Overflow doesn't have the holes for return nozzles (Help)

[CichlaLoverer]

3-4" implies 3 to 4" long, not the diameter. You mean 3/4".

That said, 3/4" lock line is not big enough to flow enough water for a 220 gal. How do you know your return hole size if you don't know your bulkhead size?

Dude, you are going about this wrong. How much water do you want to flow? Many people recommend close to 10x per hour. I feel that is a bit excessive, I usually go for 7 or 8x. So lets assume 7x per hour. 225 gal times 7 is 1575pgh. So you need roughly 1600 gph after head loss. If you try and wedge that through a 3/4" loc line it is going to be like a pressure washer to the fish, way too much, if you can even manage it.

You should consider going with two returns and ditching the loc line. Obviously my opinion, but it is totally unneeded and is just going to restrict your flow.

This is my 1st time plumbing a tank with overflow and I don't know what I'm doing at all.... what is a loc line? Not sure
As what I know all my 3 holes in my overflow are 1" and I don't want the returns over the top, I want a clean look..

My pump I am planning to use is a Jebao dc 12000L

 

[CichlaLoverer]

A pic of how I will setup my overflow.. have the middle hole at the bottom of my overflow the return line which will be my dual returns

 

[fishguy306]

Perfect, we have somewhere to start. At 6' of head that pump will flow roughly 1600 gph. Your return pipe should be 1.5", not smaller. The output on the pump is 1.5", downsizing will reduce flow a good bit.

Don't go through the overflow with this, drill two holes, one on either size of the overflow, roughly where the red spots are-



Measure from the side to the overflow and center them as well as measured from the top, probably about 1.5" down. You will then need to buy these-

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-slip-x-slip-1-7c63a554c36ea63c77723a472b7ca20f.html

You will need two of them for the returns, the 1.5". You will also need three more for the drains, 1" ones for a total of five. The 1.5" bulkhead calls for a 59 mm hole, so there is the size to drill.

The loc line is the black thing you posted a picture of. It really restricts flow and you do not need it. Throw it away and don't use it. This will give you your "clean" look without using any of the drains for a return and you will actually flow enough water for this tank.

 

[fishguy306]

What you drew will work, but you are going to get crap for flow going through a 1" hole. Further, you have three drains in your overflow, bean animal works much better than a herbie with two. Drill two holes and be done with it. You are trying to make this way too complicated.

 

[DN328]

I agree that if OP uses the 1" hole for the return it is going to restrict the flow. I believe the Jabao 12000, is a rebrand of the Waveline 12000 (what I use), and, I thought the return outlet was 1.25"? Either way, as others said you'll want your return pipe to be at least equal to your pump outlet diameter.

But if the locline is split/T'ed to 3/4" into two separate hoses/PVC, then having two separate 3/4" loclines running through the overflow, I don't think would restrict flow. That is going from 1.25" to two 3/4" lines. That's different than going from 1.25 (or 1) to just a single 3/4" immediately, then split to two. That really sounds confusing, but hopefully you all get my point?

I did not realize using one of the bulkheads for a return is that uncommon? Before I had my tank built I did some reading/talking to others and found this to be common with custom (primary marine?) tanks. In fact, the tank builder does this a lot with their marine and freshwater tanks. One thing I'd add however, is they also recommend a close loop circulation / or equivalent pushing water from the other end of the tank going up. Initially I thought you would get two water streams pushing at each other, which is somewhat true, but you also get a circular motion as well in the tank which is beneficial as well.

OP, based on your picture you are looking to use the herbie method. I know it's just a sketch, but the second drain will need to have "trickle" which will enable water flow in conjunction with the primary drain. But I do think you'll want to rethink using the third hole for the return as you'll be reducing the flow going to 1", then to single 3/4".

 

[fishguy306]

The pumps specs are here, sorry for the mobile link-

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IN...iption_secondary_view_pageState_1426128092652

Its a 1.5" so it would be pretty silly to downsize right off the bat and restrict flow.

About the 1.25 to two 3/4" returns, that wouldn't be the case. The screw side of the loc line is 3/4", using it would narrow it down to 3/4" then even further for the split, it is not the same as splitting it into two 3/4" returns. Something to keep in mind, two 3/4" pipes are not the same as one 1.5" pipe, the two will flow less water.

Many people do use an overflow hole for a return, but that is on reef ready tanks designed to be used like that. This tank was not, otherwise it would already have the hole drilled. Going through the overflow is a waste of a drain, meaning he has to use a herbie rather than a bean. The bean will flow the same water however it will require less adjustment and be easier in the long run. Just a heads up, a herbie should not have any water in the second pipe. It is a dry emergency drain. Only time water is in it is if the siphon clogs.

I'm also all for only using one return, however on such a large tank I like a bit of flow everywhere. Rather than power heads or a closed loop a second return would work well. If only wanting to drill one hole I'd still skip the loc line and just do one return next to the overflow and point it towards the front of the tank on the opposite end.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[CichlaLoverer]

The pumps specs are here, sorry for the mobile link-

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IN...iption_secondary_view_pageState_1426128092652

Its a 1.5" so it would be pretty silly to downsize right off the bat and restrict flow.

About the 1.25 to two 3/4" returns, that wouldn't be the case. The screw side of the loc line is 3/4", using it would narrow it down to 3/4" then even further for the split, it is not the same as splitting it into two 3/4" returns. Something to keep in mind, two 3/4" pipes are not the same as one 1.5" pipe, the two will flow less water.

Many people do use an overflow hole for a return, but that is on reef ready tanks designed to be used like that. This tank was not, otherwise it would already have the hole drilled. Going through the overflow is a waste of a drain, meaning he has to use a herbie rather than a bean. The bean will flow the same water however it will require less adjustment and be easier in the long run. Just a heads up, a herbie should not have any water in the second pipe. It is a dry emergency drain. Only time water is in it is if the siphon clogs.

I'm also all for only using one return, however on such a large tank I like a bit of flow everywhere. Rather than power heads or a closed loop a second return would work well. If only wanting to drill one hole I'd still skip the loc line and just do one return next to the overflow and point it towards the front of the tank on the opposite end.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

U are correct about the overflow wasn't drill hole for returns is because my friend did build the tank for a saltwater tank only...

I want the easiest setup for freshwater tank so what's my best choice of setting up my overflow? Let's put the drilling on the side and keep it the original plan of doing "Over the Top"!

 

[DN328]

Thanks fishguy, interesting that they increased the outlet (not a bad thing). Agreed, to your point I would not restrict right out of the gate. I do have two separate loclines splitting to two separate 3/4", but I don't feel I'm giving up flow vs. a single return, albeit using my current pump. Anyway this thread isn't about me LOL...

Herbie: I made my statements with this write-up in mind - but perhaps augmented? http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/. He even references complete dry drain via the Bean.

Cichla, If it were my tank, and, I wasn't going to use the hole, I would run 1.5" outlet from the pump, BUT, I would still split it to two separate return to the over method (using loclines). You are using the Jebao 12000 and I don't feel return flow with be an issue with the potential head you'll have (short of seeing exactly how you'll run). The good news is with your remaining three, you could have a full siphon, trickle and a complete dry emergency (read the link). I'm sure you'll get other opinions, but that's my .02.

 

[CichlaLoverer]

Thanks fishguy, interesting that they increased the outlet (not a bad thing). Agreed, to your point I would not restrict right out of the gate. I do have two separate loclines splitting to two separate 3/4", but I don't feel I'm giving up flow vs. a single return, albeit using my current pump. Anyway this thread isn't about me LOL...

Herbie: I made my statements with this write-up in mind - but perhaps augmented? http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/. He even references complete dry drain via the Bean.

Cichla, If it were my tank, and, I wasn't going to use the hole, I would run 1.5" outlet from the pump, BUT, I would still split it to two separate return to the over method (using loclines). You are using the Jebao 12000 and I don't feel return flow with be an issue with the potential head you'll have (short of seeing exactly how you'll run). The good news is with your remaining three, you could have a full siphon, trickle and a complete dry emergency (read the link). I'm sure you'll get other opinions, but that's my .02.

This is my 3 holes in my external overflow... all 3 are same size

 

[fishguy306]

I want the easiest setup for freshwater tank so what's my best choice of setting up my overflow? Let's put the drilling on the side and keep it the original plan of doing "Over the Top"!

I get the vibe you are making this more complicated than it needs to be. I do understand your desire to have a clean look, we can help you with either over the top returns or through the back, heck even through the overflow. We just want to see you happy with it.

It can be intimidating to set up your first overflow, but once you get it figured out it really isn't bad. So you need to decide, will you be happy with over the top? Or do you want it through the back or overflow?

Herbie: I made my statements with this write-up in mind - but perhaps augmented? http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/. He even references complete dry drain via the Bean.

That is a fairly good link, however there are a couple problems that come up with a herbie having a trickle in the second pipe. One, the second pipe needs to be able to handle as much as or more water than the full siphon in case of a clog. If some of the water is going down the emergency line, the siphon isn't handling everything and may get backed up if it needs to go full siphon. Two, with a trickle of water going down the emergency line you run the risk of something getting into that line as well blocking it up.

I will say, these things tend to happen much more with reef and planted tanks, but it is something to consider. In the process of setting my tank up I had a couple times where the siphon was closed too much and the emergency kicked in. I was very glad to have it running to take all the extra water. Something to consider!

This is my 3 holes in my external overflow... all 3 are same size
View attachment 1063835
View attachment 1063836

Hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like you have either 1.5" or 1.75" drains, I imagine 1.5". In either case, those will flow a boat load of water.

So it comes down to how do you want to do this? As I've mentioned, if you want the clean look, drill two holes, one on either side of the overflow and go that route with a bean style overflow. Or you can go up over the top if you dont want to drill. Either one would be pretty simple to accomplish.

Can we see some more pics of the tank? A full tank shot maybe? This tank seems amazing, I'd love something similar.