To drill or not to drill.

Sink Colin Sink · 06/13/2007, 12:47 PM

Should I drill my 20 long for a 10 gallon sump? Nothing is in the tank right now. Is it really worth it to have that extra 10 gallons of water? How exactly do I go about drilling the tank? What plumbing supplies do I need for the sump to work properly and pump water properly? I was thinking that if i do this, I would DIY a PVC overflow, is this a good idea? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

webbstock · 06/13/2007, 12:58 PM

Any extra water volume is a bonus for the tank. with a 10 gallon sump you will have about 25-30% increase in total volume which is nothing to sneeze at.

Drilling a 20 can be tricky since the glass is pretty thin, it is defiantley do-able, but still tricky. It might be worth considering one of the siphon overflows instead. Plumbing is pretty simple, just look around at some of the other members for ideas.

nsreefer · 06/13/2007, 01:11 PM

Drilled is always better and safer. Drill it, and if it cracks (if you are careful it shouldn't) a replacement isn't THAT much money.

pledosophy · 06/13/2007, 01:29 PM

I have a drilled 20g. I think that for the 20g longs it is much nicer since it will save you from having to have equipment in the tank. In larger tanks some equipment can blend in, but in a 20g long with your heater, skimmer, filter, powerhead, that's a lot of distraction when looking at your tank.

I use a mag 3 for my return but if the head is not to great you could use a M 1200 and get away fairly inexpensively.

Many LFS and glass shops will drill tanks for you, this is what I opted for.

I don't have a traditional overflow box protecting my drain on my 20g instead I opted for a 1" elbow with a strainer. IME the slip strainer will handle more flow then the threaded strainer.

Having the return plumbing from the sump come over the back of the tank will give you space to drill syphon holes and allow for more water in the sump. My 10g sump holds 8g of water and has enough room that if the pump does go off then there will not be a flood.

Hiding the equipment, and the extra water volume are the reasons I choose to go with drilled.

Another option for the 20g long is the CPR hang on refugium. Then you could add extra equipment in the back of the tank and still have an extra 7g of water.

JMO

Sink Colin Sink · 06/13/2007, 02:03 PM

Is the CPR refugium really worth 150 dollars?

How much can I expect to pay including drilling tools to set up a 10 gallon sump for my 20 long?

MrSpiffy · 06/13/2007, 02:22 PM

I looked at eBay a bit back for diamond hole saws to drill for bulkheads. They were about $10 shipped to your door for the size to handle 1" bulkheads. Your most-expensive pieces might include bulkheads (maybe $5 each), ball valves (can cost $10 or more each if they're double-union ball valves), and your return pump. The PVC pipe should be pretty cheap.

Sink Colin Sink · 06/13/2007, 02:24 PM

So what exactly do I need to plumb everything? And drill the hole(s)?

ludnix · 06/13/2007, 02:32 PM

You'll need the PVC, PVC primer, PVC glue, PVC pipe cutter (or have your local hardware store cut it for you), Drill, Diamond hole saw bit, bulkheads, and return pump. I might be missing some items though.

DSKinchen · 06/13/2007, 02:41 PM

And make sure your tank isn't tempered before drilling...

bucky145 · 06/13/2007, 02:46 PM

I would also ask your lfs if they drill tanks or even a glass place wil drill tanks for a rather affordable fee

moumda · 06/14/2007, 05:06 AM

I've had excellant results from drilling tanks with a dremmel and a tile bit. Use water to cool the bit. Do read on internal and external overflows. Avoid overflows if possible. If you really don't want to drill buy a lifereef overflow.

Am4nn · 06/15/2007, 12:52 AM

you can all around town to glass companies, they will usually cut the tank for you for a price but it will prly end up looking better.

06/13/2007, 12:47 PM	#1
Sink Colin Sink Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 74	To drill or not to drill. Should I drill my 20 long for a 10 gallon sump? Nothing is in the tank right now. Is it really worth it to have that extra 10 gallons of water? How exactly do I go about drilling the tank? What plumbing supplies do I need for the sump to work properly and pump water properly? I was thinking that if i do this, I would DIY a PVC overflow, is this a good idea? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

06/13/2007, 01:29 PM	#4
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	I have a drilled 20g. I think that for the 20g longs it is much nicer since it will save you from having to have equipment in the tank. In larger tanks some equipment can blend in, but in a 20g long with your heater, skimmer, filter, powerhead, that's a lot of distraction when looking at your tank. I use a mag 3 for my return but if the head is not to great you could use a M 1200 and get away fairly inexpensively. Many LFS and glass shops will drill tanks for you, this is what I opted for. I don't have a traditional overflow box protecting my drain on my 20g instead I opted for a 1" elbow with a strainer. IME the slip strainer will handle more flow then the threaded strainer. Having the return plumbing from the sump come over the back of the tank will give you space to drill syphon holes and allow for more water in the sump. My 10g sump holds 8g of water and has enough room that if the pump does go off then there will not be a flood. Hiding the equipment, and the extra water volume are the reasons I choose to go with drilled. Another option for the 20g long is the CPR hang on refugium. Then you could add extra equipment in the back of the tank and still have an extra 7g of water. JMO __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

06/13/2007, 02:32 PM	#8
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	You'll need the PVC, PVC primer, PVC glue, PVC pipe cutter (or have your local hardware store cut it for you), Drill, Diamond hole saw bit, bulkheads, and return pump. I might be missing some items though. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

06/13/2007, 02:46 PM	#10
bucky145 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 186	I would also ask your lfs if they drill tanks or even a glass place wil drill tanks for a rather affordable fee __________________ Anyone can do eight seconds for a $150000.00 Current Tank Info: Red Sea max 650 mixed reef

06/13/2007, 12:58 PM	#2
webbstock Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Washington DC area Posts: 436	Any extra water volume is a bonus for the tank. with a 10 gallon sump you will have about 25-30% increase in total volume which is nothing to sneeze at. Drilling a 20 can be tricky since the glass is pretty thin, it is defiantley do-able, but still tricky. It might be worth considering one of the siphon overflows instead. Plumbing is pretty simple, just look around at some of the other members for ideas.

06/13/2007, 01:11 PM	#3
nsreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Stratford, PEI Posts: 502	Drilled is always better and safer. Drill it, and if it cracks (if you are careful it shouldn't) a replacement isn't THAT much money.

06/13/2007, 02:03 PM	#5
Sink Colin Sink Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 74	Is the CPR refugium really worth 150 dollars? How much can I expect to pay including drilling tools to set up a 10 gallon sump for my 20 long?

06/13/2007, 02:22 PM	#6
MrSpiffy Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,300	I looked at eBay a bit back for diamond hole saws to drill for bulkheads. They were about $10 shipped to your door for the size to handle 1" bulkheads. Your most-expensive pieces might include bulkheads (maybe $5 each), ball valves (can cost $10 or more each if they're double-union ball valves), and your return pump. The PVC pipe should be pretty cheap.

06/13/2007, 02:24 PM	#7
Sink Colin Sink Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 74	So what exactly do I need to plumb everything? And drill the hole(s)?

06/13/2007, 02:41 PM	#9
DSKinchen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 59	And make sure your tank isn't tempered before drilling...

06/14/2007, 05:06 AM	#11
moumda Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 991	I've had excellant results from drilling tanks with a dremmel and a tile bit. Use water to cool the bit. Do read on internal and external overflows. Avoid overflows if possible. If you really don't want to drill buy a lifereef overflow.

06/15/2007, 12:52 AM	#12
Am4nn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Columbia MO Posts: 111	you can all around town to glass companies, they will usually cut the tank for you for a price but it will prly end up looking better.