Fish's new tank project

[woodcarver]

Hi Brad ,I am watching your every move
I wonder if it is the salt water versus fresh, I have not owned a skimmer yet. There is a huge thread on R.C. devoted to tuning the Coralifes ,they seem a bit finicky although economically priced . Our local LFS has them running and they seem O.K.
Are you going to have the bottom of your new tank drilled like the old ones ?
................Dave

[Fish]

Dave,
Thanks for letting me know about the RC thread - I'm going to track that down once I get water in my tank and use it to set the skimmer up.

Yes, I will probably drill at least a couple bulkheads in the bottom of my tank... I am going to bolt an external pump to the underside of the stand and run a closed loop through the bottom of the tank. I might do it with both external pumps actually... if I can get a low enough flow submersible pump to serve as a sump return...
I am still thinking about how to do my overflow... In my experience, the two-bulkhead herbie method is the quietest and safest - bar none. But, I would like to do something less visible if possible... still racking my brain though

- Chad

[woodcarver]

Chad, I tried to send you the R.C. Coralife skimmer link but it does not seem to want to work. You can get there through Google ,sometimes the R.C . search feature is overloaded !!
What is the two bulkhead herbie method ? Can I find it on canreef ?
.................Dave

[Fish]

Dave,
Thats a good idea to try Google. I never have any luck with RC search.
I'm not sure if the Herbie method is listed on Canreef but I have seen a couple of our members tanks that are running it. It just requires two bulkheads and one ball valve - no durso, no stockman.
Here is where it was first posted on RC:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=344892


Cheers,

- Chad

[woodcarver]

Hey, Chad ,Thanks for the link . However it only took me to a huge archived list
What was interesting tho' was I took my own advice and googled ' Herbies bulkheads ' and was directed right to the thread !! Amazing ..............Dave

[Fish]

Update:

Well I picked up the egg grate and some krylon fusion plastic paint today. It was still cheaper to buy the white stuff and black paint than it was to buy black egg crate. As an added bonus, I think that the plastic+paint will be a bit stronger than the plastic would have on its own.








Advantages to this approach:
- increased airflow
- modern, professional finish
- cheaper than almost any other material option
- no tools required but a pair of side cutters!!!

What do you think?

- Chad

[Joe Reefer]

Good idea, It should look pretty good once its painted. Noise may become a factor with the stand open like that.