Sump drain size

[Angelphish]

If noise isnt an issue you can use hob overflows but they arent as safe as drilling the tank

He wants to order pre-cut acrylic pieces that he can fit together to add another 4" to the top of the tank. The holes will already be drilled so the bulkheads just have to be plugged in. I already asked him about the hob overflows and he said they were too unreliable. He wants to add on to the tank so it will have the reliability of being drilled. It can't be drilled because I don't know if it's tempered or not.

 

[ragin_cajun]

"add on to the tank"..... Huh?

Stephen --

You and your dad need to sit down with a piece of paper and think things through. If your dad has already done that, then ask him to walk through it with you so you'll understand what he's doing and why.

If you dad actually wants just 1350 GPH, or a little less, then 3 1-inch drains can work. 4 1-inch drains can work, and the return line can go over the top of the tank.

If you and your dad want to put CA Cichlids in the tank, then y'all need to shoot for 10 X turnover, get more pump output, and bigger drains. If ya'll don't, y'all could still be "OK" by adding some powerbeads in the tank later and adding some canisters or something for additional mech filtration. But that won't be ideal. It'll be irritating--a workaround.

Ya'll could probably get away with 10X turnover and 1 inch drains, but that won't be ideal, either. A SERIOUS clog could flood the house with over 1200 GPH and only 2 1 inch E-drains in a Herbie set-up. Assuming that's what he's doing.

SERIOUS clogs like this CAN happen if the slice gate valve clogs. Sounds like a long shot, but keep in mind the slice gate is nearly completely closed in a lotta Herbie setups, so that's easy to clog.

 

[Angelphish]

"add on to the tank"..... Huh?

He wants to add an acyrlic extension to the tank so he doesn't have to get overflows or drill the tank. It will raise the water volume and the holes will already be drilled into the back panel. That way no drilling will be required since I don't know if it's tempered or not.

 

[jaws7777]

He wants to add an acyrlic extension to the tank so he doesn't have to get overflows or drill the tank. It will raise the water volume and the holes will already be drilled into the back panel. That way no drilling will be required since I don't know if it's tempered or not.

We've talked about this before but man i really think this is a bad idea. Tank is glass right ?

 

[Angelphish]

We've talked about this before but man i really think this is a bad idea. Tank is glass right ?

Yes. I had a conversation with him about it and he won't change his mind. At this point I don't care as long as it works.

 

[jaws7777]

Well atleast if it doesnt it wont be your fault

 

[Angelphish]

I guess I'll make a thread about it. Maybe other people will take onto the idea.

 

[SandNukka15]

I just looked and he already got the bulkheads... Don't know why he didn't tell me. He bought 4 1" bulkheads. Would 3 for the drain and 1 for the return work? I told him about needed a larger a pump and he immediately responded by yelling. I'll need a miracle to persuade him.

1 inch bulkheads for a gravity drain in a larger size tank are useless you would need a lot more then 3

 

[Angelphish]

1 inch bulkheads for a gravity drain in a larger size tank are useless you would need a lot more then 3

I'll let him read over the thread. Hopefully he will see what he's doing wrong and why.

 

[Angelphish]

You should aim for close to 10x turnover so around 2100 gph ....id go with a laguna max flo 2400 you will loose some goh due to head height.....

2...1.5 inch gravity drains will work....

Would a Jebao 12000 work for the pump? I've seen people from this forum say some nice things about them.