New Tank Plumbing Question

[joeyprice]

I just got a 100g tank that has a central overflow drilled with 3 holes. It came with some plumbing, 2 2" stand pipes and 1 one inch stand pipe. As near as I can tell they are intended to be 2 drains and a return, but I am wondering if it might be better to use the 1" as an emergency drain and plumb the returns externally. What do you guys think?

joey

 

[first29gallon]

Sounds like you have two drains and one return and that's how I would use them. You are not going to be able to use both 2 inch drains fully (too large for both of them to be full drains) so one of them will have to be an emergency.


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[joeyprice]

Sounds like you have two drains and one return and that's how I would use them. You are not going to be able to use both 2 inch drains fully (too large for both of them to be full drains) so one of them will have to be an emergency.


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it came with 2 elbows to cap the overflows with, but they're both drilled like for a partial syphon. Was that just an error in parts packing?

 

[mcgyvr]

but I am wondering if it might be better to use the 1" as an emergency drain and plumb the returns externally. What do you guys think?

joey

I would.. I'll take a bean animal setup over anything else any day..
If you don't mind over the top returns then go for it..
It will be a better setup

But I'd probably run the 1" as the full siphon channel and the other larger ones as the open channel and emergency..
A 100G tank doesn't need 2" plumbing for those..

 

[joeyprice]

I would.. I'll take a bean animal setup over anything else any day..
If you don't mind over the top returns then go for it..
It will be a better setup

But I'd probably run the 1" as the full siphon channel and the other larger ones as the open channel and emergency..
A 100G tank doesn't need 2" plumbing for those..

I measured the pipes again, they're OD 2" and they have reducers at the bottom. Reducers just seem to me like they'd create more areas for things to get hung up. Am I over thinking it?

 

[mcgyvr]

2" OD is likely 1-1/2" PVC (1.9" OD) not 2" PVC.. Just a FYI when you start shopping for parts..

While many times reducing isn't a good idea in this case the piping is kind of oversized from the start anyways..

Overthinking it when you don't have the experience isn't a bad thing..
I'd suggest you start reading this ..
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx
Its what IMO you should be doing.. It is the "best".. Might as well start with the "best"