Ok I am starting to set up a 240 acrylic What are the pros and cons to putting the bulkheads into the bottom or the sides. Is one way truely better then the other? At this time I am thinking about side mounting a skimer box. Are DIY dorso style stand pipes just as good or better? And of coarse is 1 style louder then the other. It's in my living room so sound is a concern.
Drill the sides or the bottom??
- Thread starter Mr Cracker2u
- Start date
better safe than sorry!!Yea I'm not worried about power outages. I want honest praticle opinions on both types. I have run over flow boxes but I have never used stand pipes. I want to set this system up for the long haul. the stand, plumbing and hood on this system will be DIY and I want to get it right the first time.
"Yea I'm not worried about power outages."
if you drill from the bottom you need to worry about power outages. in the event of a power outage if you drilled from the bottom and have drain pipes the tank will drain to the level of the pipes when the power goes out. i had a 120 drilled from the bottom with the drain pipe like 3/4 of the way to the top and i'll never have one again unless it is set up with a center overflow box all the way to the top.
if you drill from the bottom you need to worry about power outages. in the event of a power outage if you drilled from the bottom and have drain pipes the tank will drain to the level of the pipes when the power goes out. i had a 120 drilled from the bottom with the drain pipe like 3/4 of the way to the top and i'll never have one again unless it is set up with a center overflow box all the way to the top.
Durso style stand pipes do remove the water from the top like a skimmer box. The only way a power outage will drain more then the stand pipes is if there is a leak and I'll know about a leak long before the power goes out.
I will have one in a few weeks. I have 4 tank sharing a common sump. 2 tanks are drilled in the bottom of the overflow area and two are drilled in the back. Had to do it this was because they will be stacked and the lower tanks will actually sit 6" lower then the top of the sump (In adjacent room) so I had to drill the backs to keep the flow from being restricted by the up force of the sump being taller.
Anyways, from what I know and have confirmed with a plumber who helped me out a little is that it won't matter where the drains are (Bottom or side) as long as they are below the water line they will flow the same. (Providing I don't use a 90 right after the bulkhead and another 90 on the bottom of the first run down)
So both bottom and side will drain down into a 45 then towards the sump and into another 45 which is much smoother than 2 90s.
Anyways, from what I know and have confirmed with a plumber who helped me out a little is that it won't matter where the drains are (Bottom or side) as long as they are below the water line they will flow the same. (Providing I don't use a 90 right after the bulkhead and another 90 on the bottom of the first run down)
So both bottom and side will drain down into a 45 then towards the sump and into another 45 which is much smoother than 2 90s.