- Joined
- 6 Apr 2018
- Posts
- 4
- Reaction score
- 2
Hi Everyone,
After a few years of deliberation and a green light from my wife, I’ve finally started building out my first reef tank. Not sure if this was the brightest idea but I’ve decided to DIY pretty much everything as I simply don’t have the funds for a flashy turnkey build, and given it’s already a hobby that demands patience, I don’t mind if the build takes me a couple months.
My plan is to build a 75x45x30 cm shallow reef with a display volume of ~100L and I’m targeting a sump volume of around another ~50L or so - this will likely be a 60cm marketplace tank with some added baffles for the time being but I plan to swap it out for a custom pvc sump once I get some of the other, more critical tasks out the way.
I’m currently looking for someone to build the display for me and most other components will be sourced on the used market (with the exception of the light, I’ve ordered a single Noopsyche K7 pro). If anyone has any plugs in Durban who would be able to assist with a custom low iron tank, please let me know.
This past weekend I started building the cabinet. It’s constructed from 18 mm birch ply, fixed with glue and pocket holes but I’m contemplating adding some additional internal bracing and/or stainless steel corner brackets for additional support. (I’m open to suggestions here as well as I’d prefer not to FAFO, especially when I’m toying with things that I have little experience with).
Over the next week or so, I’ll be applying an oak stain, sealing with marine poly, mounting the door and internal shelf and then, the part that I’m not too sure about, punching some holes for the plumbing - this and the overflow design are where I have a couple questions that I hope some of you could weigh in on.
Regarding the overflow, I plan on machining a pvc or acrylic external overflow (I run a machine shop and thought I’d make parts that would otherwise set me back a pretty penny) which I plan to have two wet drains and a dry emergency.
I suppose my first real question is, what size pvc pipe and pump flow rates should I be targeting for a tank of this size?
There seems to be an enormous price difference between 20, 25 and 32 mm pvc fittings (elbows, valves especially, etc.) while the pipe itself is very cheap.
Would 3x 25 mm (3/4”) drains and 2x 20 mm (1/2”) returns provide sufficient flow and return from a tank of this size or should I be going for 1 inch drains and 3/4” returns?
The next overflow question. Is 3 drains with a dry emergency overkill or would a simpler 2 drain Herbie overflow be ‘safe enough’? I’m a little concerned that I over commit and cause headaches down the line while trying to cram too much into a cabinet of this size.
I’d seriously appreciate any advice that you all have to share.
After a few years of deliberation and a green light from my wife, I’ve finally started building out my first reef tank. Not sure if this was the brightest idea but I’ve decided to DIY pretty much everything as I simply don’t have the funds for a flashy turnkey build, and given it’s already a hobby that demands patience, I don’t mind if the build takes me a couple months.
My plan is to build a 75x45x30 cm shallow reef with a display volume of ~100L and I’m targeting a sump volume of around another ~50L or so - this will likely be a 60cm marketplace tank with some added baffles for the time being but I plan to swap it out for a custom pvc sump once I get some of the other, more critical tasks out the way.
I’m currently looking for someone to build the display for me and most other components will be sourced on the used market (with the exception of the light, I’ve ordered a single Noopsyche K7 pro). If anyone has any plugs in Durban who would be able to assist with a custom low iron tank, please let me know.
This past weekend I started building the cabinet. It’s constructed from 18 mm birch ply, fixed with glue and pocket holes but I’m contemplating adding some additional internal bracing and/or stainless steel corner brackets for additional support. (I’m open to suggestions here as well as I’d prefer not to FAFO, especially when I’m toying with things that I have little experience with).
Over the next week or so, I’ll be applying an oak stain, sealing with marine poly, mounting the door and internal shelf and then, the part that I’m not too sure about, punching some holes for the plumbing - this and the overflow design are where I have a couple questions that I hope some of you could weigh in on.
Regarding the overflow, I plan on machining a pvc or acrylic external overflow (I run a machine shop and thought I’d make parts that would otherwise set me back a pretty penny) which I plan to have two wet drains and a dry emergency.
I suppose my first real question is, what size pvc pipe and pump flow rates should I be targeting for a tank of this size?
There seems to be an enormous price difference between 20, 25 and 32 mm pvc fittings (elbows, valves especially, etc.) while the pipe itself is very cheap.
Would 3x 25 mm (3/4”) drains and 2x 20 mm (1/2”) returns provide sufficient flow and return from a tank of this size or should I be going for 1 inch drains and 3/4” returns?
The next overflow question. Is 3 drains with a dry emergency overkill or would a simpler 2 drain Herbie overflow be ‘safe enough’? I’m a little concerned that I over commit and cause headaches down the line while trying to cram too much into a cabinet of this size.
I’d seriously appreciate any advice that you all have to share.
