Drilling 20L for sump

[Pearfish]

Pls help. Im drilling my 20L for a 10 gallon sump. How many holes should i drill and what sizes for the bulkheads? Return and drain. Im going to run a 160gph pump.

 

[CuzzA]

For a tank this size I would look at just buying a package from glass-holes.com.

http://glass-holes.com/Super-Nano-Overflow-Box-Complete-Kit-ghsnanokit.htm

 

[Pearfish]

What about the return. I was thinking of doing a 3/4 pvc and split it between two 1/2 in. bulkheads.

 

[CuzzA]

That's fine, but I would probably just do one bulkhead for the return and let your powerheads handle the flow. The purpose of the return is to just get filtered water back to the display from the sump and have your powerheads distribute that water throughout the display.

 

[Pearfish]

Im actually setting up a clownfish breeding tank so there will be no powerheads just a flower pot. All the rest is below, skimmer, liverock, sand, and return.

 

[CuzzA]

Are you planning on trying to raise the fry in this tank? If so, I would forget the sump all together. It's my understanding most people transfer the eggs or fry to a dedicated rearing tank which has nothing more than a heater, light and sponge air filter.

Also, I wonder if you'll have trouble getting the clowns to lay eggs in nothing more than a tank and flowerpot. I don't know, but a reef environment, even a crappy one would probably make them more comfortable and more likely to reproduce. I've never done it so I don't know for sure.

 

[Pearfish]

Ok i drilled the tank i have a 1 inch bulkhead drain and one 1/2 inch bulkhead return. (The LFS said two 1/2 inch bulkheads wouldn't have enough water movement.) I cant keep the water level the same it keeps fluctuating in the sump everytime i move the drain valve... The slightest movement. I have a 295 gph pump and a 20 gallon tank. Pls help getting really frustrated. I have quite a bit of money in this.

 

[Pearfish]

Btw it's just the bloodstock tank. Also i have the drain open, just a cover no overflow box

 

[Pearfish]

Pls help

 

[CuzzA]

So this is a full siphon drain. I think you would be much better off running a durso. A common problem is dialing a full siphon in and keeping it dialed in. If the full siphon is a must I would drill a second hole with an elbow up and set the water level in the tank to trickle down the second hole. Normally I wouldn't advise anyone to do this, but since this tank will have nothing but two fish and a flowerpot the risk of a clog would likely be much less.

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-dry-emergency-trickle/