Couple questions about drilled aquariums

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boojumsnark25

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2007
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Erie, PA
I bought a 135 gallon tank today that has dual overflows...I don't need the overflows because it's going to be freshwater and I'm using canister filters...

I just have a couple questions....first of all, the tank is drilled in the bottom, and I need to install plugs...how on earth would I do that? I could be wrong but it seems like there would be an awful lot of presure on the plugs, are they safe?

Second, there is some sort of funnel-ish looking thing going around the drilled holes...it goes up and has a notch where the water overflows into it...I'm filtering it with canister filters, so I don't need these weird looking things...they are connected to the aquarium glass via silicon. Since I am plugging the holes, can I razor blade these off?

I'm sorry I'm not very good at describing all this, I know nothing about reef keeping.

Thanks!
 
Razor the funnel overflows off but ...do not plug the holes .... rather get bulkhead fittings and use them to connect your canister filters. I have all my canister filters connected directly via drilled bulkhead fittings and it works about 3 times better.
 
you will need to plug the holes with bulkhead fittings. measure the diameter of the holes to determine what size bulkheads you need, then call Jehmco or your LFS and they will get you the proper size bulkheads. Then with some common PVC available at home depot you will be able to plug the holes. If you buy threaded bulk heads it will be real easy to do, with no PVC gluing, just some Virgin Teflon Pipe Dope to use on the threads.

If you have an overflow wall in the tank DO NOT use the bulkheads for your canister filters, they will run dry as water evaporates, it will be a nuisance to make sure your water level is maintained. Also if you do not plumb properly your canisters will be taking in bubbles from the water fall effect of the overflow wall, this may air lock the canister and cause damage.
 
Sumps are still the best way to get a lot of biofiltration in a freshwater aquarium. Keep the overflows and put in a sump, but make it yourself, because you can save a ton of money. You will also need a pump, but its still cheaper than buying one or more large canister filters.
 
taksan;1626772; said:
Razor the funnel overflows off but ...do not plug the holes .... rather get bulkhead fittings and use them to connect your canister filters. I have all my canister filters connected directly via drilled bulkhead fittings and it works about 3 times better.
Click to expand...

Good post. This method is a great way to get rid of the distraction of intake tubes, etc.
 
tank125;1626828; said:
you will need to plug the holes with bulkhead fittings. measure the diameter of the holes to determine what size bulkheads you need, then call Jehmco or your LFS and they will get you the proper size bulkheads. Then with some common PVC available at home depot you will be able to plug the holes. If you buy threaded bulk heads it will be real easy to do, with no PVC gluing, just some Virgin Teflon Pipe Dope to use on the threads.

If you have an overflow wall in the tank DO NOT use the bulkheads for your canister filters, they will run dry as water evaporates, it will be a nuisance to make sure your water level is maintained. Also if you do not plumb properly your canisters will be taking in bubbles from the water fall effect of the overflow wall, this may air lock the canister and cause damage.
Click to expand...

Thanks tank, this is very helpful. The guy gave me the threaded bulkheads when he gave me the tank. So, let me get this straight...all I need to buy is two 1.5" threaded PVC caps and two 1" PVC cap, screw them on to the end of the bulkhead, and they're all plugged up? Do I need to use some sort of glue on the cap or anything?

And I can also razor off those giant annoying overflow things?

Sorry I have so many question....it just boggles me that a hole in the bottom of an aquarium with PVC pipe at the end of it doesn't collapse under all that pressure
 
went to lowe's and home depot to get some PVC to cap them off....none of the PVC would fit, the threads are different...any thoughts?
 
I would be careful razoring off the overflows, you do not want to compromise the tank seal. For all intents and purposes though, yes use a single edge razor, but I would not chance hurting the aquarium seal. If you compromise the seal you will have to razor out the entire tank and reseal it, not hard, but a pain and time consuming.

The threads should match up, IDK why they would be different, I work with these all the time. If you cannot get threads to fit, you will need to purchase bulkheads that are not internally threaded, AKA "slip" and then glue in short extensions of appropriate size PVC with caps. In this case you will be using PVC primer and PVC glue.

Not glue, pipe dope, you coat the threads with it, you need a type that is suitable for potable water and for use with plastics. I use 100% Virgin Teflon Paste.
 
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