58 gallon Oceanic upgrade

[moocow]

I've been in the saltwater area for about 5 years, but up until now i've only had All-In-One nano tanks. Such as the JBJ tanks.
So I really have no idea about filtration and water movement in Saltwater tanks.
My 58 oceanic was bought as a freshwater, and I'm sick of FW honestly.
I'd prefer NOT to drill the tank. Unless drilling would be substantially less $$$ than doing a HOB system. Then I would find a way to do it. lol

What do I need to filtration. I have a canister filter (eheim 2217)
but I think the flow for it would be too low.
I would really like to keep beginner to intermediate level corals and polyps anenomies mabey.

I've read up some on Sump/Refugiums, wet/dry filters..but i really just don't get it.

So,
Should I
1. Seriously consider drilling the tank?
2. or Do a HOB system?
3. And what the heck do I need? sump/fuge/filters???

[moocow]

any opinions???

[mile sq. reefer]

You do not need a sump to keep a successful reef. The sump increases your tanks volume, allows you to hide equipment ( skimmer, reactors, heaters, act as a fuge, place monitors and probes etc.)

The 2217 can be used to run, chemical filter material, but take out the noodles and bio balls they become nitrate traps.

Bermuda Rogue makes a new productive skimmer. Koralia make good powerheads for flow.

[miwoodar]

Drilling a tank is not as hard as some people believe. I've done four now and I will never pay to have my tank drilled again.

You can buy a bit from THK.com and end up paying less than a hang on the back overflow if you use bulkheads and elbows.

[moocow]

So I Could use the canister for chems.
I'm sure I would need to fill it with sponge material as well?
Phosban,carbon.

No sump, but it helps for sure right?
I would actually like to have a sump/fuge.
I really like the idea of a fuge.
But I see lots of things like sump/fuge combos, and just on or the other.
I have a 30 gallon tank sitting around. Couldn't i just use that???
plus I love the idea of hiding things.
My 2217 has an inline heater though. I would still need to hide a skimmer, and other things.
Or I could just exclusively run the 2217?? I would need some sort of extra flow though right? I really want to try some different corals and polyps and anenomies.

Since the glass is extra thick, drilling wouldn't really be too hard, right?
Is there a website or area that has some details of how to drill glass?
Also, where do I get overflows then?

I know there are lots of questions, I'm just having a horrible time finding this stuff...at least you guys reply. The jerks at nano reef never reply........
so thanks!

[moocow]

Odd, I couldn't find any drillbits on that THK.com site.....

[GSMguy]

where in ohio are you.


Definitely Drill your tank

[moocow]

Springfield.
Aren't we worried, shouldn't we be worried about cracking???
I see that drilling could be cheaper than doing a HOB system. the overflow for HOBs are pretty expensive.
If I drill where do I get a bit? Couldn't find one on that site listed above...and
where do I get the intake over flow boxes.
Isn't there some math involved in what pump, overflow, fuge I need???

I think I want something like this..
My canister filter w/ inline 300watt heater. Filled with sponge material, used for doing chems and extra water movement.
Refugium, ( a spare 30 gallon tank I have laying around)
return pump, and in tank power head.
does that sound okay for filtration and water movement?
How do I determine what size pump, over flow, and hole i need to drill?

[GSMguy]

Canister filter will do nothing but catch detritus and turn into a nitrate factory

a live rock a fuge and a protein skimmer are all the filtration you need.

you could use he canister to run phosban and carbon but it would need at least bimonthly cleaning.

there are so many ways to set up a bulkhead overflow im no expert im the guy who should have drilled his tank and now regrets not drilling it.

[moocow]

so you have a HOB system.
Don;t like it??
From the way it looks. Using the 58 instead of buying the 28 is looking to be about the same price +/- a few bucks.

Could I use the 30 gallon tank as a fuge??
how do I determine my over flow size, hole size, and pump power???

[moocow]

how do I go about drilling, I'm not really finding much in my searches....
any pointers from people who have done it?

[moocow]

Where can I buy an over flow box??
Google searches provide nothing.
Is 300GPH of flow enough? I should know this when I buy an overflow box right?
It needs to match 300 GPH, assuming that's the desired flow I need.
I hear lots of different #'s
I plan to keep for sure soft corals and soft polyps, possibly hard.
And the search function here doesn't work...?

[Moosetache]

Take it to your LFS and have them drill it....if you havent done it before, or havent seen it done, it is not worth it. You dont want to ruin that tank.

[moocow]

yeah, my LFS is a chain store. They won't do it, but there are lots of glass shops around.
If not, my dad has drilled glass before. I would just prefer a shop do it.

[miwoodar]

Originally posted by moocow
Odd, I couldn't find any drillbits on that THK.com site.....

Sorry - here's the link. http://www.thk.hk/ I think I paid $13 for a bit after shipping.

You can find videos on YouTube. Also on RC if you search (I entered this into Google...video drill tank site:reefcentral.com).


---edit---
I just saw a link to a video in another post...
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1289963

[mrme]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...8&pcatid=18358

Check this website out.. good prices imo, and their live selection is to die for. =D