Setup/drilling/plumbing a 125 with a 55 gallon sump project

[blavis]

Hey guys and gals. I currently have a 125 acrylic and a 55 sump that I'm going to be putting together and need some assistance in doing so. Here are the details...

1. Laguna 4200 (huge pump for a 125 but it was a Christmas gift for my monster plywood in a few months)
2. I think I want to install two weirs to hide the overflows.
3. I want water from the bottom as well as the top to be sucked into the overflow. (I have no idea how to do this)
4. I have no problem drilling the tank. Preferably on the back instead of the bottom since the stand is already made. But I can drill the stand if I need to.
5. Two drains with two returns
6. I have a sump design picked out. Only part I need help with is drilling, plumbing and how to hide the pvc in the tank (weir?)

I know you guys help out a lot of people on here and get tired of answering the same questions over and over. But I can promise you that I've been on this site lurking and reading for quite some time and I would only ask these questions if I couldn't find the answers.


future sump predrilled:


Laguna 4200 (this thing is a beast) nearly spun out of the bathtub during the test phase:


dirty acrylic tank:

 

[blavis]

Two 1.5" bulkheads? Or will one 2" bulkhead do the job?

 

[guano]

1. Laguna 4200 (huge pump for a 125 but it was a Christmas gift for my monster plywood in a few months)

Definitely huge pump for that tank imho. I would put a gate valve on the return and dial that monster down. Great pump though. I currently have a Laguna 2000 and love it.

2. I think I want to install two weirs to hide the overflows.

That's how my tank is setup. I use the Herbie style and is very quiet

3. I want water from the bottom as well as the top to be sucked into the overflow. (I have no idea how to do this)

Took that image from http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/predrilled-aquariums.htm I have those weirs installed and supposedly it pulls water from different levels of the tank. Its like a weir inside of a weir with holes if that makes any sense. I've seen it pull some debris but its IMHO the suction is not that strong. I would rely on good water movement. I have a hydor koralia 1400 to help. With that huge pump you got there I don't think it would be a problem keeping debris suspended.

4. I have no problem drilling the tank. Preferably on the back instead of the bottom since the stand is already made. But I can drill the stand if I need to.
5. Two drains with two returns

If you were to do the Herbie style you would need holes for two main drains, two emergency drains, and two returns. Each weir would need a main drain and an emergency drain.

6. I have a sump design picked out. Only part I need help with is drilling, plumbing and how to hide the pvc in the tank (weir?)

View attachment 865176
Took this pic from http://gmacreef.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/herbie-overflow-diagram-gmacreef1.jpg
Straight forward and has good info on it.

What are your you planing on stocking it with? Adding weirs do take up considerable amount of space. You could try a beananimal style overflow since in takes up less space. I don't have any experience with it but there is a lot info on them. Maybe some more experience MFK'ers can chime in on it.
Good luck!

 

[guano]

Two 1.5" bulkheads? Or will one 2" bulkhead do the job?

It depends if you're going to dial back that beast of a pump. With my laguna 2000 with approx. 8ft of head, my two 1inch drains at full siphon can easily handle it with my ball valves almost half closed.

I think 1.5 will probably be good enough.

 

[aldiaz33]

1.5" drain will do ~1,350GPH
2" drain will do ~2,400GPH

Note: if you run full siphon (Bean Animal or Herbie Drain systems) they will do more GPH.

The Max Flo 4200 is rated at 2935GPH @ 6' of head, which I'm guessing is about where you would be. If you run the pump wide open, your tank is going to be turned over almost 24 times per hour. That's cool if you were running a reef tank, but most freshwater systems are not going to need that much flow and your fish are going to be stressed out by all that current.

I would do two 1.5" drains and valve the pump back a good amount.