55 GAL NEW TANK

[k7iou]

I am enjoying the diy algae scrubber on my 12 gal nano.
I bought a GLASS 55 gal and a 20 gal for a new set up from Petco when the had the $1.00 gal sale.
Since I have never set up saltwater system from scratch and researching it is like opening a firehose for a drink I thought I would come to the source since I want to use the algae scrubber on the new setup.
The tanks have a NO drill warning as the glass is tempered.
I am going to build a cabinet for the system.
I will have to use an overflow from the 55 gal to the 20 gal sump, unless there is something else I can do that I am unaware of.
I plan on the scrubber in the sump.
Can anyone recommend a diy overflow design or mfg ect?
Pump reccomendations, placement, flow for the scrubber?
Tubing type and sizes?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[SantaMonica]

Figure how wide the screen will be, and that will give you the flow. Then get a pump/overflow setup that will deliver that flow.

A good basic setup would be a 8 X 8 screen, with a 18 watt curly Q CFL on each side, with a big round reflector. 8 inches needs X 35 = 280 gph. So get a pump that can pump 280 gph including the trip up to the tank. It will probably be a 550 or 600 gph pump.

Any overflow setup will work... someone else can probably recommend one.

http://www.radio-media.com/fish/OverflowFeed.jpg

[new2scrub]

you could always skip the over flow and put the scrubber above the tank. pump water up into the scrubber and let gravity take it back down to the tank. i am sure santa has a pic/drawing of this method.

[k7iou]

Well I am starting to build Rome :D
Any reccomendations would be greatly appreciated.
We were in SanDiego last weekend and I picked up some fresh live sand, 5 gallon bucket full. Its now in my sump tank 1/2 full of saltwater and circulating.
I am in the process of designing a cabinet for the new tank and my wife wants the granite tiles on the top @ counter height. We shall see. I also plan to have wheels on the cabinet since I have tile floors for gently moving around if needed.
I need some advise on lights, pump and overflow box.
PUMP I am looking at the Ehiem 1260 (635 gph) or the Pan-World 50px (590 gph). Would these be overkill for the 55 gal with 20 gal sump?
OVERFLOW BOX CPR makes the overflow box I could also build one. Which flow rate could anyone recommend 300 or 600 gph? I am thinking I need the 300 gph for the algae scrubber in the sump tank.
LIGHTS I have been reading I need 4X54 wt T5 for the 55 gal tank. I am considering the 48" Current USA Nova Extreme. http://www.marineandreef.com has them for $259. Thoughts?
Thanks

[Vannpytt]

I'll comment on flow, don't undersize. Oversize and reduce it to fit your needs instead.

[k7iou]

I am looking at a CPR CS50 300 gph overflow box and a Mag Flow pump PM7 with 8 ft head @300 gph
OR
CPR CS90 600 gph overflow box and a Mag Flow pump PM 9.5 with 8 ft head @ 600 gph

Which would you use with the 55 gal, 20 gal sump with the algae scrubber?
Thanks

[Vannpytt]

Considering head loss etc, I would go for the 600gph. (or 2x 300 for redundancy.)

[holdenj_04]

This might be late, but I used cpr cs90 with a danner mag 9.5. Worked great, just keep an eye on the dosing pump, if it becomes clogged your display will over flow if you don't catch it in time. I suggest using the pre filter.

[k7iou]

I went with thw CS-90 and Mag 9.5 with the overflow drain into the 20 gal sump which is divided into 3 compartments. 1st one has the skimmer, 2nd one horiz scrubber, bubble trap then 3rd return pump.
Been running since Jan 2011 and almost ready for fish :-)