Acrylic...how many holes?

[MacnReef]

So, I am going to pick up a 36" x 18" x 18" acrylic tank to replace my current 58g Oceanic. The reason, I want to put in a closed loop system.

Yes, I could drill my 58g Oceanic...but what a pain. So for the price of this tank, I don't see how I can pass it up.

So onto my question.

I will need to drill it for both the overflow and the closed loop system which is pretty good in my opinion because I can do it the way I want.

The main drain can be any size and since my return will be over the back feeding a SeaSwirl, it doesn't have to be huge.

So, what would you do? What size pump would you have as the closed loop pump? How many holes would you drill and where would you drill them? How big would the holes be? This will be a full SPS tank, bare bottom of course.

Let me know!
Thanks!
Mike

 

[spslover123]

Hehe, I just put together a 36"x18"x18" acrylic tank( SPS BB too) a few days ago. Cant answer your question, but it's intresting how we both are planning the exact same thing

Chris

 

[MacnReef]

Well, what are you plans?

Mike

 

[MacnReef]

I will be picking up the tank on Monday so I am going to take this weekend to do some planning and get some feedback. Of course, once I get it I will plan more.

Mike

 

[jjackson]

A dart would give you a TON of flow.... you could do 1 2" drain and 4 3/4 returns.....

 

[zapata41]

you need to figure out what cl pump you are gonna run, but a easy way to also do it, is just to drill in a 1 1/2 bulkhead for the cl intake and then a couple of 1" bulks for the cl returns. i usualy place my intake down low like and inch of the bottom so i can suck up poop and get it back into the current. on my 90g i drilled a 1" bulk for the cl intake and 2 3/4" for the returns, didnt like it mainly because of the limitations it caused for pump choices, so this tank, my 180, i have drilled 2 - 1 1/2 bulks for the intakes and 4-1" bulks for the returns and also went and drilled in 1 1/2 overflow drains, just incase someday i need them they will be there, for now i am just gonna bush them down to whatever size i need. also make sure you get a thread X thread bulkheads, the glue ones suck because you cant unglue them.

Tim

also put in plenty of unions and good ball valves, not the crappy white sch 40 pvc ones that will get gummed up and never fully close. i choose to place a ball valve after the bulkhead and then a sch80 pvc union, them plumb from there, this way i wont have to cut anything out to service any part of the plumbing system. costs more up front but you will thank yourself the first time you can turn a valve and unscrew a unions vs. draining the tank to service something.

 

[MacnReef]

A dart would be nice...I will look into getting one of those.

zapata...yeah, I will definitely get the good ballvalves that are true union.

Thanks guys, keep it coming.

Mike

 

[MacnReef]

Ok, so I am thinking a ReefFlow Dart. 2 x 2" drains or 1 x 2" drain, just don't want to much suction out of the one drain line. Then putting in 6 returns. Two up near the surface about 5" down then two mid way on the tank. Also thinking of the putting the drains about midway on the tank.

Trying to decide if I should do a overflow in the center back on the tank or at the back corner. Any thoughts? I am thinking of one corner so I can put the seaswirl right down the middle.

Mike

 

[zapata41]

do the overflows in the corners, the more surface area overflows the better surface skimming you will get. i would go with 2- 1 1/2 intakes for the dart since they are pretty large, they look even bigger when you get them in your hands.

Tim

 

[MacnReef]

Dual 1 1/2" bulkheads turned into one 2" drain to the pump? Just trying to make sure there won't be any cavatation issues.

Mike