Need help with plumbing 180 gallon with 5 holes

[dmsprague]

Hello all. I have been reading a lot but can't find any info on the exact set up I have. I purchase a used 180 gallon tank drilled. It is drilled with 4 holes for 1.5" inch bulkheads. 2 holes in each corner. Also a hole for a 1' bulkhead in the center. All holes are in the back panel not the bottom. I assume the 1" center hole is for the return line. The other 4 for drains. I guess I'm just having trouble deciding what to do with 4 drains. I want to do a bean like drain with 1 siphon and the second as backup / emergency. This would be at each end but I'm not sure I'll have room for 4 1.5" pipes going into the drain chamber of the sump which will be a 40 gallon breeder. Should I just plug 1 end and fit a box to the other or should I use all 4? Maybe tee them together? Just looking for input from people with more experience that myself. This is for a fowlr tank but will be larger messy eaters so I went plenty of flow through the socks. TIA

 

[mcgyvr]

Got a picture?
At this point I can't answer your question at all..
I don't know if there is an overflow box or not?
Just holes in the back of a tank is not sufficient

 

[dmsprague]

You can kind of see the bulkheads on one end and the center. Other end has 2 just like this end. Am at work right now so. This is the only image I have till this eve. They were plugged when I got the tank but I have new bulkheads coming. I plan on putting boxes in but haven't gotten them yet. Want to wait for the bulkheads to make sure I have enough clearance in which ever boxes I get. Just seems like 4 1.5" drains is an awful lot but I'm a newb so dunno.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

You can kind of see the bulkheads on one end and the center. Other end has 2 just like this end. Am at work right now so. This is the only image I have till this eve. They were plugged when I got the tank but I have new bulkheads coming. I plan on putting boxes in but haven't gotten them yet. Want to wait for the bulkheads to make sure I have enough clearance in which ever boxes I get. Just seems like 4 1.5" drains is an awful lot but I'm a newb so dunno.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

People use bulkheads for the returns too..
I think if it was me I would use the outer 2 as returns and the inner 3 inside the overflow box.. center being full siphon and one side being open channel and the other being emergency..

 

[dmsprague]

Thank you. That sounds like a very good idea. One nice long box to give a large skim area and no messing around trying to balance two separate overflows. The center bulkhead is 1" the others 1.5" do you think I should step the two 1.5" in the overflow down to match the 1" to even things out and also make plumbing expenses less especially on the valves? Also would it hurt to step the returns down to 1"? Sorry for so many questions and thanks for your time

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

I think I would leave emergency 1.5.. Go 1.25 on open channel and then the 1" on the full channel.. Then 1" returns Why? Just because I'm weird like that and think it would perform the best/safest..

 

[dmsprague]

Thanks. I will follow your advise since this is all new to me. I have a 150 mixed reef up and running with an hob overflow and 30 gallon sump. While it's functional is kind of a cluster buy if I pull power to the return pump the sump doesn't over flow and the same for the DT if I block the drain and let the return pump run dry so I guess I did something right.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Yep..sounds like you are well on your way..
Enjoy..