Acrylic overflow removal and sump build

[B_IN_SD]

I have acquired an acrylic tank that measures 92.25" long X24" front to back X 36" tall and it has a center overflow. The more I look at this tank the more I want to change it from it's current config. The center tower just takes up to much real estate. There is more than enough tower length to make multiple overflows out of the existing tower or go with something entirely different. I am open for suggestions.

The sump is going to be built out of a 135 gl. glass tank that is sitting where the acrylic tank is going to go and enclosed in the stand [still yet to be built]. Also I will need to go under my house in the crawl space and add some bracing.

I have 2 months to finish this this and have the fish in the tank.There is usually snow on the ground here by Halloween and I would prefer not to move the tank from a freezing garage to a warm house.

Yesterday was my first day with this tank. It took 8 hours to scoop and siphon out the white sand. I used white vinegar and a magic eraser to clean the top half -- whoever invented the magic eraser is a genius !

In the next few days I am going to remove the overflow and purchase acrylic for a plug and patch for the existing holes as well as some weld on cement. Here are some half clean pics.

 

[RODinCALIFORNIA]

i really like those center overflows but good luck on however you choose to redo it, and nice tank you have there!

 

[B_IN_SD]

i really like those center overflows but good luck on however you choose to redo it, and nice tank you have there!

Thanks, I think for a SW tank the center tower would be great for stacking corals but on a FW aro tank the space could be utilized a little better.

 

[BadOleRoss]

Sounds like you have a lot to do in the next 2 months. Very nice tank but what were they thinking putting that overflow in the center of the tank like that? You are right in removing it!

 

[CHOMPERS]

That design is intended as a peninsula type setup or a room divider, where both sides are viewable. SW, yes. Aro tank, no. Check with Harbor Freight for a door jam saw. They had them on sale recently. It will cut it down pretty clean at the base. It should preserve enough of the height so you can reuse it for the corner overflows.

 

[CHOMPERS]

This is the beast:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-3-8-eighth-inch-blade-toe-kick-saw-94626.html

 

[B_IN_SD]

Sounds like you have a lot to do in the next 2 months. Very nice tank but what were they thinking putting that overflow in the center of the tank like that? You are right in removing it!

That's the problem with buyin used tanks they are never set up how you would like.

That design is intended as a peninsula type setup or a room divider, where both sides are viewable. SW, yes. Aro tank, no. Check with Harbor Freight for a door jam saw. They had them on sale recently. It will cut it down pretty clean at the base. It should preserve enough of the height so you can reuse it for the corner overflows.

Thanks for the idea Chompers ! That sounds a lot better than the hack saw I was going to use. I will check the hardware store today to see if they rent them. Either way it is out of there soon and maybe today.

For the drain I am thinking of drilling the back for the bulkhead fittings and use a elbow and a simple stand pipe to control the water level. The flow specs for the quiet one 9000 pump I am going to use says it will pump about 1800 gph at the height I want the tank at So I am going to use a 2" return line.

flow spec. http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/pdfs/q1aquariumDS.pdf

I sent an email to Tenecor about this tank and the reply asked for a serial number. where would it be ?

 

[B_IN_SD]

I have been stalled out the last couple of days. I made a cardboard template the size of the tank face to get an idea of where and how tall to make te tank/stand. I am leaning twoards a 1.5' tall stand now. That means I would ave to come up with another idea for a sump. Also where to put the sump. a 3' tall stand would mean a small step ladder and banging my head on the ceiling while cleaning. Did I mention that I have to lay on top of the tank just to reach the bottom. lol

 

[BadOleRoss]

There is a better tool for cutting that out. It is called a power hand saw and it's made Bosch. Id you Google Power Hand Saw Bosch you'll see it.

 

[B_IN_SD]

That power hand saw looks like the slick setup for doing this.

I checked out the local hardware store [ LHS ] and they did not have the door jam saw. So instead I bought some new hacksaw blades and a friend has a router to finish it to flush so I can add the patch. I think the hacksaw should cut right through it.

I have been saveing this hollow stump for a project just like this so I am going to start sinking it in a few days too. The burled wood on this stump should look good in the tank. I carried this thing out of the woods about 6 years ago and was quite the hike. On the way out my friend asked What are you going to do with that and I said put it in a tank and he said but it's bigger than your tank.