Conflicting info!! What would YOU do with a 72 Bow?

[sumphead]

Greetings all! I am in the process of moving my fw 72 Bow into 2 smaller (30 and 20 gal) tanks so I can set up a reef in the big one. The smaller tanks are cycling now. I have gotten some conflicting information on good filtration and skimming vs. large refugium vs. the use of BOTH! Also information on drilling vs. overflow. Even information on HOT refugiums. I have found that only bottom in tempered so drilling is an option for a sump, if i could find the peice of mind that it drilling the back won't cause my tank to explode because of weakened integrity when it fills up. I have been researching and reading like mad to learn as I have never had SW before, but I am in love with it. I have already purchased good lighting ( 2 twin 65W PC )So I guess my question is to all that will answer: Screw whatever delusions I may have had, What would you do with a beautiful 72 gal bowfront?

Thanks. I love this place![/b]

 

[triggers]

I had a glass 72 gallon bow front when I started sw too. My 72 had a built in over flow, but I didn't like because it took up a lot of space in the aquarium. Really it pretty much made the 72 into a 62 gallon tank, IMO. I wanted space for my fish to swim. So I elected to go with a wet/dry filter and brought the return hose up the back with a nozzle that hung on the top. The only real problem was the glass canopy that came with the tank didn't cover the entire top so I had salt creep. and a lot of evaporation. But the evaporation meant I had to do less water changes.

Hope this helps.

 

[sumphead]

It does help indeed. I will have to give drilling a considerable thought. it just still scares me. But I was affraid just as you said that an overflow will clutter the tank. Nothing seems more appealing than when i see pictures of reefs that are clean with nothing more than portions of PH 's visible. thanks again.