I've finally made some progress, so its time to start my own thread. this is my 4'x2'x30" tank, I built the stand my self.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0435.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0437.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0448.jpg
the frame is steel and the skin is aluminum thats held on with magnets.

Here is my manifold and overflow box which I also built myself.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0443.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0445.jpg
The overflow box is 34" x 6"x6" it has four 1" drains that go downstairs to my sump.

My 55 gallon refugium and 100 gallon sump
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0423.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0424.jpg
I'm still in the process of plumbing so some things I might change. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Matt,
Are you planning on dumping one of the overflow drains to the 'fuge? I used to have mine plumbed that way, but I was always getting a ton of detritus piling up in there. I now have it plumbed off the return and all the raw water goes to the skimmer first.

You may also want to give yourself a port and valve so you can stub off and add accessories like a phosban reactor off the return pump. This will eliminate having to add more little pumps down the road.

nice project!

ohhh...forgot to mention, nice job so far! Like the stand design, cant wait to see what you come up with for a hood/canopy.

thanks guys! poppin I was going to feed one drain into the fuge I thought it would feed things more, but what you said makes sense. As for the hood I was going to match the stand with aluminum but for now I'm going to use wood painted black to save money for lights. I can always skin it later down the road.

should my fuge drain into the return section or the skimmer section? and how far down should they go?

I would dump the output to the return section regardless of how you plumb the input. You wont want to skim out any plankton, pods, etc. that may flow out of the 'fuge.

Not sure what you mean by how far down... can you elaborate pleeze?

I mean how far down to the water level for the fuge drain lines

just below the level of the water will keep noise down and have minimal back pressure on the flow

Plus... splashing = more evaporation and potential salt creep issues.

is there a reason you went with a long box like overflow instead of the tower style overflows?

yea-ha! up & racing bud!

good to see another of us have the b@lls to use metal! Nice work, the skin looks great! Solid 3 side removable one peice?

thanks V its three separate sides I didn't want the hassle of making doors and I like the clean look.
I like the horizontal overflow because it takes up less real estate inside the tank, its also supposed to be more efficient at skimming the surface.44 inches of linear surface.

yeah, coast to coast as you call it, can indeed increase skimming, although its depends on its entry construction. If its total length is used as an overflow, chances are due to surface tension & "Lip" condition it will still have distictive flow points. depending on total flow, it can also be ether quieter, or louder than classical form. Kudos to you anyways bud, especially cause its DIY.

One question, on your pump pipes at the back - is the terminator caps at the top - are the sealed or breathable?

Those are the drain caps and right now there not sealed I'll probably drill a hole in them and put some tubing in to control noise. Also their above the water line.

I got my sand in 5.5" and most of my rock in, I still need to get a few live pieces to seed the base rock.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0464.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0460.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0461.jpg

that is some sweet rock work. sorry i have not been able to come by, but you know what i have been doing all weekend !!

yeah - trying to get your hand out of the vending machine for the last 2 days - only to realise u should have let go of the can of coke to free yourself..lol

your cooking now bud. nay - Id suggest not drilling the tops.
Pull off the round tops, push in a square or octogon PVC adapter piece with an offcut of pipe stuck in that so your top cap cant fall off if knocked & then place you round cap back on top of everything. This will allow for a breathable yet silent way for all your dump pipes. If you need a visual aid i can post it up this week for you.

thanks V a visual aid would be great, does what your talking about work better than the tube in the hole trick?
Do you have a tank up and running or are things still on hold?

Looks Great So Far!!! :up:

HAPPY REEFING!!!!

thanks V a visual aid would be great, does what your talking about work better than the tube in the hole trick?
Do you have a tank up and running or are things still on hold?

ok, i'll try to get it up tommorow sometime. yeah works better, doesn't remind me of a science project gone wrong with cords & tubes hanging out everywhere ether if you catch my meaning.

I have a nano currently running @ work & a whapping great big fish in the bath tub at home!

It is looking good Matt.

mate from work will upload onto photospewbucket & give me the links to post here, just took a few happy snaps to 'maybe' assist :)

Are those rocks from Marco??

Yes almost all are marco rocks, I'm really happy with them.The only bad thing was they came poorly shipped and couple were broken. On my next order I'm going to ask for more bubble wrap in the box, they are nice though.
Thanks to everyone for all the nice comments.

How many lbs. of rock is that??

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb151/danielada_2007/IMG_2811.jpghttp://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb151/danielada_2007/IMG_2807.jpghttp://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb151/danielada_2007/IMG_2813.jpg

thanks again V thats really helpful I like the clean look. I'll try to find a piece like that to go in the Tee.
Mr. tang thats about 90 lbs. i also have about twenty more lbs. in my sump.I'm going to get a couple more pieces for the DT to seed the base rock probably bringing my total to 135- 140 lbs. its hard to fit allot in 4' by 2' and I try to factor in growth of corals.

N/probs, the extra tube at the top under your dome can be pushed in or pulled out to allow just enough contact - almost dangles like a pressure cooker whistle. Its a great balancing act on the dome between not being solely support by the internal pipe, & not resting soley on the square or octanginal insert. although with decent diameter pipes, you could have it resting on the insert only & it will still work fine. I dont think you will have problems anyways cause you have 4 dump pipes :up:

that looks awsome!!
I am thinking one 1" hole would be good for me(75 tank to 29 fuge) near the top corrner to drain inside a small overflow box or tower.... can you tell/ show me a good way to construct this? I understand the concept but not totaly sure how to go about it...also does the return line require a box of some sort or do I return it just near the top of water like your one pic with the black hose things?

Looking great so far Black Sabbath! Can't wait to see you get some pics with it up and running. It's good to have V back and pounding the threads. :up:

Wow Matt, I must say your rock work layout looks very, very nice. I keep going back looking at it. I really love the DSB also as it adds to the beauty of your rockwork. That will be an awesome setup for what ever you plan on doing with your DT. Looks very nice indeed. :heart:

Thanks Lori I've been really busy with school lately so haven't had much time to spend on the tank. I'm also waiting on my tax return so I can get a few more things to get started.

hey Matt, i just linked to this thread, can you add a pic of the coast to coast overflow from the top down ??

heres my overflow box not quite coast to coast but close.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0563.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0571.jpg

Heres my no water required anemone.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0576.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x193/naykid27/IMG_0580.jpg

lol, cheap to feed?

man, i forgot all about those !!

That is a very hardy anenome. So what kind of species of clown fish will be hosting there? ;)

I tried to make a clown fish but orange glass burns really easy, so I guess it will have to be a tomato clown.

whoa! hold the phone dood, you glass blow?

geeze you are a dark horse aren't you!! :)

Yes I have been a glass blower for about eight years, but now I'm in school so glass is more of a side project. There are some great glass artists in Australia. My favorites are Nick Mount and Scott Chaseling. I got to work with Scott here in Louisville a few years ago. He really knew how to party. I think they teach in Canberra if you want to check them out.

yeah glass blowing is quite an art, its not in every corner window if you know what i mean, but the workbench programs always pull large crowds when they "open shop" so to speak.
canberra is to far away for me though, people only go there for fireworks & porn, umm, maybe the polititians need to go there - it is the capital after all..lol

but im impressed bud, working creativity like this rocks, & its got to be a skill that pulls the chicks in hook, line & sinker surely? ????