Help...Drilling my 30g

[ruuskystar]

hey,

Since I am in the process of setting up my system I want to do things correctly the first time around, which is why I'm asking for some wisdom...

So with that said im making my own corner overflow and have decided to drill the tank.

What is the best drilling size that I should go with for my size tank???...I suppose the bigger the hole the more water flow your going to get. how much is too much, how much is too little?

I have 30 g display tank, 20g sump tank underneath. I'm also not sure what size pump im gonna need to get water back up, tank is only about a foot underneath display.

Also, does the size of the overflow matter? the dimesions of the box once epoxied to the back wall and side?

These are the descisions i'm currently facing, so any help would be much appreciated.

thanks in advance...:)

[Michael_Lambert]

What are the dimentions on the tank?

If its a 30 Tall, like mine, Then i would go with a 1 inch hole for the drain and a 3/4 inch return..

If its a 30 long ( 36 inches long ) i would go with a 1.5 inch hole for the drain and then run 2 3/4 inches to each corner for the returns.. Just run the single hose up then T it off to each corner and go with a slightly larger pump than you would with the 30T..

30T tank i would use a 2- 250 GPH pump.. 30 Long ( 36 inches ) i would go with a 3-350 GPH pump..

Either a mag 250 or 350.. Might even just concider a 350 and use a Ball valve to slow it down..

Now with it being only a small system i would also try and drill the sump.. if you have room for an external pump.. and run a Little giant 2.. its rated at like 500GPH.. 400 at 5 feet.. then you can use a Ball valve to slow it down... Using the extra pump you are keeping the tank cooler.. and you are leaving room in the sump for other goodies!

[ruuskystar]

thanks toooloud for responding so quickly.

what do you mean using the "extra pump" i am keeping the tank cooler? extra meaning more than one pump?

or do you mean just drill the sump, have a pipe or tube coming out of that into an external pump which sucks it out of sump and pushes it up to main?, and then just run a pipe up to the main thank from there, split it off with a T and voila...???...

it is a 30 gallon medium, 30'longx12'deepx18'high

how would I install a ball valve to slow it down? and how do I make sure that the same amount of water leaving the tank is being pushed back in without overflow in main tank or not enough water in main tank???

I agree with you that putting the pump externally would allow for more room in sump for skimmer, heater, filters, and a nice area for a refuguim. good idea toooloud. Since I am starting from scratch with two empty tanks I have the ability to do whatever I want...within my student $$$ reasoning of course...:)

thanks alot for help....it means alot...

[Michael_Lambert]

What about the space under the tanks?

Do yo have room?

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Yes you are correct.. What you do is drill the Tank.. Install a bulkhead( ARound $20) and then you connect the external pump to that.. When i say cooler.. what i mean is the heat of the pump just warms up the air around it .. Instead of heating up the water in the sump.. Yes doing this would leave much more room.. And if you want a refugium.. lots of room :)

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As for making sure about the overflows.. What you do is drill the hole make the overflow chamber.. and you run the chamber right up to about 1/2 inch from the top of the tank.. this will keep the the tank at that level at all times.. never lower.. What will happen is as water evaporates the level in the sump will go down.. and drilling your tank with a 1 inch hole for the drain, you would be looking at a good 800-1000 GPH pump with out overflowing the tank.. As for installing the ball valve.. what it is , Is a PVC device cost around $12 and its opens and closes so you can restick the water going through the pump..

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[ruuskystar]

When you are asking do I have space under the tanks do you mean could I drill through the bottom of the tank instead of drilling the bottom back of the tank?

If that is what you mean I just made a custom desk that I do not want to drill through to fit piping through to go to the sump. I am doing a 30 gallon because that is all the room and means I have for right now. I built the desk big enough to hold a 64-75 gallon one day in the distant future, which is my reasoning for that.

If you aren't referring to drilling the bottom of the tank I don't know what you mean by " do you have room underneath your tanks"??...

I know exactly what you are talking about now about the pump outside of the sump and how to go about doing all that. and I think i know how I'm gonna do my overflow now, of course fully to the top of the tank, but the actual dimensions of it are still up in the air.

the only sad part is i have to have both my tanks drilled now...

$$$:($$$

thanks again for the info

[Michael_Lambert]

Sorry,

Just ment, If you had room to fit a sump and the external pump.. Now you have it on a desk.. so then im sure you have plently of room :)

As for drilling the tank.. If you do not go with a bottom hole.. then you can still make the overflow chamber .. if you dont mind taking up some room.. and drill the hole in the back of the tank and run it straight down to the Sump..

[ruuskystar]

That's exactly what I'm doing and exactly what I wanted to hear.

I have plenty of room.

thanks again. I'm well on my way to understanding how to design a successful reef. Now to actually doing it is another matter :)

you have been a huge help!!! as well as all the other ppl who have dropped some tips my way.

I do have one last question to everyone on this message board.

Does anyone belong to MAST (Marine Aquarium Society of Toronto) I was thinking of joining and attending their monthly meetings and eventually hoping to do some frag trading and workshops in the future? anyone apart of this and have any Good/Bad things to say. Any info appreciated.

Thanks again everybody :wink-grin