29gal external overflow DIY - lots of pics!!

[JoKeR]

KOOL!

I like the lights!

also

GO DUCKS!

 

[Cute-n-Fury]

impur its gd to see your tank is coming on great i love it

Dan

 

[DannyBoy17]

Would a Vermont American 1/8'' Glass and Tile bit work for cutting the Overflow? Like, it will be cutting on the side of the the bit, wont this crack/chip the glass?

DB

 

[impur]

I used the side of the bit on the ones i used. Sounds like it would work fine.

 

[Cute-n-Fury]

hi impur id just like to ask a simple question about the pump used in your sump how do you work out what size pump you need for a sump??

thnx Dan

 

[impur]

Dan - I just figured i wanted some good flow. This one pumps 950gph. Thats a lot of flow for just a 29, but it gets cut down by the scwd, the height it has to push the water and is also restricted by the size of the tubing. So i'd say its around 450-500gph now. What size you need depends on what you want to keep. I'd like mostly SPS with some LPS and zoos so more flow is needed. I like more flow in general, keeps the tank nice and clean.

 

[impur]

More pics. Got the project all finished. Here we go!!

Filling:

Sand in. I used Southdown sand and should have cleaned it first. The silt stuck to EVERYTHING. i had to remove the sump and completely clean it. But i'll have lots of particle sizes so thats good

Filled, clearing up, and light on. I ended up buying a Reef Optix I pendant as i didn't like how my DIY pendant threw the light.

One rack in place

 

[impur]

My cure to the micro bubble problem

Other rack in place and a few rocks added:

Coral holding tub:

All thats left of the 10 gal nano:

 

[impur]

More rock in

Corals being added after about an hour of acclimation

All in with flash

No flash

 

[impur]

 

[impur]

I need more rock, but i'll wait to add that until i'm sure all the fish i want won't be a problem

Here we are Monday. Clean and clear. Added a royal gramma and some nice blastos. Take a look

 

[supersam]

WOW great job! Some day I'll have enough balls to do that.

 

[Idolz]

Good stuff. Looks like a lot of work.
I thought that you were about to drill through the bottom of the tank! I think the bottoms are usually tempered. At least my 20 gallon is.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Wow that is just amazing.

It's funny i should find this i was looking at overflow boxes and they cost £500

just 1 question though being a freshwater guy i don't have a clue whats those racks are achieving??

I'm glad you didn't have any problems finding a pump your happy with, i ended up using pond pumps on my FW sump, would still like more flow!!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I just want to compliment you on a task well planned and executed. I'm a surgeon and I think this was harder than taking out a gallbladder. Thanks for sharing the pix and I hope you'll post other projects that you take on. Kudos. Frank