How do I plumb this thing?

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Diogenes

Diogenes

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Oct 9, 2008
2,407
21
68
Birmingham, AL
I guess I should preface this by saying that I am not a handy guy. I'm a nurse on a neuro rehab unit, and while I know all kinds of stuff about brain surgery, I don't know anything about drain surgery if you get my meaning. To me a bulkhead is the incredible headache I get trying to figure out how these pipes go together.

I am begging please someone walk me very slowly and patiently through this process.

The tank is drilled with two holes. I have three pipes. 2 appear to me as drains one appears to be a return. I have two bulkhead fittings not sure about the size. I have an amiracle sump, it's 14x24. It looks like it is missing a drip tray. The section above the bio balls where the drip tray goes is 14wx12Lx1 3/4deep. There is a little shelf there that I assume is to hold the tray. I need suggestions on what to use as a drip tray. I am going to be using a mag 9.5 return pump. I think I am going to order a filter sock to strain out sand. This will be a freshwater tank.

I know there's somebody out there willing to help. I would be forever in your debt.

Here are the pics:

photo7.jpg

photo6.jpg

photo5.jpg

photo4.jpg

photo3-1.jpg

photo2.jpg

photo1.jpg
 
OK, lets start at with the tank. You have two holes in the bottom of the overflow... perfect. Our goal is to make the overflow and drain pipes as quiet as possible.
You have two drain pipes, a smaller and a larger. mount both of these via the bulkheads in the holes the bottom of the tanks. The smaller pipe will be your main drain pipe. The larger will be your emergency drain pipe. The entry to the larger emergency pipe should be higher than the entry to the smaller pipe.

Plumb both of these to the sump.

What we have accomplished. By putting the U on the top of the main drain pipe we have created a water seal to dramatically cut down on the gurgling sounds. By making the opening to this main drain pipe just below the bottom entry point of the weir we have minimized the distance the water is going to fall in the overflow hence minimizing the sound. When something plugs up the main overflow the water level will rise to the level of the emergency drain pipe and it will take over until the obstruction is fixed.

For the drip plate: Google MCS Box Acrylic photo frame. See if you can find something that will come close to the size you need. You will probably have to buy something smaller and stack it on a piece of Plexi cut to the correct size. Epoxy the two together and start drilling holes.
 
Oughtsix said:
OK, lets start at with the tank. You have two holes in the bottom of the overflow... perfect. Our goal is to make the overflow and drain pipes as quiet as possible.
You have two drain pipes, a smaller and a larger. mount both of these via the bulkheads in the holes the bottom of the tanks. The smaller pipe will be your main drain pipe. The larger will be your emergency drain pipe. The entry to the larger emergency pipe should be higher than the entry to the smaller pipe.

Plumb both of these to the sump.

What we have accomplished. By putting the U on the top of the main drain pipe we have created a water seal to dramatically cut down on the gurgling sounds. By making the opening to this main drain pipe just below the bottom entry point of the weir we have minimized the distance the water is going to fall in the overflow hence minimizing the sound. When something plugs up the main overflow the water level will rise to the level of the emergency drain pipe and it will take over until the obstruction is fixed.

For the drip plate: Google MCS Box Acrylic photo frame. See if you can find something that will come close to the size you need. You will probably have to buy something smaller and stack it on a piece of Plexi cut to the correct size. Epoxy the two together and start drilling holes.
Click to expand...

So if I mount both drain pipes doesn't that leave me without a place for the return? Won't the return come through the second hole?
 
Hmmmm.. I added a pic just for fun. Water return just hangs on the back of the tank.

1. Your missing pluming to sump from overflow durso pipes. And flow control ball valves for return and overflow adjustment.
2. Missing drip tray... They make a plastic peg board that a lot of guys use. ( Has to be cut to size but the holes are already drill in it.) I used a plastic Hamburger patty holder and drilled holes in it until I made my own drip tray.
3. You need covers for the sump or water will be splashing around onto stuff and stand under tank. (Fast evaporation will also be a problem)
4. It looks like they had an external pump for that sump so they would have room for other stuff. You could run either external or internal. If internal you would have to block the hole on the side of the sump.

5. Hope the other members have some suggestions also... :)

Durso Tank1.JPG
 
Diogenes said:
could I drill holes in the bottom of this frame (it's 11x14 the total space to fill is 12x14) and just let water cascade off the last inch?

http://www.adorama.com/FR21215.html
Click to expand...

Most picture frames are made of glass (hard to drill all those little holes) And if they are clear plastic it is to flimsy for water. A good drip tray size thickness is 3/16 to 1/4 inch.
 
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