Drill for sump help required asap

[coreybecker]

Just heard from concept aquarium who is building my 96x30x24 tank. All glass is cut and ready to assemble and they want to know if I want it drilled and a overflow. I have zero experiance in sumps and no idea what to tell them need to let them no asap. I figure even drill put a valve and a cap then can not be limited later. It is going in a corner of living room so must look good. Can I get away with back left corner only on 8 foot tank or does it need center or both corners. Also what size. Fml I should have thought of this a month ago when I paid for the tank

 

[Tobiassorensen]

I would have them to drill it if i were you. A sump is the best way to go for a larger tank. Dont know what size 40mm is for you guys but im going to pick up a 244x110x60cm tank next weekend and doing a 250L k1 only sump for that tank.

 

[coreybecker]

I would have them to drill it if i were you. A sump is the best way to go for a larger tank. Dont know what size 40mm is for you guys but im going to pick up a 244x110x60cm tank next weekend and doing a 250L k1 only sump for that tank.

Yours is 38cm deeper rest the same measurements. What size holes and locations you do?

 

[Tobiassorensen]

Yours is 38cm deeper rest the same measurements. What size holes and locations you do?

Im doing one 40mm hole water to sump in one end of the tank and return will be 32mm on opposit side. Im drilling the sides since im doing big cichlas in the tank i dont want to have the bottom drilled with standpipes

 

[esoxlucius]

If i'm understanding the situation correctly your original plan was to run 2 FX5's and so I guess you built your stand to fit the FX5's in. Your stand is now nearly finished and you're thinking of going sump??? Be very careful now, your stand doesn't look particularly tall. As a result you run the risk of installing a sump which you have no space to do maintainance work on.

 

[coreybecker]

If i'm understanding the situation correctly your original plan was to run 2 FX5's and so I guess you built your stand to fit the FX5's in. Your stand is now nearly finished and you're thinking of going sump??? Be very careful now, your stand doesn't look particularly tall. As a result you run the risk of installing a sump which you have no space to do maintainance work on.

That is a very good point. I already have 2 fx5 is why I went that direction. There is 4 doors front 1 on side. They are 23 inches tall each. Is that enough heinght

 

[Oughtsix]

I would get a couple of low profile overflow boxes like a ghost overflow or shadow overflow and send them to the tank builder. This way the builder can drill the tank in the exact right location. Much better than random holes that might or might not be in the right location when you are ready to use them.

 

[esoxlucius]

That is a very good point. I already have 2 fx5 is why I went that direction. There is 4 doors front 1 on side. They are 23 inches tall each. Is that enough heinghtView attachment 1341111

The only way you'll know is when you get your sump in, if that's the way you end up going. My door hole height is about 24", similar to yours. My sump tank height is about 15". That would give me 9" wiggle room usually. However, and this is critical, my stand was designed to fit my sump flush with the living room floor, NOT the bottom of my stand like yours is, so basically i've ended up with way more than 9" of headroom down there if that makes sense.

It could still work for you if you have a very simple sump set up where you only need to get your arms in maybe to change out floss etc. If you go with a sump that requires a bit more tinkering at maintainance time, and you have to really rummage about down there then that's when you'll be cursing.

 

[DN328]

In my opinion, they should have asked you before you even paid for it as part of the design.

Since it is a custom tank you could go internal overflow and ask them what style and location they typically make. Since your tank is one front and side viewing there are a few configuration on the back side. Two corner overflow, center overflow, with coast to coast. Do they make external overflows too? The drain holes will be drilled based on the type of weir design you want. If that were me, I would have one overflow and have them drill 3 1.5" bulkheads. You could do Bean Animal or Herbie drains.

Most sumps you can go from one end to the other or some go from each end and out the middle, if you have dual overflow set-up. Let us know what you decide and ask more questions if needed.

Edit: I left out that you'll want to consider how you may want the returns to be set up too. Again custom, so you could have the tank drilled for that or go over the top.

 

[coreybecker]

In my opinion, they should have asked you before you even paid for it as part of the design.

Since it is a custom tank you could go internal overflow and ask them what style and location they typically make. Since your tank is one front and side viewing there are a few configuration on the back side. Two corner overflow, center overflow, with coast to coast. Do they make external overflows too? The drain holes will be drilled based on the type of weir design you want. If that were me, I would have one overflow and have them drill 3 1.5" bulkheads. You could do Bean Animal or Herbie drains.

Most sumps you can go from one end to the other or some go from each end and out the middle, if you have dual overflow set-up. Let us know what you decide and ask more questions if needed.

Edit: I left out that you'll want to consider how you may want the returns to be set up too. Again custom, so you could have the tank drilled for that or go over the top.

He's going to drill a 2 inch drain and a 1 1/2 return. And cap them just in case. They did ask me before I payed this is my fault did more research and changed my mind.