Plumbing a new tank

[potatowned]

I have an older style "reef ready" tank. There is an overflow box in one corner with two bottom drilled holes. I've attached a photo.

I think the easiest thing for me to do with this tank is to set up a Herbie using those two existing holes, the smaller one as the siphon drain and the larger as the emergency drain.

I would then need to drill a hole on the back for the return or plumb the return over the rim of the tank, correct?

What other options do I have with a tank like this? I would like to do a ghost overflow and bean animal, but I think that would be quite a bit of work with this tank. I would need to drill the back of the tank, remove the existing overflow and then plug up the existing bottom holes.

Let me know if I'm missing something, thanks!

 

[RobSpeed13]

I have an older style "reef ready" tank. There is an overflow box in one corner with two bottom drilled holes. I've attached a photo.

I think the easiest thing for me to do with this tank is to set up a Herbie using those two existing holes, the smaller one as the siphon drain and the larger as the emergency drain.

I would then need to drill a hole on the back for the return or plumb the return over the rim of the tank, correct?

What other options do I have with a tank like this? I would like to do a ghost overflow and bean animal, but I think that would be quite a bit of work with this tank. I would need to drill the back of the tank, remove the existing overflow and then plug up the existing bottom holes.

Let me know if I'm missing something, thanks!

wouldn't be that difficult to plug the holes. could either get bulkheads and plug them. or just use plates of glass sealed over the holes. drilling the tank isnt that difficult either. just have to be Patience.

 

[potatowned]

wouldn't be that difficult to plug the holes. could either get bulkheads and plug them. or just use plates of glass sealed over the holes. drilling the tank isnt that difficult either. just have to be Patience.

A plate of glass sealed with silicone would be sufficient?

 

[mcgyvr]

A plate of glass sealed with silicone would be sufficient?

yes basically a plate of the same thickness siliconed properly over it would be fine..
Personally I would just cap the bulkhead

and you need to know if its tempered glass before you drill anything...
If it is go ghost/synergy.. Its a big better in the long..

 

[tjm9331]

ok help me out guys, I'm clearly missing something and this is for my own education as I've never plumbed a tank before...

Why can't the OP just use the existing holes and plumb one as the drain and the other as the return?

 

[mcgyvr]

ok help me out guys, I'm clearly missing something and this is for my own education as I've never plumbed a tank before...

Why can't the OP just use the existing holes and plumb one as the drain and the other as the return?

They certainly can.. BUT there are better (quieter/more failsafe) systems out there and when given the choice the smart thing is to go the better direction..

Guess what happens when your one return gets blocked by algae or a snail and you haven't calculated your return pump section properly?

yes.. water on floor = wife beats you and your floor gets moldy and $$ to clean up/fix

A good read for you..
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

 

[ssky]

Well, the OP can do Herbie with the existing holes and just use the over the edge for return line.

 

[thegrun]

A plate of glass sealed with silicone would be sufficient?

That is what I did for my 120.

 

[potatowned]

Well, the OP can do Herbie with the existing holes and just use the over the edge for return line.

Yes, that's what I said in my original post - that this might be the easiest solution.

Sounds like others are saying that cutting out the overflow, patching the holes and drilling new ones for a ghost overflow would not be too difficult. I'm still not entirely convinced... it is a bit more work.

Question for people - the existing hole intended for the return on my tank is a smaller diameter than the existing drain. If I use both as drain and set up a Herbie, will I be OK using the smaller 3/4" hole as the main drain? Or should I drill it out larger?

Another reason for using the existing holes is that I can avoid having plumbing hang behind my tank, meaning I can get flush against the wall.

 

[potatowned]

That is what I did for my 120.

You sealed the top (water side) and the bottom as well I assume? So a bead of silicone around the square edge of the plate of glass in the tank and then a bead following the shape of the hole on the bottom?

 

[thegrun]

I only sealed the top (water) side. I put a thick bead around the hole and also sealed the edges of the patch glass. I don't see any reason to place another piece of glass under the hole, that would require you to notch the top of the stand to accommodate the glass patch that sticks out on the underside of the tank. That is the reason I also dont like the bulkhead patch


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes, that's what I said in my original post - that this might be the easiest solution.

Sounds like others are saying that cutting out the overflow, patching the holes and drilling new ones for a ghost overflow would not be too difficult. I'm still not entirely convinced... it is a bit more work.

Question for people - the existing hole intended for the return on my tank is a smaller diameter than the existing drain. If I use both as drain and set up a Herbie, will I be OK using the smaller 3/4" hole as the main drain? Or should I drill it out larger?

Another reason for using the existing holes is that I can avoid having plumbing hang behind my tank, meaning I can get flush against the wall.

Its up to you and what you want to do.. There are thousands of tanks running the "easy" way..
You need to weigh the pros/cons specific to you.. If flush against the wall is something you are wanting then +1 point for staying with what you have.. (or drill more holes in the bottom if thats possible.. likely tempered but might not be)

I personally won't run anything but a bean animal drain system solely because of the numerous complaints about noise/flow,etc... that come up on this site all the time..
Just like I would't run a hang on back overflow if you paid me a million dollars... I did once and while I never had a problem (because I was babysitting it) I couldn't sleep at night and worried about it all the time..
I did loose the siphon once but was there to catch it..
Never again will I do anything but a bean setup..

 

[ssky]

Yes, that's what I said in my original post - that this might be the easiest solution.

Sounds like others are saying that cutting out the overflow, patching the holes and drilling new ones for a ghost overflow would not be too difficult. I'm still not entirely convinced... it is a bit more work.

Question for people - the existing hole intended for the return on my tank is a smaller diameter than the existing drain. If I use both as drain and set up a Herbie, will I be OK using the smaller 3/4" hole as the main drain? Or should I drill it out larger?

Another reason for using the existing holes is that I can avoid having plumbing hang behind my tank, meaning I can get flush against the wall.

Yes, use the smaller for main drain and set the larger hole for emergency drain and you are all good.