Recomendations for overflow hole size

[dwdenny]

I am going to be drilling my tank but I need to know where and how big I should drill. I was thinking drilling for 3/4" bulkheads 2 of them (incase of clogging)with a surface skimmer. I was thinking of going with a CL but decided against it instead I will be using a seio 620 and 820 along with a quite one 3000 as my return pump from sump. I have read that you want about 5X turnover and others like Calfo are say min 10X turnover so whats the deal here.

[Ross]

Bigger is better, so you can always upgrade pumps later if you want to. Its also a good idea to drill 2 as you are doing.

[dwdenny]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/dwdenny/SECONDCOATedit.jpg

Here is an imagine of what I am thinking. Still pondering a closed loop with 1.5" bulkhead on a quite one 5000 pump. I think two 3/4" bulkhead for the sump drain will be plenty that will give just over 5X turnover through the sump and about 15X throught the fuge with a gate valve to control the flow.

[akm]

Bigger is better also since they wont be as noisy.

[dwdenny]

So I might be better off with two 1" drains to the sump. I know it will only drain as fast as the return pump. I know the Quite One 3000 is like 700gph but I was planning on throteling it back with a gate vavle after a tee to return water back the sump.

[christerrell2k3]

I have only had bad experience with Seio's overheating on me. I changed to mag7, then a mag 9.5.

[dwdenny]

one of the few but I have had a few rios go bad on me too not the seios but I have heard from more that they are good pump never know what you get tell you get it home lol. That is why I am still toying with the idea of a closed loop plus no PH in the display that is a very nice thing I think.

[Ross]

I have always seen seis doing well, never had one go bad. A closed loop is a very good idea also.

[brewercm]

I'd go with 1" drains and two of them, I think you'll be much happier with that in the long run. Like akm said, you'll end up with less gurgling that way also make a good durso pipe for the inlets preferably with eggcrate over the inlets (snail proofing). I'll try to post a picture of what I mean, mine was an after thought (after a turbo clogged up the inlet twice) but I think a nice modification to the durso.

[brewercm]

Here a really bad picture, sorry about the quality but hopefully you can see what I was talking about.

[dwdenny]

yeah I think I can see it lol Thanks for the pic they help out a lot. The dorso is in the overflow it look like am I right or wrong here. Might be hard in an internal though. not sure

[brewercm]

Correct on that. I'd still use some sort of screen if you use another system as your drain like Calfo or something. They do make screens specifically for this also if you want to spend the money but I find they clog up really quick with algae.

[dwdenny]

yeah I thought of egg create seems everyone is using it and cheap lol

[dwdenny]

Ok bulkhead question I was looking at savko and would you use a sch 80 or just a regular bulkhead. I need to know so I can order the correct hole saw so that I can drill the tank. I was looking at a 1" bulkhead whick needs a 1.75" hole 44.49mm but would it be ok to use a 45mm or a would it be better with a 44mm. The 1.5" can be from 60mm to 63mm for the regular bulkheads. Whick ones do I use.

[captexas]

Definately agree with going bigger on the drain bulkheads. They should be bigger than your return line to make drainage easier. The hole saw you need depends on what size and brand of bulkhead you buy. I've seen different hole size requirements for different bulkheads. I'd look at several different sites to confirm the one you need. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong with using sch40. A sch40 1in. bulkhead should use a 1.75in. hole and a sch 40 1.5in. bulkhead should need a 2 3/8in. hole.

[dwdenny]

yeah that is what I see. But on Savko is says 2 3/8" to 2.5" hole size. I guess any where inbetween will work is how I understand it. Will .02" make that much of a difference. Thanks for the input captexas

[captexas]

It shouldn't make a difference. That's 1/8in. more in diameter so it's only 1/16in. extra all the way around. As long as the bulkhead is installed the properly, there won't be any problems.

[dwdenny]

would you put a little silicone around to help seal the bulkhead to the tank

[captexas]

I haven't done that in the past on tanks, but many others do it that way. I'll probably do that before I put water in my future tank.

[GaryP]

I had my new one drilled for 3." Less chance of something plugging up with larger diameter.

[dwdenny]

wow 3" on a 45 that would 1/4 of the tank lol. I am going with 1.5" for the CL and two 1" drains for the sump. It will also have a internal suface skimmer with egg create that should keep out the critters there. As far as the drain for the CL pump a simple screen should do the trick there right or is ther something better I should be looking for Gary

[brewercm]

If you wanted to do it with a 2" bulkhead I have a Schd 80 2" just sitting in my garage that I'll never use. If I remember correctly the thing requires a 3 1/8 " hole, just a little larger than a schd 40 bulkhead.

If you want let me know and I can send it down to you and all you'll owe me is a future frag. :D
It'll save you a little, I think the schd 40 2" is around $16, this one was around $22 for the 80, so make it a good frag. :lol

[dwdenny]

So you think I should use one 2" as apposed to two 1" drains to the sump or a 2" for the CL drain tot he pump.

[brewercm]

I'd use the two 1" to the sump and the 2" to the CL. That's the way I have my 100 Gallon setup now.

[dwdenny]

Ok I purchased two hole saws today one 1 3/4" for 1" bulkhead and one 3 1/4" for 2" sch 80 bulkhead. I will let everyone know how it goes when I get them in.

[brewercm]

I'm just wanting to make sure. If this is a glass tank that you did order diamond bit hole saws.
Just didn't notice that part anywhere in the thread and wasn't sure.
BTW, bulkhead will be in the mail tomorrow.

[dwdenny]

Oh yeah they are diamond hole saws sorry for not stating that before. I purchased them online and they will be hear in about a week. I got them from here link to the hole saws http://www.richontools.com/catalog/c8_p1.html not a bad price even if the only do two or so holes. And brewercm thanks for the bulkhead when I get to a point that I can start fragging then it is your pick man thanks
:D

[brewercm]

Those are some great prices, let me know how they work out for you.

Just curious, but has anybody ever used a cutter like this style in attempting to make holes for tanks?

http://www.richontools.com/catalog/i4.html

[dwdenny]

I would think that for thinner glass it would work but not sure. I know that is what they use a glass shops for larger diameter holes.

[GaryP]

wow 3" on a 45 that would 1/4 of the tank lol. I am going with 1.5" for the CL and two 1" drains for the sump. It will also have a internal suface skimmer with egg create that should keep out the critters there. As far as the drain for the CL pump a simple screen should do the trick there right or is ther something better I should be looking for Gary

I actually have 2 X 3" drains drilled for a calfo on a 180 gal. There is a cone shaped screen made for that purpose that you can probably get from one of the online companies like Premium that carries plumbing supplies. The only LFS I know that carries them is Wolf Reef, but that doesn't do you any good in the valley. The only problem I see with eggcrate is that the opening are a little large. Small stuff like stomatella snails and micro hermits can still make it through it.

[brewercm]

Small stuff like stomatella snails and micro hermits can still make it through it.

That is true, my problem was with the larger mexican turbos that were actually clogging the thing up. I didn't care about the smaller stuff, I did use the screen that you are talking about for my closed loop setup.

If you aren't sure what we are talking about it looks like this.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4082&N=2004+113786

[dwdenny]

Yeah I was planning on using that for the CL(2" BTW thanks to brewercm) but for the Calfo Overflow would you use those or just use egg create or some screen of some sort over the Calfo? I guess I could use those on the calfo as well with a slip one on the 90 elbow right. How do you have your calfo setup. I was thinking of two smaller boxes say 12"LX4"TX2.5"W eack but would I be better of with one that goes all the way across 36"LX4"TX2.5"W. If you have any pics that would be great too.

[brewercm]

No need to use 90 elbow inside you calfo box, just put the screen directly onto the bulkhead. I may look into picking some up myself for 1" when I do another order from a store that caries them.

[dwdenny]

cool thanks all I need now are some good pics of the calfo so I know what I am doing. lol I think I might be better going all the way across the tank instead of two individual boxes not sure thought what do you all think.

[brewercm]

I would think it would be cheaper to have a single longer box made than two seperate ones. Here's a link to Petes gallery pic of his sitting on top of his sump before it was attached to his tank.

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=pete&id=acj&op=modload&n ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

[GaryP]

That is true, my problem was with the larger mexican turbos that were actually clogging the thing up. I didn't care about the smaller stuff, I did use the screen that you are talking about for my closed loop setup.

I realize they won't plug anything up, but they aren't doing my tank any good in the sump where they will probably die and just add to the organic load.

[dwdenny]

I would think it would be cheaper to have a single longer box made than two seperate ones. Here's a link to Petes gallery pic of his sitting on top of his sump before it was attached to his tank.

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=pete&id=acj&op=modload&n ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Thanks for the pic. I will be making mine out of glass so I know it wont fall in the middle of the night. I know it will probably hold but I have some 4-H parents that own a glass shop and I can get the glass for free :D Just trying to determine how deep and wide to make it. I was thinking 36"LX2.5"WX4.5"T. I think that will be good and not worry about taking to much room out of the tank.

[dwdenny]

Thanks to Cliff for the 2" sch 80 bulkhead this thing is going push a ton of water. :D