New tank plumbing...

[perpetual98]

Ok, I think I've decided not to go with the "bow back" tank. I think I'm going to get rid of that tank and get a 40 breeder for my office at work.

How should I plumb it? I'm thinking about plumbing it for a 1" overflow with 2 3/4" returns. As long as I'm drilling 3 holes, I might as well drill 6, right? I'm also thinking about drilling a hole for a 1" bulkhead with 2 3/4" bulkheads for a closed loop and use a SCWD on that.

Good idea? Bad idea? Off the top of your collective heads, what hole sizes do you need for 3/4" and 1" bulkheads?

I'm working on the stand now when I get some time, and I can't imagine that I'll have it done in the near future. A little work here and there and maybe the stand will be done around Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanks!
Eric

[lReef lKeeper]

before you go drilling ... check out the Calfo style overflow article in Calfo's corner !!

[perpetual98]

Pondered that, but it's going to be an open top and I think that the manifold would be rather unsightly at best

[graphixx]

on drilling I think a 40mm will work for a 1" bulkhead (I think) I know Michael (Tanked) bought some diamond bits for glass cutting for like 9 bucks a piece and said they cut glass like butter. He is supposed to get me the link for them. I will let you know

[seahorsedreams]

For "standard" bulkheads.......
1/2" bulkhead requires a 1-1/8 diameter hole.
3/4" bulkhead requires a 1-7/16" - 1-1/2" diameter hole.
1" bulkhead requires a 1-3/4" diameter hole.

But I've had bulkheads that were not the "norm". So, always get your bulkheads in your possession before you drill.

[perpetual98]

Greg! How's that link coming along? I think I'll be getting the tank probably in the next week or two. I figure I'll crack it one way or another.

Here's my thoughts. I'm going to run a fairly low GPH return pump. Probably something in the neighborhood of 400GPH. A QO2200 pump will be around 400 at 4' of head, so that may be perfect. I'll probably split that into two 3/4" lines to the tank with some lockline. Then I'm also thinking about running a closed loop on the tank with two 3/4" outlets with a SCWD from a QO4000. That should net me about 700GPH or so, maybe more depending on where I put the pump. I should be close to 30X turnover per hour with that setup. Worst case I put a cheap SEIO 620 or two for more flow without breaking the bank. That puts me at four holes for 3/4" bulkheads and two holes for 1" bulkheads in the back of the tank. Lots of drilling! That's why I'd like to get a line on those diamond hole saws.

As far as my refuge goes, here's what I'm thinking....

Tank drains into a 20L "sump" that contains my ASM 3G skimmer with gate-valve mod. That tank will be raised about 4" to 6" above the floor of the stand. I'll bulkhead that on one end (hey, if I can get 5 holes in a 40B, why not one more in a 20L) and that will drain into another 20" that will act as a refuge before returning to the tank. I'll only be running around 400GPH through there, so I don't think that microbubbles will be an issue.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Insults? Cookie recipes?

Eric

[seahorsedreams]

Is this a glass tank?

the pump may pump 400gph at 4' but then you have to add in friction and angle loss. The length of tubing/pipe used will reduce the head and well as every angled fitting you put in... you won't end up with 400 gph if you are only calculating in the head loss.

I'm also thinking about drilling a hole for a 1" bulkhead with 2 3/4" bulkheads for a closed loop and use a SCWD on that.

Very similar to what I have on the SH tank.

Questions? Comments? Insults? Cookie recipes?

Cookie Press Shortbread
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 35 Minutes
Yields: 24 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium mixing bowl, cream together butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until smooth with electric mixer. Stir in flour and cornstarch. Pop dough into your cookie press, and away you go! Press cookies out onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the peaks are golden.
4. Send some to Renee. :-)

[perpetual98]

It's a glass tank. What fun is drilling acrylic? I think the pump I was thinking about was closer to 600GPH at 0' head, so I figured that 400GPH is fairly conservative. Even if it's a little less, I don't mind because I figured there will be around 60 total gallons in the system give or take and even 5X turnover through the sump is 300GPH.

My wife makes tasty shortbread cookies with her cookie press. The problem is that the recipe she uses usually makes around 200 cookies, so I'm eating them for a week at work with all of my coworkers.

[perpetual98]

Here's my preliminary plan. How's it look?

[seahorsedreams]

K, the water is going to drain to the lower bottom tank which will drain into the front lower tank and from there go back to the display?