To drill or not

[johnoakthorn]

I'm aquiring a reef ready 150 gallon with an overflow tower already installed and bottom back outlet holes drilled already. I am buying this tank for 50$ because the owner can't figure out how to use the system and just wants it gone.

So I have money to play with here.

I'm curious, would you keep it as is with the Herbie configuration or would you plug those holes, remove the tower and put a ghost style top hole overflow system in the bean animal format?

Next question is about flow rates. Ok I'm thinking of doing a 1" system. Will that flow rate of 2440 be enough for a 150? I've never owned anything this big and I'm intimidated slightly. I plan to have a 55 gallon sump I'm putting together.

Pump, I'm thinking of going with an ecotech DC pump that has a flow rate exceeding the overflow capacity.

Any help would be awesome!

 

[Saltyreef]

I wouldnt trust a bottom drilled tank thats been modified and plugged.
I'd keep it as designed.

Also, i would never use a pump larger than what the overflow can handle.

My .02.

 

[johnoakthorn]

I wouldnt trust a bottom drilled tank thats been modified and plugged.
I'd keep it as designed.

Also, i would never use a pump larger than what the overflow can handle.

My .02.

Thank you!

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Keep your drilled holes and proceed with bean animal overflow. It is the safest to use.

 

[fishyjoes]

As for 1" pipe, you don't need super high flow through the sump. I've commonly seen recommendations for around 3-5X turnover through the sump (so somewhere around 150 * 3 = 450 to 150 * 5 = 750 gallons per hour).
Then you use power heads to get more flow in the display.

 

[vtecintegra]

I don't like those internal towers and I've drilled tanks before, so I would remove it and install something like a modular marine overflow. You could plug the bottom bulkheads or even use them for closed loop. Depends on how much you like to DIY.