[reefracer]

After 15yrs.since last SW tank I'm ready to go for it with a new reef setup. I'm thinking a 90gal. 36L24w24d sort of odd size I know but my room demands it. I'm new to using a forum like this but have been spending lots of hours recently catching up on some of the progress made the last 20yrs in the reef hobby. Things I think I want to have eventually are: much LR of course, corals mostly soft but not to rule out hard corals (I think they get you sooner of later) inverts, just a few fish. I'm to purchase a tank but have questions regards to drilling. I am pretty sure I want back only drilled even tho drilling the bottom can made for a clean backoftank. I'm just too scared of an accident emptying the tank. I like the sump with skimmer/refuguim, and maybe closed loop. Also, been reading about the overflow inside the tank all the way across the back, that's kinda interesting. If I can just nail down the drilling problem I can get started. Anyone willing to offer help, suggestions, guidance, or just plain ol snide remarks. BTW, I like the Keep it Simple method. Thanks for any.reefracer

[Reefland]

Hi reefracer,

If you are going with the back drilled, and an overflows across the entire back, drill the hole about 2" from the top for the drain and then have the overflow box built to cover it entirely. Should be pretty easy. It doesn't matter where the hole is drilled as long as the overflow covers it entirely.

[reefracer]

Thanks for responding Reefland, what about the return line in that senario, over the top of overflow box or under? And if I do a closed loop I drill two more holes under the overflow box at the sides? Making a total of four holes?

[Poseidon]

I don't think it matters much as far as the location of your return. As far as your closed loop, I would replace that idea with a Tunze or two. These pumps are VERY cheap to run, and move quite a bit of water.

[reefracer]

Well I don't really know that much about the closed loop, I mean the reasons for it other than circulation. I'm thinking i'll need to run a chiller and thought it might go in the closed loop. are there any other reasons to to the closed loop?