Water return holes

marietrg · 10/05/2010, 07:10 PM

So I'm remodeling my house. I have a large open area that I plan to put a 120 gallon aquarium 48x24x24. It will be sandwiched between to ceiling support beams and wrapped in a custom cabinet. The aquarium will be visible from 4 sides.

So I was looking on glasscages.com. I will probably get a center overflow. What about the water return? I will need at least one hole to run a water return inside the aquarium. How many holes do I need and where should they go? Since the tank will be visible from 4 sides, I won't be able to run hoses up the back...

rayn · 10/05/2010, 07:12 PM

First thought is through the bottom, but I would hate that on my tank. Second thought, and you would need a large return pump. Any way you could plumb it through the wall to go up and over your tank, then return from above? If you built the tank in wall and ran a pipe down one corner then all you would see is the little bit of pipe maybe.

DVA · 10/06/2010, 12:06 AM

Makes sense that the return would come right back up the center overflow, the piping would be hidden in the overflow. The overflow box could be surrounded by rock and coral and look absolutely beautiful and completely hidden.

aleonn · 10/06/2010, 01:38 AM

The return will go through the overflow. If your tank is viewable 4 sides, would getting a corner overflow look better?

frozenreefer · 10/06/2010, 02:05 AM

i have had a center overflow on a 300 gallon and really liked it...its a nice way to hide alot. i had a drain and 4 returns, one on each side of the overflow tower. if your having it made for you you could have it made however you want! good luck and post a build thread once you get it!

lordofthereef · 10/06/2010, 08:10 AM

If you are doing a center overflow you may as well utilize that area for your return plumbing. Should only need one pipe unless you are planning some sort of closed loop.

marietrg · 10/06/2010, 08:48 AM

How would the water return in the center overflow work? It seems strange to have a water output the same place there is a drain. Would it just hang over the overflow? Would you guys happen to have a picture of something like this?

crvz · 10/06/2010, 09:13 AM

the plumbing for the return should come up through the center overflow box, but you can direct the output via plumbing to flow out towards the sides of the tank.

I might also suggest running a third standpipe that remains dry for wiring of lights, canopy fans, etc. I've seen this done with great success on a few builds, and it makes the build quite a bit cleaner (compared to running power cords down the sides of the tank).

DVA · 10/06/2010, 09:35 AM

The overflow box is not just a great big square drain, it would actually be a tower with 2 holes in the bottom, one for the drain, and one for the return pipe running back up through the tower to an outlet.

David

10/05/2010, 07:10 PM	#1
marietrg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 444	Water return holes So I'm remodeling my house. I have a large open area that I plan to put a 120 gallon aquarium 48x24x24. It will be sandwiched between to ceiling support beams and wrapped in a custom cabinet. The aquarium will be visible from 4 sides. So I was looking on glasscages.com. I will probably get a center overflow. What about the water return? I will need at least one hole to run a water return inside the aquarium. How many holes do I need and where should they go? Since the tank will be visible from 4 sides, I won't be able to run hoses up the back...

10/05/2010, 07:12 PM	#2
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	First thought is through the bottom, but I would hate that on my tank. Second thought, and you would need a large return pump. Any way you could plumb it through the wall to go up and over your tank, then return from above? If you built the tank in wall and ran a pipe down one corner then all you would see is the little bit of pipe maybe. __________________ Currently changing, stay tuned for new details...

10/06/2010, 08:10 AM	#6
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	If you are doing a center overflow you may as well utilize that area for your return plumbing. Should only need one pipe unless you are planning some sort of closed loop. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/06/2010, 09:13 AM	#8
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	the plumbing for the return should come up through the center overflow box, but you can direct the output via plumbing to flow out towards the sides of the tank. I might also suggest running a third standpipe that remains dry for wiring of lights, canopy fans, etc. I've seen this done with great success on a few builds, and it makes the build quite a bit cleaner (compared to running power cords down the sides of the tank). __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

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10/06/2010, 12:06 AM	#3
DVA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 83	Makes sense that the return would come right back up the center overflow, the piping would be hidden in the overflow. The overflow box could be surrounded by rock and coral and look absolutely beautiful and completely hidden.

10/06/2010, 01:38 AM	#4
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	The return will go through the overflow. If your tank is viewable 4 sides, would getting a corner overflow look better?

10/06/2010, 02:05 AM	#5
frozenreefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 100	i have had a center overflow on a 300 gallon and really liked it...its a nice way to hide alot. i had a drain and 4 returns, one on each side of the overflow tower. if your having it made for you you could have it made however you want! good luck and post a build thread once you get it!

10/06/2010, 08:48 AM	#7
marietrg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 444	How would the water return in the center overflow work? It seems strange to have a water output the same place there is a drain. Would it just hang over the overflow? Would you guys happen to have a picture of something like this?

10/06/2010, 09:35 AM	#9
DVA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 83	The overflow box is not just a great big square drain, it would actually be a tower with 2 holes in the bottom, one for the drain, and one for the return pipe running back up through the tower to an outlet. David