constructive criticism needed Plumbing plans

[dwdenny]

OK nothing has been drilled yet so I am asking advice for this now. Here is my plumbing plan. I don't want to go over the back of the tank with the return from the sump or the external pump. Is this to many holes? Or do I just need to go over the back and call it good. Honestly let me know what you think.

Doug

[JeffCo]

Are you going with a barebottom or sand? If barebottom, I would make one of the returns from the closed loop at the bottom to blow all the crap from under the rocks. Also, I think your return from the sump should be much higher, or possibly go over the top. If the power goes out, your tank will drain all the way down to your sump return outlet. You don't want that unless you have a major big sump with the extra room. I would also raise one of the close loop outlets higher so it will blow over the top of the rock onto any corals you have. Just think about how you want your rock stacked and how high you want it, then place the closed loop outlets accordingly. HTH.

[LoneStar]

Looks like a glass tank? How thick is the glass and how long is the tank? I just wouldn't want to see that many holes in a short, thin walled tank (although I'm sure it may work but you never know). I've seen a lot of people put the drain to the pump in the center closer to the bottom of the tank, about 1/3 of the way up. Then you could stagger the return holes from the closed loop and sump kinda like this /\/\/\/\
The drains look like their in a good spot for the sump. Planning on putting a screen box just inside the tank or just a bulkhead filter?

[brewercm]

I agree with JeffCo on your sump return, make it as high as possible if you have to drill for the return or else make that one return go over the top. Also if you have your closed loop pump feed that high you could end up getting small air vortex's sucking air into the inlet. Make sure it's low enough so that won't happen but high enough it doesn't suck all the sand out of the bottom close to it either.

[dwdenny]

Ok sorry for the delay in responding I was in SA on Fri. & Sat. without the computer and sick as a dog all day on Sunday. It is a smaller tank 45g Breeder glass so only 36" across and 18" tall. I will be having about a 2" sandbed as i cannot quite get used to the BB look. But it still might be an option as I will have a fuge with a 6" sandbed. I didn' thaink about the sump return syphoning the water back I will make that higher. I will also be using loc-line on the returns so that I can adjust the water flow. As far as the drains to the sump yes I will have a inside box that skims the surface to keep it clean and clear. Thanks for the input any other suggestions?

[matt]

I'd never drill anywhere near that many holes in a 45 breeder. You need one hole for your tank drain and one for the closed loop drain, although you could do that over the top as well if you wanted. There is no reason to drill return holes, just put them over the top. I'd also never drill a hole near the bottom of the tank unless it's protected by an overflow, that is, unless you're willing to take the chance that with any leak in your plumbing the tank will drain down to the hole, as Jeff said. I'd put the closed loop drain about 2-3" below the water surface in a corner, and your sump drain in the other corner. If you're planning on a corner overflow, you might as well put that hole in the bottom of the tank, if you're planning a calfo style, which is kind of what it looks like, they're in the right place to my eye.

[dwdenny]

thanks. I was worried about drill that many holes but also was trying to keep from going over the top but I might have to any way. I am planning a Calfo style overflow. Thanks for the info matt

[Bug_Power]

any reason you can't put your sump and returns through the bottom, and your CL on the back? Basically like most Reef Ready Setups?

[dwdenny]

Tempered glass

[dwdenny]

Here is the plan that I came up with after a few very good suggestions . Sump return will be over the top. I just didn't want to go over the top with the closed loop(not really a true loop). What do you think

Doug