How should I set up my return?

[DGlove904]

I drilled my overflow this weekend and was wondering how to set up my return?

[rgrobe]

Thats a fairly open ended question. A few things are needed to give you a realistic response. Will you have a sump? Will your pump be internal (in the sump) or external. How much flow? Do you already have the bulkheads you are going to use? What about external filters, reactors, etc. What kind of plumbing, PVC, spaflex, nylon tubing, etc?

You say you drilled the overflow. The picture looks like the back wall of your tank and I don't see an overflow. Is the hole shown for the overflow or the return?

[DGlove904]

I will have a 10 gallon sump with pump inside of it, I have 1" bulkhead the hole in the pic above in the tank is for the overflow, and I am going to be using PVC for the plumbing.

[rgrobe]

OK, I would drill a second hole for the return. Decide the size of the PVC you will be using for the return line and size the hole for the appropriate bulkhead. The return should enter the tank slightly below the overflow level. You can center horizontally or go to the far side of the tank.

PVC is easy to use. Use plenty of glue and remember to twist as assembling. Use a few unions so that you can diassemble you plumbing if you need to modify or service the system. Gate valves on both overflow and return will allow you to fine tune the flow.

Good luck.

[Whys]

That's a funky look'n overflow. Is there a box under there or just a flat piece of toothed acrylic laid over the hole? You need an actual box with toothed front and sides and a hole of its own for the bulkhead. The bulkhead will then run thru both the glass and the overflow box. Water will flow thru the teeth into the box, then flow thru the bulkhead into the pvc tubing.

[DGlove904]

toothed acrylic on the side and the front