Plumbing help

[rad1687]

I am in the process of planning my third tank, but this will be my first one with a sump, and I am confused about the plumbing. I purchased a used 56 gallon column that had two 1.5" holes drilled in it. I would like to use an internal calfo overflow that goes almost coast to coast, stopping just short on one end which is where my return line is.

I plan on converting an old 29 gallon into a sump using melev's design seen here. I have a mag 7 to use as a return.

I guess my questions are how would you go about plumbing this? Would you install a full coast to coast over flow using the two holes to make a herbie style drain system and plumb the return up and over?

Or would you do something else completely different? Please help, I am open to any an all ideas I would appreciate everyone's input!

[jdyer88]

I would use one hole for the drain, and the other one i would use as a conduit for electrical stuff on the hood...just attach a stand pipe that is higher than the overflow's water level to the bulk head and your good to go. as far as the return, up and over

[rad1687]

I have no canopy, so I can use the second hole for something else!

Are there any websites or books that explain proper plumbing with diagrams?

[jdyer88]

try vividaquariums.com...it won't give you an exact plumbing plan, but their diagrams are very good as far as system options

[Felixc395]

A good read for an absolutely quiet and very safe system:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=344892

[rad1687]

Ok I will be going with a herbie system with a coast to coast calfo overflow. How far down do I put the rim of the overflow box? Is the amount of water that goes over very thin or half an inch or how much? I plan on getting glass cut to create a horizontal box that runs the length of the back of the aquarium, and that will be just deep enough and just tall enough to fit the two drains.

My final question is about my sump set up. Is it ok to goes water in and skimmer in the first chamber, refugium in the middle, and return pump in the final such a melev set up in the 20 gallon? Thanks!

[reefkeeper78]

go with the herbie system, wish I had before I plumbed my tank. going to redo my plumbing so I can do the herbie system

[robertifly]

Most consider BeanAnimal's Dead Silent and Failsafe drain system an improved Herbie style, I sure like mine and I use a smaller not quite c-t-c overflow inside feeding a larger collection box outside for the drain pipes. It adds to the tank to wall distance but uses less display tank space, and it your in-wall wouldn't matter anyway.

[Coppertop412]

I would say go with the herbie, I have a c2c with a BeanAnimal setup. I had the glass cut also, and the dimentions of the overflow depend on your hole location. I drilled my tank and everything I read said 1.5 times the diameter of the hole from the edge. My 1' bulkheads required a 1 3/4" hole (x 1.5 = 2.625). I drilled my holes 2 5/8 from the top of the glass to the top of the hole. Then figured out (with my bulkheads in place) how much my elbows (on the inside of the bulkheads) were going to stick into the overflow. I wanted to make sure I could remove them if need be. My overflow is 4" tall x 3" wide. I have a build thread on here if you are interested. My only other piece of advice is on the bottom piece of your overflow, tilt it up a little toward the front of the tank. I made mine as perfectly flat as I could and any air that gets under there, stays there!
For my sump I have the drain enter the left, then the return in the middle, and the 'fuge on the right. This way all the flow to your DT is not going through your fuge (hence the name 'refugium'). I have a small power head with some tubing on the output feeding my fuge, or just tee off your return pump to your tank (with a valve to control flow).
Oh yeah, plumb your return over the top. Good luck and keep everyone posted!

[rysher]

[rad1687]

Thanks everyone for your help? How far from the rim do I make the top of my overflow box?

[rad1687]

Any advice on overflow height? I plan on a straight plane of glass with no teeth, just some eggcrate along the top to keep fish and snails out.

[rad1687]

I really like that setup rysher, I want to try something similar

[Coppertop412]

Sorry I haven't been following you thread very close. I put my verticle piece right even with my trim. Once you get saltwater in there (and flowing) you won't see the water line from outside the tank. You are probably done by now, post some pics and let us know!

[rysher]

Originally Posted by rad1687

Thanks everyone for your help? How far from the rim do I make the top of my overflow box?

my overflow is 1 inch from the rim.

Originally Posted by rad1687

Any advice on overflow height? I plan on a straight plane of glass with no teeth, just some eggcrate along the top to keep fish and snails out.

if you dont have teeth in your overflow, you can skim more water, teeth is for aesthetics but does nothing functionally.

Originally Posted by rad1687

I really like that setup rysher, I want to try something similar

thank you.