I need some extra eyes on this.

[Masterderrull]

Anybody see any inherent problems with this design. The tank is a 90 and I want to get an OM4 version 2 or 3. All OM returns are 1". I just want to get some extra eyes on my idea before I drill the tank this afternoon. Thanks

Oh yeah the bottem holes are about 6" off the bottem to allow for sand build up. At least I think it's a good idea.

 

[Masterderrull]

I judge by the views, but the lack of replies that everything seems OK.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Holes should be AT LEAST 1x diameter away from an edge... 1.5x or 2x to be safe.

 

[cloakerpoked]

why are all your returns so low in the tank?

 

[rgsa8892]

hope you don't have a power outage cause it looks like the whole tank will drain

 

[Masterderrull]

hahaha, I know I'm consernd too with puting them down there. I was going to use check valves, even though some people say they are unreliable. Are they really that unreliable?

Nate, I wanted to put some down lower to prevent build-up of detris in and around the rocks. Bad idea? I never did drill it, because I wanted to do it outside and it was raining all day long that day.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yes, they are that unreliable.

You can use them that low, but use them with a closed loop, not the sump return.

 

[cloakerpoked]

I'd recommend just using powerheads down low, and drilling the returns up high.

 

[CleveYank]

As prior post, You can do the returns low for a closed loop application only. (Which means you'll need one more hole for that.)

As others have pointed out the check valves are unreliable and you will be peesed as all heck when you come back from vacation one day and find your fish dried and dead and your floorings or more ruined.


The only other way that you could do those as a return would be to suspend a return sump that your return pump in your bottom sump would dump into that would also have holes drilled in it and lines plumbed from those lines to gravity feed into your intended return in the display. In theory it will work that way. Just have to make sure of no odd 90's on it (I'd use PVC Spa line) and you would need the holes at the top of those lines at the upper sump just like the overflow kits on the AGA/Marinelands to prevent sucking air and making it gurgle and surge.

Probably much more hassle than the closed loop suggestion, which is what I would go with.

Good Luck with your build.