How high/low to drill my 40b for its drain

daninfamous · 07/02/2012, 01:40 PM

I am going to be drilling a 40b for a 1" drain, about how high/low do you guys suggest, I want to keep the water level near/above the trim. I will be using a street elbow, no overflow box. Last time I tried this once I put the elbow in (not even with glue) i couldn't move it in the bulkhead. I never did finish that tank..

Prob running a mag 7 or 9.5 for return.

parrthed · 07/02/2012, 01:59 PM

I usually just insert the elbow in the bulkhead and hold it to desired height and mark the bulkhead location with a sharpie and drill away.

daninfamous · 07/02/2012, 02:22 PM

Makes sense, I guess the simplest solution is the best. TY

NanoReefWanabe · 07/02/2012, 03:21 PM

FWIW, a mag7 and a single 1" air mix drain is going to sound absolutely horrendous...is there a reason why, with a 40b your not building an overflow box and doing it the right way?

but if you must, the way described above will work fine, i would just put the elbow on the glass and trace it though where ever you want it to sit. then centre the holesaw over it and grind away...

you could always looks up the specs on the elbow you are using and measure where the opening should go too..

daninfamous · 07/03/2012, 01:54 PM

What size drain/return do you suggest? I was looking at the GH drain kit and they only use a half inch return, just seems awful small to me.

edit //
after re-reading its 1.5" drain. hmm

Jagarang · 07/04/2012, 02:16 PM

Are the sides of your tank tempered? Are you drillin the side, I thought you couldn't do that. I'd like a 40B also, and Petco sells em cheap so it might be worth a shot. I know the bottoms aren't tempered right?

NanoReefWanabe · 07/04/2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagarang

Are the sides of your tank tempered? Are you drillin the side, I thought you couldn't do that. I'd like a 40B also, and Petco sells em cheap so it might be worth a shot. I know the bottoms aren't tempered right?

90% of masspro tanks have tempered bottoms, however; it is generally safe to drill the sides...

OP i am still curious why you dont want an overflow box? i would drill a minimum of two drain holes and run the returns over the top of the tank...

daninfamous · 07/04/2012, 10:52 PM

Im going to drill/order a return kit, I want everything inside the tank nothing hanging over so I can put a clean lid on it, ive had lots of jumpers. and im prob going to order an overflow box now, I thought it was a .5" drain not a 1.5"

Jagarang · 07/05/2012, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NanoReefWanabe

90% of masspro tanks have tempered bottoms, however; it is generally safe to drill the sides...

OP i am still curious why you dont want an overflow box? i would drill a minimum of two drain holes and run the returns over the top of the tank...

LOL...I'm bassackwards on that...so the sides are not tempered and the bottoms are...

07/02/2012, 01:40 PM	#1
daninfamous Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradley, il Posts: 75	How high/low to drill my 40b for its drain I am going to be drilling a 40b for a 1" drain, about how high/low do you guys suggest, I want to keep the water level near/above the trim. I will be using a street elbow, no overflow box. Last time I tried this once I put the elbow in (not even with glue) i couldn't move it in the bulkhead. I never did finish that tank.. Prob running a mag 7 or 9.5 for return.

07/03/2012, 01:54 PM	#5
daninfamous Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradley, il Posts: 75	What size drain/return do you suggest? I was looking at the GH drain kit and they only use a half inch return, just seems awful small to me. edit // after re-reading its 1.5" drain. hmm Last edited by daninfamous; 07/03/2012 at 02:00 PM.

07/02/2012, 01:59 PM	#2
parrthed Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Posts: 435	I usually just insert the elbow in the bulkhead and hold it to desired height and mark the bulkhead location with a sharpie and drill away.

07/02/2012, 02:22 PM	#3
daninfamous Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradley, il Posts: 75	Makes sense, I guess the simplest solution is the best. TY

07/02/2012, 03:21 PM	#4
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	FWIW, a mag7 and a single 1" air mix drain is going to sound absolutely horrendous...is there a reason why, with a 40b your not building an overflow box and doing it the right way? but if you must, the way described above will work fine, i would just put the elbow on the glass and trace it though where ever you want it to sit. then centre the holesaw over it and grind away... you could always looks up the specs on the elbow you are using and measure where the opening should go too..

07/04/2012, 02:16 PM	#6
Jagarang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 48	Are the sides of your tank tempered? Are you drillin the side, I thought you couldn't do that. I'd like a 40B also, and Petco sells em cheap so it might be worth a shot. I know the bottoms aren't tempered right?

07/04/2012, 10:52 PM	#8
daninfamous Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradley, il Posts: 75	Im going to drill/order a return kit, I want everything inside the tank nothing hanging over so I can put a clean lid on it, ive had lots of jumpers. and im prob going to order an overflow box now, I thought it was a .5" drain not a 1.5"