Plumbing a new show tank

[Don in Virginia]

I am a member of the Simply Discus forum, and posted a question there about plumbing a new 125 gallon tank I want to order. I had a very interesting response, and part of it was: I should ask Chompers and Pharoah over here on this site for their advice!

Here was my post, and the drawing of my setup is below. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I think I've finally decided to spend my kids' inheritance (wasn't much there anyway) and get a new tank and furniture-grade cabinet. Upgrading from a 90 gallon to 125 or 135. BUT, I've got to order a tank that is pre-drilled so that I can change water quickly and easily.

Here's what I'm thinking so far . . . A drain, an overflow, and a fill hole. Hopefully the drawing is understandable. It is the option for ordering a tank with three holes drilled in the back paned, and I would hide the pvc between the cabinet and the wall, and I'll plumb the stub-outs through the wall down to the basement.

The other option would be a pre-fab "corner-flow" tank. Maybe that's better?

My objective is to be able to open the cabinet, turn a valve to drain the tank (80% water change), close it, open another valve and flick a switch to fill.

I would like to hear the opinions of all you Simply do-it-yourselfers! I bet you've got lots of good advice, and since I haven't ordered anything yet, now's the time to ask! THANKS.

 

[LowCel]

Are you going to be doing your filtration downstairs as well or just your water change system?

 

[RegalAngel]

Here's how I do mine, but I use one of the pumps in the closed filtration system. Only one line to the drain/water drum with check valves or on/off valves. Mine is SW tanks... 300g.

 

[perfect_prefect]

personally i wouldnt do the top overflow hole. i dont see a point unless you are worried about possibly leaving the pump on and overflowing the tank. personally i would just go with a larger mag pump that way it doesnt take as long and im not tempted to go do something else while it is filling. i would think about a mercury float switch as a shut off to the pump so when the tank is full it automatically shuts off. the overflow would skim the surface of the water for you to make sure it stays clean, are you running canister filters or HOB?

 

[perfect_prefect]

all in all it looks to be a well laid out plan and well thought through.

 

[Don in Virginia]

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it.

I was planning on continuing to use my two canister filters, but now your responses here, and those I got on Simply Discus are making me think about a sump. I'll have to really think about that.

Of course, the natural tendency is to go with what's familiar and what's worked, and for me the canisters are easy, quiet and efficient. BUT, the reason I asked questions on these forums is to get the advice of experienced hobbyists.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for weighing in.

RegalAngel, thanks for the drawing, I'm goind to study it. I'm also asking around at some local fish shops. I haven't ordered the tank yet, I need to decide what I'm going to do with the filtration and plumbing. I had never thought to put the sump in the basement with the tank upstairs.

-Don

 

[rallysman]

I have an extremely simple setup that is a continuous drip rather than several water changes. According to the math and others who have done the math, nitrate will creep on my system. However, after 1.5 years of dripping a few GPH on a 600g system my nitrates are a steady 10ppm. Here is a video with an alcohol induced explanation of how my drain systems work. Since you're going to have your filter in the basement either one would do the trick.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237030

There are very few points of failure in the methods mentioned above, and there is a fail safe for each one that uses gravity. I'm not sure if you're going to be using RO (and really don't have a clue what you have to do when you do use RO) but if you are this may simplify things. I have an old block diagram, so to speak, of what my entire setup looks like. If you're interested I'll link it as well. Keep us updated and ask away!