starting a 280 gallon project need advice!!

[90reefernyc]

Hello everyone planing on starting a new tank about 280 gallons or so would really like to hear peoples opinions and advice for this project.

1. Closed loop yes / no why?
2. Size of sump?
3. External or internal overflows?
4. Size of skimmer?
5. Lighting?

Many more questions but this is the start of a long project I think.
Looking and studying everyone's tanks on here and trying to absorb as much info as I can. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Jimmy

[Fiziksgeek]

Here are my opinions:

1. Closed loop if you want to hide all the plumbing, power heads (tunze or vortech if you want the most energy efficient.

2. As big as will fit

3. External if you can afford/fit them in.

4. Depends on size of the system, but be prepared to spend some money here, don't skimp.

5. Depends on what you want to keep! MH is my preference!

[frank arriaga]

have 265 gal with two close loop 2 dart pumps to hot want to go back to tunze's

[ycnibrc]

1)close loop if you don't want to see power head every where in your tank.
2)enough to have decent flow to your sump don't need to be fast.
3)external is better but more money and have a chance of leak at the seam of the box.
4)the biggest you can buy
5)combo of Mh and T5

as far as the plumbing fitting all important hole need bulkhead or ball valve go with schedule 80 industrial the rest you can use schedule 40.

[ret25yo]

I have a 270 72x36x24
2 x closed loops
2 x sequence darts
2 x om 4-ways
125g custom sump / refugium
8 returns
2 Cl drains
2x main returns
2x main drains
1x backup drain
internal bubblemaste 250 skimmer
2 internal eheim 1262 returns
2x ATI 36" 8 bulbs T-5 fixtures
2x tunze 6100 's w/ controller
plenty of flow inside the tank
but great 2000 gph through the sump

[90reefernyc]

Hey guys thxs for the replies. ret25yo that is the size i was think just 25 high do you have any pictures? thank you, Jimmy

[ret25yo]

[frank arriaga]

ret25yo is right install my two 6100 tunze and now i have the right flow with the two dart pumps

[frank arriaga]

Here is the tank then and now

[Lunchbucket]

Dang looks nice!

Lunchbucket

[90reefernyc]

I was thinking of (1) om 4-way with 3 holes on the bottom and one on the euro brace. I want to do a three independent island rock formation. I will be putting in a Tunze wave box also. Hey Frank nice tank I read your thread on MR.

[Jar*Head]

Originally posted by 90reefernyc
I was thinking of (1) om 4-way with 3 holes on the bottom and one on the euro brace. I want to do a three independent island rock formation. I will be putting in a Tunze wave box also. Hey Frank nice tank I read your thread on MR.

Sound like a good plan but if go with CL and OM. I would do either 2 holes on each end of the tank or 4 holes evenly space across the front or the back of the tank and my return will go on the brace or Overflow box. wavebox is also another great choice...

My dream tank will have 4 ext waveboxes and 2 tunze 6301 that is all i will have for in tank circulation.