bulkheads without overflow box

[Darren13]

I was attempting to make a DIY overflow and a DIY siphon but I wasnt happy with the end result. I have decided to just drill the aquarium in the top back about 4 inches below the water line and install 2x1.5" or just 1x1.5" bulkheads. I am not using an overflow box or anything like that. Just a the bulkhead drain. From the bulkhead the water will flow in to a 150gal rubbermaid sump.

The sump itself has an overflow in it because I want to keep it half filled with water to use it as a growout tank. I attached a picture below. I have a Mag 12 pump to get the water back into the aquarium. Will this system work? and will the 1.5" bulkheads placed 4" below the water line allow at least 1000 gph to flow into the sump? or should I just go with 1x1.5" bulkhead.

I was reading another thread and it didnt seem like the bulkheads were allowing enough water to enter the sump.

 

[titanfish]

the bulkheads will work no probz, go with two bulk heads instead of 1, but you must have a siphon break otherwise the draining noise will be OCEANIC!!

you say you will have the bulkheads 4" below the water line, unless you do the piping correctly the water level in your tank will be too low

can you show us a sketch?

 

[Darren13]

Well The water will be at the top of the aquarium but the bulkheads will be placed about 4-6 inches below the water line/top of the tank. If the power goes out, the 150gal sump will be able to handle all the tanks water untill it drains down to the bulkheads and stops.

The water in the sump will be filled up to the overflow, so the water that drains out from the tank will cause the water in the sump to raise and go into the overflow. and then be pumped back up through the mag 12.

I can draw it out if that doesnt clarify it.

 

[epond83]

the running height of the water will not be 4-6 inches above the bulkhead cause it will drain out. it will only be like an inch or two at most.

 

[titanfish]

draw a sketch n ill explain

 

[Darren13]

I thought I could restrict the flow from the tank so the sump would pump water back into the tank at the same rate at it was leaving.

Sorry about the drawing. awful i know

 

[titanfish]

basically this is how u should have it

 

[titanfish]

I thought I could restrict the flow from the tank so the sump would pump water back into the tank at the same rate at it was leaving.

Sorry about the drawing. awful i know

youll have problems with that design
problems
1. the water level in the tank will be too low, it will only 2cm above the bottom lip of the bulk head. this is because the water will drain really fast through the bulk heads

2. the noise will be unbearable!

 

[Darren13]

I am not following im sorry. cant i just restrict the amount of water leaving so that the tank doesnt drain faster than the pump can push water back in?

Does that design that u drew allow for the water to better regulate or stabilize itself? meaning the amount leaving is the same coming in?

Also where does the siphon stop using that design? at the bend and not the actual bulkhead?

Sorry im a rockhead when it comes to this. and very new to it as well.

 

[titanfish]

I thought I could restrict the flow from the tank so the sump would pump water back into the tank at the same rate at it was leaving.

it would be difficult to equate both flows, plus you'd have problems

just do it how ive sketched iy