custom tank question

[NP_Reef]

im having a custom tank built and need some advice on what to do for drains/returns.
the tank will have one overflow in the center of the back panel, what would your ideal set up be for returns/drains (how many holes, what size, etc.)?
thanks,
eric

[Uncle Salty 05]

Need more info.
How many gallons? What are the dimensions going to be?
What do you intend to keep? Getting custom stand as well?

[NP_Reef]

dimensions are 66x22wx26h
i will be keeping a mixed reef and will be building a custom steel stand.

[Allmost]

dimensions are 66x22wx26h
i will be keeping a mixed reef and will be building a custom steel stand.

Id put 2 overflows on both back corners.

then get 2 seaswirls 2.5 inch for return, it will give u a nice wave.

[shaggss]

as for the overflow I would do a coast to coast with a beananimal drain.

[NP_Reef]

what do you guys think of 2 2" drains and 2 3/4" returns?

[TellyFish]

If your going custom, you may as well get the best. IMHO, the best is a coast-to-coast overflow (no teeth are ideal for flow) with a BeanAnimal drain.

If you only have 3/4" return line, how many gph are you expecting to be pushing on the return? You won't need 2" drains, that will be huge with the valves and everything. You could even do 1" drains, but you could run 1.5" if you wanted more breathing room for extra flow or something.

[NP_Reef]

i cant do the beananimal style. the way the tank will be placed, i cant have anything behind the tank. the return will be a ehiem 1262.

[TellyFish]

You could maybe still do a vertical bean animal. Just put all the PVC pipe on the inside of your overflow rather than externally. In other words, just use 3 standard Dursos.

[TellyFish]

The ehiem 1262 pushes about 900gph. If you have 3 holes drilled for the bean animal, you would have plenty of drainage capacity using 1" PVP for the drains and 3/4" for the returns. I have around 900gph on my old 90gal and I really only use 1 1" durso (with 1 other durso as a back-up). 2" is overkill IMO.

The bean animal style with 3 pipes, will allow you to run quieter, safer, and more flow if you ever wanted to. I have both an internal bean animal setup, as well as an external. They both work just as well.

[shaggss]

a herbie drain works just as well as a beananimal and will fit inside your overflow.

[TellyFish]

a herbie drain works just as well as a beananimal and will fit inside your overflow.

Herbie is essentially the same as a bean animal overflow sans 1 extra standpipe which is kept dry. If you are doing a custom tank, I don't see any reason not to add an additional drain for redundancy. If you have a finite amount of space, a simple durso or Herbie style overflow will both work great ;)

[NP_Reef]

what do you guys think about 4 1" holes 2 for a herbie drain and 2 1" returns?

[TellyFish]

Good plan. I would just make sure your drain line is 1 size larger than the return line. In other words, if you want a 1" return, I would use a 1.5" drain. For a 1" drain, 3/4" return.

I believe the theory here is that hopefully you wont be able to push more water through a 1" line than 1.5" drain can handle... or at the very least, work to widen that gap.

[NP_Reef]

do you think that 2 3/4" returns would be enough for a 1262?

[NP_Reef]

also im going to run a closed loop what size hole should i have drilled for the drain for a dart for the CL? thanks.

[NP_Reef]

also this might be a dumb question but if i want to have a 1" drain would i order the tank with a 1" hole or do i have to order it with a larger hole to account for the bulkhead?
thanks again

[Uncle Salty 05]

do you think that 2 3/4" returns would be enough for a 1262?

Plenty!

[The Punisher]

Glass-Holes.com (http://www.glass-holes.com/Glass-Hole-Cutters_c7.htm;jsessionid=B5CFCC8E80BAF327F25E65138E620C37.qscstrfrnt05)
For a 1" bulkhead, you'd need 1 3/4" hole.