Drilling my acrylic tank for a canister filter

[CharlieTuna]

I have a project acrylic 220g I'm working on. The tank is drilled and has two sets of overflow boxes, one about a foot from each end on the back. I'm thinking I want to add canister filter(s) for mechanical fillration in addition to running the overflow's to my sump. If it make sense to do so, I would prefer to drill the tank for the canister plumbing. Is this a wise thing to do? What is the best location for the canister in and out in the tank? My thoughts are that the canister intake should be towards the bottom of the tank, maybe on the back wall of overflow wall? If it makes any difference, the tank is 84"x24"x25".

 

[CharlieTuna]

Bump......any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Pharaoh]

Drilling for a canister is a clean and effective way to set it up. Where the hole go is really a matter of personal preference.

Drilled on top of tank - You run the hoses like normal and just have holes that it feed through.

Drilled on back of tank - You could use bulkheads and plumb the intake and output through the walls. This can really create a clean look as you don't have things hanging into the tank.

I just caution on going to far down the back as you risk picking up sand that you do not want in the filter.

 

[CharlieTuna]

Pharaoh - thank you for the guidance!

Would it be wise to drill the bottom of the tank for the intake, install a bulkhead and stand the strainer a few inches of the substrate?

 

[pacu mom]

We drilled four holes through the top of the tank to accommodate the extra filtration we use. We used bulkheads of the fixed mechanical uptakes. We shoved the FXS uptake and returns through holes.

A cheap hole saw cut the holes neatly and quickly.

 

[kdrun76]

I drilled holes into the top of a 180 acrylic to put a canister on it. No problems at all.

Both holes went into the top rear corner of the tank right next to the bulkhead fitting for one of my returns. I was worried about all the holes being so close to each other, but I don't think I needed to be.

 

[JK47]

IMO you should really consider drilling the top of the tank more than the back. Drilling the back is a very clean look but it can turn off future buyers if you sell the tank down the road. (we all upgrade at some point )

Unless you have an overflow tower, I don't think it's a very good idea to drill the bottom and run the plumbing up like you mentioned. You never know when rocks fall over, fish crash into it etc.. Very easy way to get a leak in the worst possible area of the tank, the bottom.