Plumbing advice please

[xxkenny90xx]

So after my hob overflow overflowed for the second time I finally picked up a reef ready tank. Now I'm trying to design my plumbing. It has two 2" drains (so I'm ordering 1" slipXslip bulkheads?) which I'm planning on putting barbed fittings into and black flex hose. My other idea is to drill a hole in the back of the tank and make something for water changes, maybe a 90° elbow and some pvc inside to reach the top 3rd of the water and some flew hose on the outside which I can run to a drain. I am worried about the water change bulkhead because it won't be in an overflow box so if it ever leaks it'll be a big problem. Any pointers on any of this guys? Thanks

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

How far away is the nearest place to drain water,
toilet or sink? A simple hose will do a lot.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

About 7 feet. Are you saying don't drill? That may be what happens, I was just thinking how great it would be to just turn a valve for water changes (if there is a safe way to plumb it.

 

[herostar]

You could make a u-shaped pipe out of pvc that you can hang over the edge of your tank when you want to do water changes. On the end outside of the tank attach a hose (barbed fitting or whatever's your fancy), and on the end inside the tank you should cut it to the level you want it to drain. By setting the depth inside the tank that you want it to drain to, you can easily just let it go until the siphon breaks.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

That's actually not a bad idea, how would you recommend starting the siphon that herostar?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Put a strainer on the end inside the tank so you don't suck someone into the hose.
Suck on the end of the hose to start.
You can easily run a 7' hose, just make sure the open end is secure.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I'll definitely put a strainer on but i'm not a fan of suckling on the hose, any ideas to automate that part using gravity?

 

[Mules1]

Put a tee off the return with two valves. Flip the valves and pump water into drain. Add new water flip valves and voila.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I thought of putting something in the return (or drain) lines but that would only empty the return section of the sump which is no good