I've measured the tank, it's actually 105.xx gallons, with a 72x16x21.

Thanks for help with the protein skimmer, I was under the impression it has to be sitting in a tank. So that's good to know. I'll try and find a price for a marineland 300. I'm going to try and find more information drilling a tank since I'm reconsidering it. I know the basics, go slow, lubricate with water, use a wooden frame to keep it stabil, and a diamond tipped drill.

I think I need a 1.5inch pipe for the pump I have. I put it into some calculator but really unsure if it's correct.

Do the bioballs replace the protein skimmer and vice versus?

Where do I find basic information on tank overflows, piping systems, and orientations. I assume i need a system that uses siphoning and I can use one pump for a return. if I drill the tank I can allow for a overflow directly into the sump. After that I just need to have the return somewhere far enough from the overflow exit from the main tank that it doesn't just leave the tank. can I have the overflow piping on the left third of the tank, and have the return piping on the right third of the tank?


Basically my sump can be setup like this, skimmer outside the sump on the left of it. With the sump pump in the left chamber. It then has a partion jointed the floor of the sump which forces the water to go over the acrylic to get into the right side.

I can then have refugium or just plain live rocks in the right side along with the return pump. I plan on piping it with pvp. Do i need to make sure the refugium and the return pump are separate or can they be fairly close?