New tank plumbing ?'s

hollowpoint331 · 07/21/2013, 01:24 AM

I just purchased a 60 cube. It has a single overflow with 2 holes drilled on bottom. The old owner had I hole used for a drain durso standpipe and the other for the return. My question is.
Should I use the other hole as a backup emergency drain and run the returns up the tank back?
Or keep it as is?

YoungREEFA · 07/21/2013, 08:52 AM

No need to do that unless you are creating a siphon( herbie)

Aleiva16 · 07/21/2013, 09:05 AM

It's your preference. Do you want to have the emergency drain (herbie). I used both precut holes as my drain and ran the return over the back of the tank.

hollowpoint331 · 07/21/2013, 10:13 AM

I'm just worried that in case the main drain gets clogged I have a backup. I would much rather use the small hole as the return to give my tank a cleaner look. Plus that's how it was originally used and the old plumbing is very clean.

tfrechette · 07/21/2013, 06:18 PM

I have the same setup; one drain and one return. Tank is still cycling so don't have anything that could clog the drain. I guess the clog could come with a snail ending up in there. Perhaps some sort of screening could keep snails out?

hollowpoint331 · 07/21/2013, 09:38 PM

I think I'm just going to use one drain one return. It's 1-1/2" pretty decent size. It would take a lot of crud to clog it.

sigmapiguy1061 · 07/21/2013, 10:43 PM

Adding plumbing into your maintenance routine would help. I don't worry about it with mine. Only thing that would clog it up would be a Turbo snail.

Pearson · 07/21/2013, 10:53 PM

Run a Herbie with the returns coming over the back. I'm not a fan of tanks overflowing so the added security of the backup drain is something I enjoy.

All in all, it's your preference. There are many that only run the one drain and never have any issues.

07/21/2013, 01:24 AM	#1
hollowpoint331 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 123	New tank plumbing ?'s I just purchased a 60 cube. It has a single overflow with 2 holes drilled on bottom. The old owner had I hole used for a drain durso standpipe and the other for the return. My question is. Should I use the other hole as a backup emergency drain and run the returns up the tank back? Or keep it as is?

07/21/2013, 10:53 PM	#8
Pearson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Fort Walton Beach, FL Posts: 212	Run a Herbie with the returns coming over the back. I'm not a fan of tanks overflowing so the added security of the backup drain is something I enjoy. All in all, it's your preference. There are many that only run the one drain and never have any issues. __________________ 125g: 40g long sump w/ fuge, asm-g3 skimmer, hydor koralai powerheads, magdrive pumps 90g: Currently in the building process (will be replacing the 29g) 29g: fw community/lightly planted Current Tank Info: 29 gal fw and 125 gal salt

07/21/2013, 08:52 AM	#2
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	No need to do that unless you are creating a siphon( herbie)

07/21/2013, 09:05 AM	#3
Aleiva16 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Miami Posts: 138	It's your preference. Do you want to have the emergency drain (herbie). I used both precut holes as my drain and ran the return over the back of the tank.

07/21/2013, 10:13 AM	#4
hollowpoint331 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 123	I'm just worried that in case the main drain gets clogged I have a backup. I would much rather use the small hole as the return to give my tank a cleaner look. Plus that's how it was originally used and the old plumbing is very clean.

07/21/2013, 06:18 PM	#5
tfrechette Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Jose Posts: 123	I have the same setup; one drain and one return. Tank is still cycling so don't have anything that could clog the drain. I guess the clog could come with a snail ending up in there. Perhaps some sort of screening could keep snails out?

07/21/2013, 09:38 PM	#6
hollowpoint331 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 123	I think I'm just going to use one drain one return. It's 1-1/2" pretty decent size. It would take a lot of crud to clog it.

07/21/2013, 10:43 PM	#7
sigmapiguy1061 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 158	Adding plumbing into your maintenance routine would help. I don't worry about it with mine. Only thing that would clog it up would be a Turbo snail.