Finding small-med size tank

[Sascha D]

Hello everyone,

I'm going home next month and I want to buy a tank but my appartment will only allow up to 30g , but I'm sure I can get 20-50g cube or hex and they wont know the difference hehe.

So I'm looking for a small-medium size tank if anyone knows a good place to buy one. The only thing I'm finding so far are the "complete kits", has anyone had luck using one? I would like to have it drilled so I can have an internal overflow, which will probably lead to a equipment sump.

Thanks

 

[burning2nd]

hmm.... small tanks are fun... as far as a cube or hex... i think your gonna have to piece it togther your self..

get the tank.. get a glass hole saw. drill the tank.. buy the bulkhead. make the overflow.

(ez)

skimmer in the sump? (maybe a small 10-15g sump)
small return pump
small heater (100watt)
2 powerheads

lighting?

you have a lot of reserch to do... i dont know where you can get one.. but im sure there has to be a LFS that has something you can use..

also a stand.. and where your gonna put the tank and sump.

where is home?

 

[ziggy]

With the kits you tend to see a lot of filler to make profit margins. It will take more work and more money to find quality components but in the long run you will get better results. Plus you can avoid all the things you didn't end up needing or wanting that come in the kits.

 

[Sascha D]

hmm.... small tanks are fun... as far as a cube or hex... i think your gonna have to piece it togther your self..

get the tank.. get a glass hole saw. drill the tank.. buy the bulkhead. make the overflow.

(ez)

skimmer in the sump? (maybe a small 10-15g sump)
small return pump
small heater (100watt)
2 powerheads

lighting?

you have a lot of reserch to do... i dont know where you can get one.. but im sure there has to be a LFS that has something you can use..

also a stand.. and where your gonna put the tank and sump.

Thats quite a checklist. You make it sound alot easier than it is hehe. The more research I do the more I see that I'm going to have to piece it together and do it myself. I really wouldn't be happy with one of the preassembeled kits. Theres just too much fluff that I dont need or want.

where is home?

Right now I live in Hawaii. So that limits my selection for the time being. I'll worry about lighting after I get the tank together. This will be the first one I've had to drill myself. Disaster Anticipated

 

[ziggy]

There are many threads on drilling a tank. I did it with a dremel, diamond bits and a spray bottle. Take your time and make sure its not tempered would be the two KEY things to know.

 

[Sascha D]

I found a couple of good threads with links to drilling a tank, but they dont mention anything about bulkhead size. Does it matter? I'm not very good with plumbing, but the smaller the drain the less it will drain and the smaller the return the more pressure right?

I'll post the links I have when I get home incase anyone else wants the info.

 

[Sascha D]

Oh I almost forgot! Whats better, having a hole on the bottom of the tank with a top-to-bottom overflow like you see from the manufacturer or having a small overflow box with the drain holes at the top of the tank?

I dont really see much difference other than the taller the overflow the more noise it'll make, unless you put media or LR in there.

 

[Sascha D]

Buying diamond tipped drill bits

Tank drilling instructions

 

[Chichas01]

Petco has their 'Dollar a gallon' sale coming up in the next week or so I believe. 30 gallons for 30 bucks is a good deal.

 

[Sascha D]

Is that just in your area or everywhere? I dont see a flyer on it yet.

 

[Sascha D]

Well I went to check out Petco, good sale that runs until 31 Aug 08. Unfortunately they dont deal in cube tanks so I'm gonna hold out alittle longer.

 

[Sascha D]

www.glasscages.com has pretty good prices and custom orders. They dont ship to my area but they have many states and the s/h isn't bad.

This is a good plumbing diagram, but I dont recommend this site's forums. http://www.reefs.org/library/mechanical/plumbing/photoalbum_view

They also have a pump selection guide worth looking at.
http://www.reefs.org/library/pumps/