Possibly buy a Fluval Profile 1200 Tank - 90 gallon. Questions??

[malawi500]

Actually I think I found how to do it, basically two pipes for drainage, one set slightly higher to act as an emergency drain.

2 questions:

1. Do I need to box the pipes in or can I just use caps with lots of holes in to prevent sucking anything down like this:

2. Would the system need need further aeration such as air pumps etc. or would enough oxygenation occur with a spray bar return?

 

[jcardona1]

Just straight pipes for the Herbie. You can use a strainer like you pictured to keep debris out of the line. It's simple concept. The main drain is shorter and has a gate valve to control the flow. The emergency pipe is higher and is only used when the main drain can't handle 100% of the flow.

I've never had the need for extra aeration. Just depends on how you set up your returns.

 

[malawi500]

ok so this tank sounds like a goer, will be putting a deposit down tomorrow hopefully.

what size pipe would be standard fit down the original bulkheads then? Are they easy to swap out for bigger if required?

I've only ever dealt with internal and external canisters

so just to clarify, no box/weir is required?

 

[jcardona1]

The size of the pipe depends on the bulkhead installed. The standard size on most tanks is 1". There's no way to increase the size of the pipe. You'd have to drill bigger holes to accommodate a larger bulkhead.

An overflow box is not needed, but it does make things easier and gives you more surface area for skimming the surface of the water. One thing you'll need to consider is what will happen when the pump shuts off, and to make sure you have enough room in your sump to catch the spillover. You'll need to tinker with the height of the pipes in order to have the right height, and to also avoid flooding your tank/sump when the power shuts off or if something were to clog the gate valve in the main line.

 

[malawi500]

1" pipe would only give me 600gph though ie. 6.5 x turnover rate.

Hmmm, I need to consider if all this is worth it for not much gain.

Or maybe just use the two outlets as my drains giving me a max of 1200gph if I used 1" pipe and add a 3rd emergency pipe somehow?

 

[jcardona1]

I've used a 1" Herbie with a 1017gph pump, and that gate valve was closed a considerable amount, so it could handle even more. Full siphons can handle a lot more flow than a normal siphon.

 

[malawi500]

out of interest what is teh difference between a full siphon and a 'normal' siphon?

I also not in another thread of yours you kept a turtle, is 90g too small for a turtle?

 

[jcardona1]

A full siphon is restricted so that it backs up and drains water only. A normal siphon has air mixed in, which slows down the flow and causes the gurgling you normally hear.

 

[malawi500]

I have now bought the tank, filter, stand lights etc all for £100!!

The reason I got it half the original price is I bought it 'as seen' so they don't have to mess around filling it and checking for leaks etc.

Picking it up in two days time, how do I check for leaks?? Just fill it up and wait? Or just reseal it as is, if so how?

Also, how do I edit the title of th thread to reflect updates?

 

[malawi500]

Will Dow Corning 732 sealant be okay to use?

Is black or clear the preferred colour choice?