Where to drill?

[gilber00]

I am setting up a new system. It’s a 42 gallon with a 29 gallon sump. The main goals of this tank is to multiply copepods to sustain a mandarin in the tank. My original set up was to have an external overflow leading down to my sump. I was also going to place an internal overflow as well with small holes near the bottom to House COPEPODS and rock inside. I was trying to make them a safe place in and out of the main display. I was also going to have a place for the copepods in the sump tank. I was gonna leave the back of the tank clear, to keep it a very simple feel. Now I’m wondering if I should exclude the external overflow and just keep an internal overflow and drilled the bottom of the aquarium for my plumbing. Does anyone have any insight they could share about drilling the bottom of the tank or about how to encourage the copepod growth. Thanks

 

[Fish Fan]

First thing; have you checked to see if you have tempered or non-tempered glass? You cannot drill tempered glass, it will just shatter.

 

[gilber00]

Yes. It’s non-tempered

 

[Fish Fan]

Then a couple more thoughts that I hope are helpful:

Have you considered purchasing a captive raised Mandarin from Biota Marine? These fish are preconditioned to eat a wide variety of foods, including even pellets, making them much easier to feed than wild caught Mandarin?
https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/search?type=product&q=mandarin*

^Definitely be sure to grab the pair of Mandarin themed shorts too, you will not want to be without those

I don't think you need both an internal refugium for 'pods, as well as an area in your sump. If you do want a safe place in your display for 'pods to multiply, take a look at a 'pod hotel:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pod-...KavqozIv0jAVpmpXbna4-mCBaCIhIOJUXmG6ZfN29VVWF

Internal vs. external overflow is a personal choice. Some prefer the extra space and lack of gear in the display itself (external overflow) and others prefer to place the tank up closer to the wall it shares (internal overflow).

I would not leave the back clear. In time, you'll have untold cords and gear hanging behind the tank, and I think you'll regret not having it blacked out, or some other color like dark blue or sometimes white. It's much easier to do this now than later when the tank is running. You can use spray paint or enamel paint with a cheap, disposable foam roller, but I quite like using vinyl, which is nearly as cheap as paint, with no dry time, no drips or spills, no clean up, and vinyl can be even more easily removed than paint if you ever want to. This video has more info on vinyl wrapping a tank:


I hope this helps and post back with any further questions!

 

[UncommonSense]

I was also going to place an internal overflow as well with small holes near the bottom to House COPEPODS and rock inside. I was trying to make them a safe place in and out of the main display. I was also going to have a place for the copepods in the sump tank

your choice of sumps, specifically one that’s 66%+ the size of the display, will make most of this redundant!

I’ve had great luck with a 20g sump under my “35g” (more like 30g capacity) hexagon for a decade or so… just pack the free sump space full of live or dry rock, stick a light on it, and you’ll be set!

(Copepods and amphipods alike seem to make it through the return pump with minimal losses, for context)

 

[gilber00]

Then a couple more thoughts that I hope are helpful:

Have you considered purchasing a captive raised Mandarin from Biota Marine? These fish are preconditioned to eat a wide variety of foods, including even pellets, making them much easier to feed than wild caught Mandarin?
https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/search?type=product&q=mandarin*

^Definitely be sure to grab the pair of Mandarin themed shorts too, you will not want to be without those

I don't think you need both an internal refugium for 'pods, as well as an area in your sump. If you do want a safe place in your display for 'pods to multiply, take a look at a 'pod hotel:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pod-...KavqozIv0jAVpmpXbna4-mCBaCIhIOJUXmG6ZfN29VVWF

Internal vs. external overflow is a personal choice. Some prefer the extra space and lack of gear in the display itself (external overflow) and others prefer to place the tank up closer to the wall it shares (internal overflow).

I would not leave the back clear. In time, you'll have untold cords and gear hanging behind the tank, and I think you'll regret not having it blacked out, or some other color like dark blue or sometimes white. It's much easier to do this now than later when the tank is running. You can use spray paint or enamel paint with a cheap, disposable foam roller, but I quite like using vinyl, which is nearly as cheap as paint, with no dry time, no drips or spills, no clean up, and vinyl can be even more easily removed than paint if you ever want to. This video has more info on vinyl wrapping a tank:


I hope this helps and post back with any further questions!

Thanks so much. I’ve seen the biota marine mandarin. I will probably go that route. What do you think about drilling the bottom of the tank vs the back?

 

[gilber00]

I am setting up a new system. It’s a 42 gallon with a 29 gallon sump. The main goals of this tank is to multiply copepods to sustain a mandarin in the tank. My original set up was to have an external overflow leading down to my sump. I was also going to place an internal overflow as well with small holes near the bottom to House COPEPODS and rock inside. I was trying to make them a safe place in and out of the main display. I was also going to have a place for the copepods in the sump tank. I was gonna leave the back of the tank clear, to keep it a very simple feel. Now I’m wondering if I should exclude the external overflow and just keep an internal overflow and drilled the bottom of the aquarium for my plumbing. Does anyone have any insight they could share about drilling the bottom of the tank or about how to encourage the copepod growth. Thanks

Correction. I have a 20g sump, not 29g

 

[gilber00]

your choice of sumps, specifically one that’s 66%+ the size of the display, will make most of this redundant!

I’ve had great luck with a 20g sump under my “35g” (more like 30g capacity) hexagon for a decade or so… just pack the free sump space full of live or dry rock, stick a light on it, and you’ll be set!

(Copepods and amphipods alike seem to make it through the return pump with minimal losses, for context)

I have a 20 g sump, not a 29g but I see your point. Do your copepods maintain a steady population or do you have to reseed it often?

 

[Fish Fan]

What do you think about drilling the bottom of the tank vs the back?

I think this is a preference thing; dealer's choice

 

[UncommonSense]

I have a 20 g sump, not a 29g but I see your point. Do your copepods maintain a steady population or do you have to reseed it often?

I’ve never seeded the tank; pods find their way in one way or another!

I will say that it does take substantial time to establish that sustainable pod population, though… I waited 1.5 years after restarting my hexagon to add a mandarin, for example!

What do you think about drilling the bottom of the tank vs the back?

Personal preference, assuming that the tank’s bottom (or side) pane is not tempered!

Assuming none of the glass is tempered, I’d recommend figuring out which overflow box you want to use, and letting that dictate location for holes!

(For example, an internal overflow box with bottom pane drilling needs to be siliconed into the tank, vs. a external overflow drilled through the side wall, which just clamps to the holes you drill and seals via rubber gaskets! [no silicone work to do])

 

[gilber00]

The bottom isn’t tempered. I’m trying out the SR Aquatics 42.2-gallon rimless glass aquarium. I’m trying to hide as much as I can from the outside. I’m still thinking on it though. I can’t figure out exactly how I want to go. Thanks for your help.

 

[mcarroll]

If you drill the bottom, use a standpipe to set the level in the tank. You might like having a traditional overflow box (like a "reef ready" tank) around it too to screen out debris, but a screen fitting on the pipe can work instead.

You don't need an extra tank or specialized gear to have a refugium – everything is a refugium. (I guess I more or less said this before, so I'll keep it brief and post the link: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i-dont-want-to-use-a-protein-skimmer.1171874/post-14548299)

And I finally re-found the video this Sprung quote was from: )

Pods retreat into the pores and crevices of the rocks when you aren't seeing them...it's not because they aren't there at all.

If a mandarin starves, it's because the tank is too small, too new or both – not because there wasn't a "pod hotel". ;) "Too new" and "too small" are both very common reasons for mandarins starving. Folks think because they are small fish that they are suited to small tanks, and that isn't really very true. (The other common reason is that the mandarin is too stressed/sick to eat, but that's a whole other ball of wax.)

 

[Piotrek]

My 2 cents on the background.
I too like a bright one, as I simply like it more then blacked out. A few things to keep in mind:
You don't have a rim, so water easily spills over the tank and creates ugly traces on the back - leave some space, to be able to clean it.
On my tank I used a transparent milk foil - the one commonly used on bathroom windows. It hides most of the dirt on the back wall. And depending on the light you use, it can also appear blue.
The color of the wall behind the back glass will influence the color of the entire tank, especially water surface. If you keep the brown you currently have. Water surface might also appear brown - keep that in mind.
Very interesting effects can be achieved by painting the wall behind the tank in some pattern.