Canister Filter Plumbing Acrylic Tank

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Jon M

Jon M

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2010
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Port Saint John, FL
I've been considering adding a larger canister filter to my 240. Anyone have a canister plumbed to an acrylic tank that can share some pics of their configuration? I asked because my tank has the standard top pane acrylic tanks typically do, so it's not as simple as an over the edge U piece for plumbing. I have some ideas as to what I can rig together but I just wanted to see if anyone else could share to give me further ideas before I decide on a final plan.
 
acrylic is incredibly easy to work with. pickup some bulkheads and some valves and the appropriate size hole saw. you can put the drains and returns wherever you think is best for your needs.
 
LukeOscar said:
acrylic is incredibly easy to work with. pickup some bulkheads and some valves and the appropriate size hole saw. you can put the drains and returns wherever you think is best for your needs.
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I'm aware how I'd go about setting it up if it was an empty un-established tank. If setup from scratch were an option I woulda drilled so many more holes in this sucker... Alas, this tank is up and running. I won't be drilling it. Just looking for some efficient ideas on how folks have plumbed canisters up and over the acrylic tanks with the top panels since they typically don't have a simple lip to go up and over.
 
the other option would be to just get pvc and multiple 90s and just hard pipe it up and around the top pannel and into the openings. i however would just drain the tank half way and drill anyways.
 
LukeOscar said:
the other option would be to just get pvc and multiple 90s and just hard pipe it up and around the top pannel and into the openings. i however would just drain the tank half way and drill anyways.
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Well there's a couple reasons I'm not draining and drilling.

1. it's very much up on a wall and not even close to practical to be able to drill from the back and I won't drill from inside for obvious reasons, dust debris etc.
2. it has a black vinyl back attached to the back and I just positively know that'll get pulled up and start to get messed up and it was hell getting that thing on perfect.

Obviously the 90s, pvc, and up and over is what I already have in my head. I'm just fishing for any other potential ideas, or clever designs or tricks as far as doing it this way goes. Someone always has something clever as hell that I'm like "damn, why didn't i think of that!," you know?

In the near future I plan on getting some acrylic lids with lil wedges that rest inside the opening so they don't slide and I was going to have a feeding circle, so that provides another possible issue. Honestly tho I figure I go forward with the lids and if I simply do 90s up and into the opening, I hug the back of the top opening and just drill out the lid in that particular spot. Anyhow, ya I'm well past simply hard plumb bottom of tank around and up back and then over and in with 90s. Just looking for some other folks that have done this, and maybe have some tips, tricks, clever ways of doing this that I haven't thought of.
 
LukeOscar said:
posting some detailed pictures of the tank might help some.
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I mean, it's a top acrylic panel with the cutouts in the top panel for openings, maybe three inches in from the edge of the panel? Every acrylic build I've ever seen has this design top panel but if I picture helps I can go snap one real quick. You'll have to ignore any wonky 2x4 lid you see in the pic since those are my temp lids atm!
 
How's that? Like I said, super standard to what I've always seen on acrylic tank tops. That panel where the cord is running out is actually the back of the canopy, and a hinged lid. (it was originally a peninsula design hens the doors in the back as well)

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I know you have already stated that you won't drill your tank. We drilled four additional holes on the top of our tank, with the tank full of water and the fish in it. It's been years, but I think we held something under the top to catch the small amount debris that the hole saw generated. While we used bulkheads for the closed circuit mechanical filtration system, we just shoved the FX-5 uptake and return hoses in the holes we added.

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pacu mom said:
I know you have already stated that you won't drill your tank. We drilled four additional holes on the top of our tank, with the tank full of water and the fish in it. It's been years, but I think we held something under the top to catch the small amount debris that the hole saw generated. While we used bulkheads for the closed circuit mechanical filtration system, we just shoved the FX-5 uptake and return hoses in the holes we added.

View attachment 1515323
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OH, so this is what I meant about getting ideas from others, and things I don't think of. This whole time I was thinking drilling the back panel.... so I could technically drill the top which seems MUCH easier! Interesting. I MAY be open to that idea. So can you tell me or show me what the canister filter looks like once it's in the water? Like, is it simply a hose?.... Or do you have like a spray bar kinda setup, or loc line? I prefer hard plumbing all the way. So if I did like, a TOP panel hole, and bulkhead, could I essentially go pvc thread to bulkhead, then female thread on other end of pvc to connect loc line for my return? Not sure what I'd do for return. Anyhow, this has ideas going!!! I look forward to seeing your response to how's yours is inside the tank for the intake and return.

I see you have a w/d or sump of some sort, as I do, but I just want the additional canister as well.
 
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