Plumbing 100gal drilled tank

[newpuffer]

ok, so i got a 100gal drilled tank with (2) 1" bulkheads with one in each upper corner. I am obviously new to keeping this sort of tank and am in need of some help. How would I go about plumbing it for a 55 gallon sump? Do i need overflow boxes?

[vwwanksta69]

My buddy has four drilled holes for his 120g. For yours one should be the return and the other should be the drain. His though is 1" for drain and 3/4" return bulkheads.

[newpuffer]

would it work better to add an overflow box over the drain? otherwise, what would keep it from sucking up fish?

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

would it work better to add an overflow box over the drain? otherwise, what would keep it from sucking up fish?

You will definitely want to find a DIY overflow box. Where are the holes located exactly? On the bottom or the back? Sucking fish isn't an issue because you can just use a strainer. The biggest issue is gurgling, where the water isn't allowed to 'breathe', so you have to build a 'durso standpipe'.

--- SEE PHOTO BELOW ----

Most poeple don't use the strainer but since your going to have a 1" drain, you can get easily clogged by a snail or hermit crab shell. Play it safe and get the strainer. The shaded area is for an optional overflow box to hide the piping.

Remember for this to work you NEED to tee it off and run the piping above the waters surface to the water is exposed to air. Other wise you will hear the most annoying gurgling noise of all time.

Good Luck! Any other questions just ask me.

[IMG]http://i51.*******.com/wvya10.png[/IMG]

[vwwanksta69]

I am guessing if the bulkhead was in the main display area of your tank you would just use a 90 degree elbow for the drain inside and use something to not allow it to suck up any fish or use a bulkhead screen. For the return inside the tank you would want some sort of nozzle tubing. However I would really suggest coming up with some sort of overflow if the bulkheads are in the main display area

[newpuffer]

this is it.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

this is it.

Then this set up works good too. If you need help finding a return pump I could help with that too.

Oh, and on a side note if you want it to look nicer inside the tank, use SCH.80 piping that's colored black or dark gray.

[IMG]http://i53.*******.com/11gsv9l.png[/IMG]

[jimmy frag]

i would for sure use a T conector. if your not using a box and a fish gets stuck to the over flow intake, your tank will over flow. i would use both holes for your over flow seeing as they are only 1 inch.

[newpuffer]

if they were both used for overflow, how would the return pump factor in?

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

if they were both used for overflow, how would the return pump factor in?

They sell hang on back returns...

[newpuffer]

and would the holes ever pose any problems since they are so close to the top? I wouln't be able to fill it all the way would I?

[pmrossetti]

I would use both as drains wth just a strainer screwed in to each one since they're so high.

Then use 2 of these for returns.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...0&pcatid=14680

Use a return pump with 3-400gph after your head pressure so the drains are not overwhelmed.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

and would the holes ever pose any problems since they are so close to the top? I wouln't be able to fill it all the way would I?

Once everything is plumbed and the sump, return pump and overflows are ready to go, you fill the tank completely. That should start a siphon (if the overflows are plumbed correctly) and water will begin draining to the sump.

Now there are two ways to go from here:

A) You can keep filling the tank forcing water down the drains and into your sump, until your sump is at least 2" past the top of your return pump. You can then stop filling the tank, turn on the return pump and your ready to go.

B) Fill the tank to the top. Then fill the sump till your a little past your desired water level (should be a little to high). Turn on your pump. Water will be pumped into the tank and start the siphon.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

I would use both as drains wth just a strainer screwed in to each one since they're so high.

Then use 2 of these for returns.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...0&pcatid=14680

Use a return pump with 3-400gph after your head pressure so the drains are not overwhelmed.

Yes those are the fitting I was referring to. Now about overwhelming the drains, two (2) 1" drains can handle a LOT of water. You can put a lot more water flow than 400 GPH. My old tank had a 1" drain and my return pump ran 900 GPH, or 732 w/head loss. You can double that with a double 1" drain set up.

[newpuffer]

so what do you think would be the cost to get this thing running? I'm talking about the plumbing, pumps, etc.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

so what do you think would be the cost to get this thing running? I'm talking about the plumbing, pumps, etc.

Plumbing will be $50 max, if you can get a glass tank cheap (petco dollar per gallon sale) you can get a 30 Gal. Glass tank for $30-60, skimmer you can do a Reef Octopus NW 6 which will run you $200, pump like a RIO stand you can build for under $50 dollars and lighting will between $90-300. And there you go, a perfectly capable filter sump for you reef tank.

That totals between $300-500.

[pmrossetti]

maybe 100-200 dollars.

1" drains in the back wall with strainers handle a lot less than 600gph.
For safety you want each drain to be able to handle the total flow so if one gets blocked the other keeps the tank from overflowng. Snce you only want 3-5 times your tank volume through your sump. 4-600gph will be plenty for filtraton and safety.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

maybe 100-200 dollars.

1" drains in the back wall with strainers handle a lot less than 600gph.
For safety you want each drain to be able to handle the total flow so if one gets blocked the other keeps the tank from overflowng. Snce you only want 3-5 times your tank volume through your sump. 4-600gph will be plenty for filtraton and safety.

Usually for an SPS dominated reef tank, you want at least 15 turnovers per hour. For a mixed reef or a softy tank you could definitely do less.

[newpuffer]

ok, so i know this may not be the right place to ask about it, but you all seem pretty knowledgeable. This tank actually will not have any corals. It will be a FOWLR for puffer fish.

will a 55 gal sump with this setup plus live rock be adequate filtration?

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by newpuffer

ok, so i know this may not be the right place to ask about it, but you all seem pretty knowledgeable. This tank actually will not have any corals. It will be a FOWLR for puffer fish.

will a 55 gal sump with this setup plus live rock be adequate filtration?

The skimmer is the most important for filtration.

[jimmy frag]

with consistant water changes and running carbon you can go with out a skimmer

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by jimmy frag

with consistant water changes and running carbon you can go with out a skimmer

--- i really dont recommend this ---

[pmrossetti]

Originally Posted by TheFishTeen

Usually for an SPS dominated reef tank, you want at least 15 turnovers per hour. For a mixed reef or a softy tank you could definitely do less.

true, but not from your return pump. use powerheads for in tank flow.

[TheFishTeen]

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

true, but not from your return pump. use powerheads for in tank flow.

Turnover has nothing to do with flow. It has to do with filtration. You can have 5,000 GPH of flow and still loose all your coral because your tank doesn't have a fast enough filtration turnover rate.