank into the center of the wall and put in the 250 pounds of rock structure I have for it. Then I have to fill the rest of the tank with water from the old tank. I will let that circulate through the filter and check in a week if everything is ok. Then I will transfer the fish.

[Bertsch]

Here are some pics of the tank up and running. I have a pic of the sump under the tank, but I can only get 3/4 of it into a pic because of the doors, so I didnt post a pic of that. At the moment there is a slight haze in the tank from the fish stirring up the sand, but I hope that settles while I am away this weekend

[Bertsch]

In case anyone is wondering the rock on the left is in front of the overflow and is as wide as the tank. The rock on the left is as wide as the tank (18 inches) and 18 inches wide. Both of those rocks weigh in around 80 or 90 pounds respectfully

[boos]

Bertsch,

I am looking at getting a 75 gallon tank with a built in overflow. I would like to build my own sump and I was wondering where you found the plans for the sump you made? I'd appreciate it if you would let me know!

thanks

[coral_diver]

Hang on your 75 is new right? Did you cycle it before adding your old fish to the new tank? And watch that Oceanic salt you are using....can bring calcium up to high and alk to low etc ph also seems to be on the lower side which actually goes kind of hand in hand. It is looking good I am just concerned that you didnt cycle?

[Bertsch]

I built the sump from a design I found on the internet, ozreef.org has some really good DIY projects, here is the url for the sump DIY projects
http://ozreef.org/component/option,com_bookmarks/Itemid,50/mode,0/catid,46/navstart,0/search,*/

Here is one that was posted after i designed mine.
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/sumps/sump_f.html

The only word of advise I do have to offer is the piece of plexi that you use for the return chamber, make sure its reinforced. Mine has seperated from the tank walls due to the water pushing on it. The sump still serves its purpose but that last chanber wall isnt flush. Also use the right pump for a return, the pump I used has too much for and is returning the water faster than it can be sent down, and with evaporation down there the return chamber gets really low.

As for the 75 tank itself, I purchased it used and the way I transfered the fish from the old tank to the new tank was get new water into the new tank, and run the old filter for two weeks. It worked, the fish didnt miss a beat in the new tank. Now with that said everything didnt make it as of last week (tank was 4 months running) there was an ick outbreak in the tank that nuked all the fish. I did my best to take care of the situation but nothing made it.

I also made the mistake of putting the wrong kind of sand into the tank, that caused some alge problems so I had to get that out of the tank. For the most part the tank has been an absolute disaster but I figure I will give the ick a couple weeks to die off in the tank, that will give me some time to get the sump fixed and ready to go.

[Bwlr]

Couple more links... if you're interested.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php
http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

[specsgirl]

The tank looks great so far. Very interesting rock layout. I'm assuming those are diy custom rocks?

[Bertsch]

yhea the rocks are a DIY, but I didnt do the DIY. The guy I purchased the tank from made the rocks from DIY he found on the internet.

They are big,and not to mention heavy, but after the tank went tits up I removed the large one on the right, and replaced it with smaller rocks. I am still going to wait another week to allow the ick to die off in the tank, that would make a month without anything in there. I am going to introduce a couple damsels into the tank and get it going again, because the only thing in the tank at the moment are some crabs, and snails. There is no actual filtration in the sump at the moment since I had kickick in there since the carbon will absorb the kickick.

I will post some pics of the tank over the weekend since it does look alot better with more room in there with that large rock out of the tank. Now I just need to figure out what to do with the rock (I actually have two large rocks, and some pieces left) Anyone in the Norther VA area, Warrenton/Gainsville area want some DIY rocks PM me you can have them.