Jenksreef
Community Member
I found a 75g tank on Facebook marketplace for 50$ so obviously I had to purchase it. It had been used to house fish, reptiles, the works. Therefore, the glass has some minor scratches, some silicone damage, and typical wear of a 50$ 75g tank. I don't mind the work of renovating a tank and kind of enjoy the project. With that being said, my plans for the tank include, stripping black paint off back glass, going rimless, buffing the scratches out of the glass, bracing the tank, drilling the tank, and installing an internal overflow.
So far I have stripped the back of the tank of the black paint that was on it. I have also removed the black trim on the top of the tank. I am still debating whether or not to remove the bottom of the trim. I am also in debate about how to brace the aquarium, I have researched a couple different options. Those options include laying a 3" wide piece across the middle and edges of the tank. The other option would be to euro brace the tank. What do you guys think?
For buffing the tank I am planning on using cerium oxide and water component on the scratches. I'll start on the front of the tank and see how it goes. I'll have an updated post about that in the future. If anybody knows another way or has used a different method successfully, feel free to share.
Drilling the tank will be the last thing I do. I will be drilling the tank to the size of the overflow I purchase. I am currently deciding which overflow to use. Ones that stuck out to me are the Eclipse S Overflow Box (600 GPH) or the Eclipse M Overflow (800) GPH. My main questions are, would this be enough turnover for a 75 gallon reef or should I go with something bigger. Another question, how big should my return hole be? Should I drill it the same size as the intake? Smaller? Bigger? Let me know.
Here is the tank when I first purchased it:
So far I have stripped the back of the tank of the black paint that was on it. I have also removed the black trim on the top of the tank. I am still debating whether or not to remove the bottom of the trim. I am also in debate about how to brace the aquarium, I have researched a couple different options. Those options include laying a 3" wide piece across the middle and edges of the tank. The other option would be to euro brace the tank. What do you guys think?
For buffing the tank I am planning on using cerium oxide and water component on the scratches. I'll start on the front of the tank and see how it goes. I'll have an updated post about that in the future. If anybody knows another way or has used a different method successfully, feel free to share.
Drilling the tank will be the last thing I do. I will be drilling the tank to the size of the overflow I purchase. I am currently deciding which overflow to use. Ones that stuck out to me are the Eclipse S Overflow Box (600 GPH) or the Eclipse M Overflow (800) GPH. My main questions are, would this be enough turnover for a 75 gallon reef or should I go with something bigger. Another question, how big should my return hole be? Should I drill it the same size as the intake? Smaller? Bigger? Let me know.
Here is the tank when I first purchased it:
