Question on converting a 45 gallon tank

[sharkie]

Hi Everyone!

I have a 45 gallon breeder tank that I am currently using as a growout tank for African cichlids. Anyways, I was thinking of converting it into a reef tank and had a few questions.

1. I would like to partition it, so that I can have the filtration in the tank. For those of you who know what the JBJ nanocube looks like, something like that. Should I use acryllic or plastic piecess get this done? And where can I get these pieces? Which would be cheaper?

2. I was also thinking I could dived part of the back partition and turn it into a fuge. Is there any problems in doing this? Anything I should be aware of?

3. Does anyone have a link or experience in undertaking this task? If so, I would like to see any designs that you may have come up with.

This tank currently sits on a counter, so I would like to put as much of the hardware required in the tank, hence the partition.

Anyways, this is a start of the questions that I have.

I look forward to any input anyone has on this.

chiu

[matt]

Chiu;

I think the 45 breeder, if that's what you have (36"X18"X16"tall) is a GREAT small reef tank and I would not partition any of it for "filtration." What you should do is have a good sand bed/live rock bio filter, plenty of in tank circulation with either a closed loop or powerheads, and use a hang-on skimmer; probably the best of these is the remora pro. (although as somewhat of a skimmer snob, I don't really like any of the hanger-oners, but plenty of other people do)

That's really all the filtration you need or want for a reef tank. In terms of a refugium, you could do a hang-on fuge as well. The 45 breeder is really a great shape for a sand bed and aquascaping, and I'd want to use all the internal space. You could hang the skimmer on one side and the fuge on the other side if space behind the tank is not accessable.

The only thing about the hang-on skimmer, if your tank is on a flat surface that extends out from the bottom on either side, is that you nneed to find one that doesn't need more than 16" of height to sit on the tank rim.

[sharkie]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for the response.

Yes, I do have a 45 gallon breeder. In fact, I have two of them. I really like the footprint.

What is a "closed loop"?

I was also thinking I could take a AC500 and hang that on the back and use it as refugium. I have seen/heard about people doing that. I'll look into the hang-on skimmers though.

Thanks for the input!

chiu

[JimD]

You say you have two??? Wanna get rid of one? Gotta pic?

[sharkie]

Well...Like I said, one is a growout tank. And the other one is a shelldweller tank. :)

chiu

[Tim Marvin]

I used one for a year or two as a frag tank. They work awesome!

[JimD]

Thats what
I want one for, I have everything but the tank...

[sharkie]

Ok, since this question got missed. I'll ask again. :)

What is Matt refering to as a "closed loop" when he says "plenty of in tank circulation with either a closed loop"?

chiu

[SaltyJim]

Ok, since this question got missed. I'll ask again. :)

What is Matt refering to as a "closed loop" when he says "plenty of in tank circulation with either a closed loop"?

chiu

It's just a plumbing scheme that recirculates water in the tank without dumping it into a resevoir first. The water is drawn directly into the pump and expelled back into the tank, hence a closed system. You can get a lot more circulation in the tank without a lot of powerheads. Or get a Tunze. :)

Jim

[sharkie]

Thanks for the reply Jim.

So, if I hooked it up to a canister filter, would that be considered a closed loop system? Or is that something different?

chiu

[SaltyJim]

It would work, but you would not get the same flow from a canister. And, with a closed loop, you usually elevate the pump (to reduce plumbing, which reduces head pressure) which might increase flow as well. I think in the mean time, you could use canister to achieve the same results, until you get a larger pump. Just plan your plumbing to be able to upgrade.

[SaltyJim]

Here is a closed loop that was just recently for sale here. Might give you a better idea of what we are talking about.

http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=8122