Tank is ordered but quick question on holes in overflow

[jfolley67]

ordered an 18" overflow box in the center back.....3 holes in the bottom...We made all 3 of the holes (2 ouputs to sump and 1 return) all 1-1/2 inch bulkheads....opinions on this please? I have had a comment that we should have that return to be 1 inch instead of 1-1/2.
Any ideas? comments?

 

[c_stowers]

I would think 2 1 inch holes would be better than a 1.5 inch. A 1.5 inch can support more flow, but I personally like my return being distributed to both sides of the tank.

 

[anthony34]

I also like it on both sides of the think, its like having a backup unit if something happends to one side the other unit can take up the slack, it has happend before one gets clogged and leaving the floor the only option

 

[waynesworld]

they return will be 1.5 through the bottom an then y of to two on both sides of the tank. This return is for just that return treated water the flow will be provided inside the tank. remember I won the argument of not going closed lope

 

[jfolley67]

Yeah, he won, but I did put up quite a fight for a black belt!!! ha! Wayne, are you sure I should not call back and make the return just 1 inch instead? I spoke with Angela and she said I might get better return if I don't make it quite as big.....

 

[crumbletop]

Seems reasonable to me. Are the holes 1 1/2" or are they larger to support 1 1/2" bulkheads? Also, I'd get it drilled for sched 80 bulkheads. Like any bulkhead, they can leak, but they are much heavier duty than sched 40.

I can't wait to see that all hooked up. That is going to be cool having that closet right behind it.

I'm not sure I'd downsize the bulkhead. You can always step the pipe down right at the bulkhead if you want a smaller diameter pipe.

 

[waynesworld]

1.5 bulkheads

 

[jfolley67]

wayne, should I call him back and have him change out the bulkheads to the sched 80? I am gonna drive that poor Tom nuts with this tank!! I emailed him also on the bracing, just to make sure he thinks it is safe without the braces.....his original email was he recommends the bracing.....then on the phone he said was not real necessary....hmmmmmmmmm

 

[eyebedam]

His tanks are drilled for the sched 80 bulkheadss anyways. He only uses the sched 40 if they are requested & he doesnt like doing it then.

 

[jfolley67]

you are right, I saw what he emailed back and they were the sched 80's....wayne is gonna kill me...I had him put on the 2 braces between 3 halide lights BECAUSE he emailed me back and said he highly suggests it......and that he will gladly put them anywhere to help offset the lighting issues. I realize they might be in they way with some lights, but hey, better than 180 gallons of water in my bonus room one day!!

 

[pitbullpooch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9556073#post9556073 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfolley67
wayne is gonna kill me...I had him put on the 2 braces between 3 halide lights BECAUSE he emailed me back and said he highly suggests it......and that he will gladly put them anywhere to help offset the lighting issues. I realize they might be in they way with some lights, but hey, better than 180 gallons of water in my bonus room one day!!

if you had 2 braces wouldnt that put them at 2' a piece? which would give you room for 3 metal halides...[ I I ] the I are the braces and the [ are the ends of the tank so you got 3 2' openings for your metal halides...right? i might not be understanding you correctly but thats how i take it... myself im using lumenarcs and get a 3' spread on them so it saves alot of money since for a 6" tank you only need 2 halides to light it. so for a 6" tank you only need one center brace and 2 lumenarcs with 2 halides so you save alot of energy and money by eliminating one of the halides you would have to use with regular reflectors. theres alot of wasted light when using halides without the lumenarc reflectors but thats a whole other topic....

 

[jfolley67]

I will have a center 18" overflow, I think I cannot do a center brace with that setup?

 

[SRT80]

you wouldnt want a center brace thouh right? The 2 braces would be on the outside of the over flow, leaving 3 2ft sections, and the over flow bein' in the center opened section. Am I right?

Steve

 

[pitbullpooch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9556301#post9556301 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SRT80
you wouldnt want a center brace thouh right? The 2 braces would be on the outside of the over flow, leaving 3 2ft sections, and the over flow bein' in the center opened section. Am I right?

Steve

thats how the setup sounded to me.....but if there was a center brace then you can save yourself some money and get 2 lumenarcs with 2 halides and your done

 

[pitbullpooch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9556256#post9556256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfolley67
I will have a center 18" overflow, I think I cannot do a center brace with that setup?

why not? you can have a center brace with a center overflow. if you get the center brace then you saved yourself some money in the long run. get yourself 2 lumenarcs and each will cover 3'. sanjay was right on them they are unbelievable. i have one on a 3' tank with a 175 halide and i get more par then when i ran 2 175 watt halides on the same setup just by using the lumenarc reflector. you loose so much light when not using the right reflector...

 

[crumbletop]

Just so that Julie knows, the lumenarcs are ~20" x 20" in physical dimensions. That means she could still go with them as reflectors even going with the 2-brace design. I think I'd opt for the 2-brace design if it were me. It gives more options.

 

[eyebedam]

Only prob with using lumenarcs in the 180 canopy is you dont really have anymore space to run vhos or any other supplemental lights. .

 

[eyebedam]

Did you go with the low e glass or just the regular?

 

[pitbullpooch]

with a 180 you could use the lumenarc mini's which are 14.5" if you wanted to add actinic suplements unless you just used a higher k bulb for your blue which is what i like to do.