Plumbing options for 210 with dual overflow

Martini5788

Martini5788

New member
I need help deciding on exactly how to plumb my new aquarium. It has dual overflows. And is bottom drilled. 4 holes total. What are people using for their systems that have dual overflows?
 
It could and should be fairly easy, but a pic of tank and parts would help for best advice.
Each overflow probably has a big and small hole, big drain and small for return.
If you are lucky you got bulkheads, and luckier some plumbing and maybe locklines.
 
davocean said:
It could and should be fairly easy, but a pic of tank and parts would help for best advice.
Each overflow probably has a big and small hole, big drain and small for return.
If you are lucky you got bulkheads, and luckier some plumbing and maybe locklines.
Click to expand...


Yes it's a big and small hole in each overflow. Originally it did come with the plumbing and then when it got brought
Over here all of it was gone. So I'm starting
From scratch [emoji34].
 
ooch, well I would maybe send an email or call to that person asking for the bulkheads at the very least, worth a try, all this stuff adds up fast.
At least you are in the right spot here, a lot of people that have better plumbing skills than I.
Pics will still be your best for advice, and dims, measure those holes best as you can, that will decide what you need for bulkhead sizes as well as plumbing, drains, also helps decide return pump.
 
Assuming it's a 'standard' dual corner overflow with corner overflows and holes in the bottom, the options I can think of are:

  • Dual Durso's - probably the easiest but not necessarily the safest. Won't give you much flow and will tend to be noisy at higher flows. Surface skimming somewhat limited. You can run the return up through the overflows, concealing the plumbing.
  • Dual Herbie's - better flow and quieter. By report, dual Herbies are difficult to keep tuned (no personal experience in this area.) The same surface skimming. Returns will need to be separate.
  • Run a bean animal with the siphon & open channel in one corner and the emergency and return in the other. (will only work if the emergency is above the level of the overflows.) Silent and failsafe but would cut your surface skimming in half. You end up with a bunch of dead space in one overflow as well.
  • Remove the corner overflows and add a new overflow on the back - (coast to coast, internal/external, ghost, etc.) with a bean overflow. Better surface skimming, silent and virtually failsafe. Requires more work and possibly drilling the back. You potentially could use the bottom holes and run pipes up to bulkheads going into the overflow, but then you have pipes running up the back of your tank.

Dual corner overflows aren't great in terms of plumbing options, but there are a lot of them around and virtually everyone has a slightly different twist.

A lot depends on what kind of tank you plan on running, how much flow, etc, so it's hard to give definite advice without knowing more.
 
I think she is stuck doing it herself and kind of limited on DIY skills, so simple is probably best.
FWIW both my last 2 180's were duals, w/ dursos, simple returns, mine was not loud at all.
Drain size would be good to know, and return pump.
 
davocean said:
I think she is stuck doing it herself and kind of limited on DIY skills, so simple is probably best.
FWIW both my last 2 180's were duals, w/ dursos, simple returns, mine was not loud at all.
Drain size would be good to know, and return pump.
Click to expand...

I am kinda thinking it might be best to find tank manufacture and call them and order a PLUMBING KIT For that tank direct from them.....
Can save money in the long run by mistakes made and water mess possibilities


Plumbing is not hard but there are just some things you MUST GET Right and small details Just do not come across well in a text message.
 
I have a fluval sp4 that I had purchased for my last tank. So I am hoping to be able to use that. I'm pretty sure that the drains are 1 inch and return is 3/4 inch
 
Martini5788 said:
I have a fluval sp4 that I had purchased for my last tank. So I am hoping to be able to use that. I'm pretty sure that the drains are 1 inch and return is 3/4 inch
Click to expand...

That's a nice return pump, 2x1" drains will handle that flow, providing one never clogs on you.
I would expect bigger drains on a 210, but it's doable
 
I'd believe it if they were 1 & ¾" - there's not much room in those corner overflows, and larger bulkheads take up more room.

I have an SP4 - it's a great pump, but it puts out about 1200 gph, depending on how much head pressure it's pumping against. A 1" drain can easily handle that much flow at full siphon, I'm not sure if dual 1" dursos can without being excessively noisy. I've never used one personally, so I don't have experience with tuning them and what flow rates they're capable of; it may work, though.

you can actually make one yourself - there are instructions here. Davocean mentioned you weren't terribly handy - how comfortable are you with DIY projects?
 
I checked the flow chart on home page and it called for a minimum drain of 1.75" for that pump, that's why I figured 2x1" would be good.
Marine depot called it out at 1822gph
 
Yeah I wouldn't call myself incredibly handy, but the main problem is that I don't have tools at my house for a lot of DIY stuff. That combined with zero experience with plumbing makes things a bit difficult. If it's too strong of a pump I figured I could gate it down
 
The good news is that plumbing with PVC is pretty easy and doesn't need a lot of expensive tools. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing how to do PVC joints (BRS just put one out a couple weeks ago, too) All you need is a saw and some sand paper or a utility knife to clean the burrs.

Pick up some ¾" fittings and a short piece of ¾" PVC pipe and practice making some joints. I'm sure you'll catch on quite quickly.
 
What brand tank?

My Aqueon 210 has dual overflows, both holes in each overflow are 1". (( I made the mistake of assuming 1 and 3/4 and ended up being short on bulkheads )).

Anyways, I used an Herbie in both --- my sump has 2 bulkheads for the inflow into filter socks. It has worked great, been running since December. After the first couple of weeks I have only adjusted the gate valves a couple of times. While I used covers for the overflows, I am sure I have to clean the strainers pretty soon.


Can see both full siphons going into the sump (( plus the left side's E-drain )), because it was running.

plumbing11_zps5b067d50.jpg
 
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