Bulkhead placements
- Thread starter Born7
- Start date
I don't understand what the holes on the ends of the tank are for?
What type of overflow(s) are you planning on running? Are you planning on Ghost type overflows? If so I think you will need more holes for the overflows. It is probably best to purchase the overflows first then figure out the hole placement when you have the overflows in hand.
Is this going to be a glass or acrylic tank?
What type of overflow(s) are you planning on running? Are you planning on Ghost type overflows? If so I think you will need more holes for the overflows. It is probably best to purchase the overflows first then figure out the hole placement when you have the overflows in hand.
Is this going to be a glass or acrylic tank?
I'm using sump filtration for 6 holes in back of tank. Ultima 2-1,000 pond ffilter. [1] 1-1/2" bulkhead on left side for ultima drain. [3] 1" bulkheads on right side for returns from ultima. Aquarium is acrylic.
Is the Ultima going to be inline with your sump or closed loop? If the Ultima is closed loop (Tank -> Pump -> Ultima -> Tank) you should be fine.
If the Ultima is going to be inline with the sump (Tank -> Overflow -> Sump -> Pump -> Ultima -> Tank) those lower return holes have the potential of causing issues (Floods). When the sump pump is turned off the tank water is going to back siphon through the returns causing a sump flood and the tank water level to drain to the height of the return lines. You can loop the return lines above the top of the tank and put a siphon break air hole in them to keep the siphon from forming. You could also use a check valve to stop any back siphon flow... but beware, check valves aren't foolproof and tend to collect algae and other matter over time which can keep them from closing all the way which allows for a slow back siphon and a slow flood.
If the Ultima IS going to be closed loop you should still make allowances to prevent a back siphon on the Sump return lines.
Does this make sense?
If the Ultima is going to be inline with the sump (Tank -> Overflow -> Sump -> Pump -> Ultima -> Tank) those lower return holes have the potential of causing issues (Floods). When the sump pump is turned off the tank water is going to back siphon through the returns causing a sump flood and the tank water level to drain to the height of the return lines. You can loop the return lines above the top of the tank and put a siphon break air hole in them to keep the siphon from forming. You could also use a check valve to stop any back siphon flow... but beware, check valves aren't foolproof and tend to collect algae and other matter over time which can keep them from closing all the way which allows for a slow back siphon and a slow flood.
If the Ultima IS going to be closed loop you should still make allowances to prevent a back siphon on the Sump return lines.
Does this make sense?
Yes, makes perfect sense. I'm using Siphon Stoppers on returns coming from sump. My thoughts in this design, was to use the Ultima to remove waste. I wanted the ultima's return flow to push waste toward the ultima's drain.
Gotchya, makes sense! I would consider piping the Ultima at the two ends of the tank but coming into the tank from the back instead of the sides for purely aesthetic reasons... but that depends on how your tank will be setup and placed in its surroundings.
In my experience having a cross flow in a tank definitely helps collect the debris, but will never collect all of the debris and keep the bottom clean. As long as you have the proper expectations of what the cross flow will and will not do you should be fine.
In my experience having a cross flow in a tank definitely helps collect the debris, but will never collect all of the debris and keep the bottom clean. As long as you have the proper expectations of what the cross flow will and will not do you should be fine.