[KrakenSeas]

I'm in the process of setting up a new 52 gallon SPS reef tank. The tanks measurements are 30x20x20, starphire glass on the three front panes. I planned to have one overflow in the back left corner with a two inch hole.

1) My first question is, who here has overflow holes drilled in the back of their tank? How far from the top should they be? How noisy are they compared to bottom drilled tanks? If they are noisy, would it be possible to drill the holes a little lower and make durso's for them?

The circulation will be provided by an external pump hooked up to a SCWD. I will have a spraybar on each side of the aquraium.The pump may be placed on the floor with about five and one half feet of head with a few 90 degree turns in the PVC. It may be possible for me to make a small shelf behind the tank at the top of the stand to place the pump on. In that case, the head will only be about two feet.

2) Which external pump would you recommend for enough flow for SPS's, but with no extra powerheads in the tank?

Lighting will consist of two 250 watt 10K Metal Halides with 2 24 inch VHO atintics.

3) Which 10K bulb would you recommend for that nice crisp white look?

The canopy is in the process of being built. It will be 24 inches tall. My 72 gallon had major heat issues during the summer. It had a 12 inch canopy with no fans, two 175 watt MH's and 4 VHO's. The tank ended up crashing two summers ago do to a 90 degree heat spike in the tank. This new canopy will have one fan on each side. I may need a chiller in the summer since we don't run the AC much.

4) My question about the canopy is, will 24 inches be too high for the lighting? I want great color out of my SPS's, and I would like to keep a few of the rare/light demanding corals/clams.

Filtration will be maintained by a euro-reef CS5-3 in a ten gallon sump, connected to a twenty gallon refugium.

Later on down the road I plan to add a calcium reactor, a chiller, and a auto top off(I may get the top off now).

Any question or comments PLEASE feel free to ask. I can use all the help I can get.
Sorry for all the end-less rambling. And thanks for reading.
I plan to document and photograph my steps so maybe I can give back something to this community that has helped so many people much like myself. Thanks for your time and help in advance.

[scubadude]

Hi Kraken

Originally Posted by KrakenSeas

1) How far from the top should they be? How noisy are they compared to bottom drilled tanks? If they are noisy, would it be possible to drill the holes a little lower and make durso's for them?

I have never drilled a overflow on the back horizontal panel of glass but as far as distance from the top will be determined by the pump and size of the overflow or how much water you want to move through there. I would say around 2" +/-

Originally Posted by KrakenSeas

2) Which external pump would you recommend for enough flow for SPS's, but with no extra powerheads in the tank?

Im partially to AM3k but an Iwaki would do the trick too on this size tank.

Originally Posted by KrakenSeas

Lighting will consist of two 250 watt 10K Metal Halides with 2 24 inch VHO atintics.

3) Which 10K bulb would you recommend for that nice crisp white look?

I have just started using the XM bulbs and I love them! The par rating on them is fabulous too.

Originally Posted by KrakenSeas

The canopy is in the process of being built. It will be 24 inches tall. My 72 gallon had major heat issues during the summer. It had a 12 inch canopy with no fans, two 175 watt MH's and 4 VHO's. The tank ended up crashing two summers ago do to a 90 degree heat spike in the tank. This new canopy will have one fan on each side. I may need a chiller in the summer since we don't run the AC much.

4) My question about the canopy is, will 24 inches be too high for the lighting? I want great color out of my SPS's, and I would like to keep a few of the rare/light demanding corals/clams.

I think withe the fans in there you wont need that high of a canopy...What where you thinking of distance from bulb to water line? Your wasting alot of valuable lighting IMO if you put your bulbs more than 10" from the water line.

HTH

Rocky

[KrakenSeas]

Thanks for the info scubadude. The MH's will sit about 14 inches off the waters surface.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by KrakenSeas

Thanks for the info scubadude. The MH's will sit about 14 inches off the waters surface.

Ok forgive me for being blunt here but I think thats a very far distance from the waterline JMO, and I also think your gunshy for putting bulbs closer to the waterline because of the last tank that wasnt vented and got hot? I dunno maybe sumone else can chime in here and give some more opinions.

[Reefland]

I agree, but then again it isn't that far off from what some people recommend. I think shooting for 9" would be better, vent the hood and add some fans.

Scott Z.

[Elmo18]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Ok forgive me for being blunt here but I think thats a very far distance from the waterline JMO, and I also think your gunshy for putting bulbs closer to the waterline because of the last tank that wasnt vented and got hot? I dunno maybe sumone else can chime in here and give some more opinions.

Naw, I feel the same way. I like them closer to the water line, around 9-10 inches.

Fans will help.

- ELmo