Drilling aquarium

Crazyfingerz · 03/26/2012, 03:54 AM

I am having my custom aquarium drilled and I was wondering how wide should each hole be and what size bulkheads should I use. I want 1 drain out and 2 return holes.

active · 03/26/2012, 04:08 AM

1 drain and 2 returns. no emergency drain or secondary drain. ive never done just one drain but i would guess 1 1/2 to 2 inch drain and 2 - 3/4 or 1 inch returns thats my best guess

Ron Reefman · 03/26/2012, 04:22 AM

Doesn't it kind of depend on how big your tank & sump are as well as how much flow you want thru the sump? If you have a small sump, you don't need a very big drain at all. On the other hand, if it's a really big sump, you probably want a big drain. You haven't given us nearly enough info to start offering help!

phillyfishguy · 03/26/2012, 04:23 AM

I wouldn't recommend just 1 drain. I would do 2 drains and both of them for 1.5 bulkheads. 1 inch returns also.

Ron Reefman · 03/26/2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyfishguy

I wouldn't recommend just 1 drain. I would do 2 drains and both of them for 1.5 bulkheads. 1 inch returns also.

You are absolutely right about needing 2 drains. I'd never do a new tank and not have a built in emergency drain. And you can do 1 bigger pipe for the return to the DT and split it after it's in the tank.

But how can you recommend a drain or return size when you have no idea how big the tank and sump are? This is a custom tank. What if it's 500g? Is your recommendation flow enough? What if it's an odd custom 40g tank, isn't that recommendation kind of over kill?

jason2459 · 03/26/2012, 04:59 AM

I highly recommend planning things out a bit more. I would also highly recommend at least reading through this thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1541946

Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

fishgate · 03/26/2012, 06:09 AM

Typically you have holes sized to your overflow box. Get that first.

thegrun · 03/26/2012, 07:16 AM

What sized tank??? Is this for your 65 or another sized tank? I agree with the above, I would never have a single drain line on a tank.

Crazyfingerz · 03/26/2012, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone, It is a 120 gal tank and I went ahead and got 2-2 inch drains and 2 - 3/4 inch returns. I should be getting the tank delivered on Saturday. You can follow my build.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2147519

Secondly I was wondering if i can purchase bulkheads from a regular hardware store or should i order them from bulkreefsupply?

Crazyfingerz · 03/26/2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

You are absolutely right about needing 2 drains. I'd never do a new tank and not have a built in emergency drain. And you can do 1 bigger pipe for the return to the DT and split it after it's in the tank.

But how can you recommend a drain or return size when you have no idea how big the tank and sump are? This is a custom tank. What if it's 500g? Is your recommendation flow enough? What if it's an odd custom 40g tank, isn't that recommendation kind of over kill?

The tank is 120gal and i am deciding if to use my current 65gal as the sump/refugium or if to drill my 30 gal and the 65gal and use one for the sump and the other for the refugium. The only problem is that my livestock are being housed in the 30 gal so i will need to find temp housing for them while the tanks are being drilled.

Faithinc · 03/26/2012, 12:22 PM

I would definitly recommend the Herbie/Beananimal overflow systems. Having just started up a SW tank for the first time... I find my Herbie system to be absolutely amazing to deal with. Its completely silent and having that extra drain for flooding is well worth the cost it gives in peace of mind.

The only thing I recommend is that if you go with siphon systems, have a big enough sump to accommodate what your sump will pull to until the siphon breaks.

and to install gate/ball valves...everywhere...lessons learned!

03/26/2012, 03:54 AM	#1
Crazyfingerz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 303	Drilling aquarium I am having my custom aquarium drilled and I was wondering how wide should each hole be and what size bulkheads should I use. I want 1 drain out and 2 return holes. __________________ Always looking to move foward, yup yup Current Tank Info: 120gal DT, 30gal sump.

03/26/2012, 04:22 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Doesn't it kind of depend on how big your tank & sump are as well as how much flow you want thru the sump? If you have a small sump, you don't need a very big drain at all. On the other hand, if it's a really big sump, you probably want a big drain. You haven't given us nearly enough info to start offering help! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

03/26/2012, 04:23 AM	#4
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	I wouldn't recommend just 1 drain. I would do 2 drains and both of them for 1.5 bulkheads. 1 inch returns also. __________________ 120 gallon Basement set-up 40 gallon frag/80 gallon sump/30 gallon fuge/ ATB 1050 Current Tank Info: 120 gallon sump in basement

03/26/2012, 04:59 AM	#6
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I highly recommend planning things out a bit more. I would also highly recommend at least reading through this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1541946 Silent and Failsafe Overflow System __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/26/2012, 06:09 AM	#7
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Typically you have holes sized to your overflow box. Get that first. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

03/26/2012, 04:08 AM	#2
active Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: lake ariel pa Posts: 110	1 drain and 2 returns. no emergency drain or secondary drain. ive never done just one drain but i would guess 1 1/2 to 2 inch drain and 2 - 3/4 or 1 inch returns thats my best guess

03/26/2012, 07:16 AM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	What sized tank??? Is this for your 65 or another sized tank? I agree with the above, I would never have a single drain line on a tank.

03/26/2012, 12:10 PM	#9
Crazyfingerz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 303	Thanks for the advice everyone, It is a 120 gal tank and I went ahead and got 2-2 inch drains and 2 - 3/4 inch returns. I should be getting the tank delivered on Saturday. You can follow my build. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2147519 Secondly I was wondering if i can purchase bulkheads from a regular hardware store or should i order them from bulkreefsupply? __________________ Always looking to move foward, yup yup Current Tank Info: 120gal DT, 30gal sump.

03/26/2012, 12:22 PM	#11
Faithinc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9	I would definitly recommend the Herbie/Beananimal overflow systems. Having just started up a SW tank for the first time... I find my Herbie system to be absolutely amazing to deal with. Its completely silent and having that extra drain for flooding is well worth the cost it gives in peace of mind. The only thing I recommend is that if you go with siphon systems, have a big enough sump to accommodate what your sump will pull to until the siphon breaks. and to install gate/ball valves...everywhere...lessons learned!