Adding more/drilling a pre-drilled corner overflow

Antegon · 03/11/2018, 02:59 PM

Working on a 75g build. The tank is pre-drilled, and only comes with one drain and one return. I would like to avoid learning how to drill glass on this tank I already bought, haha, but I have read a lot of horror stories from tanks without proper redundancies in place. The pipe is big, and I believe of the durso design. (Curved-over, downward-facing main intake, with airline coming out an inch at the top, and a 1/2" hole drilled in the pipe directly below the airline, about an inch down, and about an inch above the main intake opening level.) It's 1 1/2" pipe, down to an inch at the bulkhead. Can I get away with this, or is it absolutely nessassary to drill another line or 2 for a herbie/bean animal set up?
Thanks!

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mcgyvr · 03/11/2018, 06:16 PM

Single pipe systems can work...but are typically more noisy and less failsafe...
You just need a valve on the pump output to valve it down to help lower the noise and pay more attention that it doesnt get clogged

Antegon · 03/11/2018, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Single pipe systems can work...but are typically more noisy and less failsafe...
You just need a valve on the pump output to valve it down to help lower the noise and pay more attention that it doesnt get clogged

Thanks! I will definitely make sure to have a control valve on the return line. Would you put that before or after a check valve in the line?
I’m torn on whether or not to attempt the glass drilling. I believe myself somewhat capable? Haha, just worried about having to drill so close to the other, already drilled holes. To attempt the drill and risk it, or to live long term with the single pipe? And would a two pipe design be enough of an upgrade to be worth the risk of drilling, or do you really need the three pipe, bean animal set up to achieve the gains in noise reduction and redundant safety? I don’t think there’s any way to get Two additional bulkheads, no matter the drilling skill.

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mcgyvr · 03/11/2018, 08:38 PM

Check valves will eventually fail...antisiphon holes are a much better plan

ca1ore · 03/11/2018, 09:09 PM

I would not try to squeeze a third hole in the bottom. Some bottoms are tempered after being drilled, so that would not end well. Plus there isn't really enough space. Much better to put another hole in the back of the overflow.

mcgyvr · 03/12/2018, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Much bette to put an joke in the back of the overflow.

I sense a "damn spellcheck" coming in the future...

Or damn fat fingers..

Antegon · 03/12/2018, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Check valves will eventually fail...antisiphon holes are a much better plan

Cool, thanks! So that’s just a hole installed somewhere near the top of the return, before the outlet/locs? I’m seeing some things like store bought valves and some random diy but no clear winner haha.

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Antegon · 03/12/2018, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

I would no try to squeeze a third hole in the bottom. Some bottoms are tempered after being drilled, so that would not end well. Plus there isn't really enough space. Much bette to put an joke in the back of the overflow.

Good to know on the tempered glass! Glad that decision was made easy, thanks!
So you suggest adding a hole/s in the back of the glass of the overflow section of the tank? Same process, just a safer drill area, and you would just 90 degree elbow the line at the hole going up?

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ca1ore · 03/12/2018, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I sense a "damn spellcheck" coming in the future...

Or damn fat fingers..

Arrgh ..... in my case, both!!

ca1ore · 03/12/2018, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antegon

So you suggest adding a hole/s in the back of the glass of the overflow section of the tank? Same process, just a safer drill area, and you would just 90 degree elbow the line at the hole going up?

That is what I would do, yes.

Antegon · 03/12/2018, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

That is what I would do, yes.

Great, thanks! I’ll let y’all know if it works or if I need a new tank again haha.

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BrettDS · 03/18/2018, 08:18 PM

This tank already has two holes drilled, right? One for the drain and one for the return. The other option is to use both holes for a herbie style drain and run the return up and over the back of the tank. No extra drilling needed.

Antegon · 03/19/2018, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettDS

This tank already has two holes drilled, right? One for the drain and one for the return. The other option is to use both holes for a herbie style drain and run the return up and over the back of the tank. No extra drilling needed.

That’s correct. Two 1” bottom bulkheads. I think that’s the right plan with the Herbie for sure. Thinking I can just run the return line up to a straight vertical 3/4” pvc line that double elbows over the back and into the lock line like you said. Thanks for the tip!

Do you think the flow restriction from the double elbow over the side of the tank is concern enough to find a different plan?

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BrettDS · 03/19/2018, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antegon

That’s correct. Two 1” bottom bulkheads. I think that’s the right plan with the Herbie for sure. Thinking I can just run the return line up to a straight vertical 3/4” pvc line that double elbows over the back and into the lock line like you said. Thanks for the tip!

Do you think the flow restriction from the double elbow over the side of the tank is concern enough to find a different plan?

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I don’t think it’s a problem at all. In fact, it’s the way that my tank is set up

Antegon · 03/19/2018, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettDS

I don’t think it’s a problem at all. In fact, it’s the way that my tank is set up

Great! Mind if I ask what return flow you run? Any noise issues at all?

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BrettDS · 03/19/2018, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antegon

Great! Mind if I ask what return flow you run? Any noise issues at all?

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My 220 tank has two overflows, each configured as a herbie. As far as return flow, that’s so hard to say as it difficult to estimate head loss and there’s no guarantee that pump ratings are really accurate. But I can say that I’m using two Jebao DC12000 return pumps running at 80%.

The pumps are rated at about 2000GPH at the 5 feet of head that I have, so between the two of them that would be about 4000GPH, but I’m only running them at 80%, so that’s 3200GPH. I’m sure there are additional head losses from the plumbing and I don’t know that the official rating is accurate. I think the Chinese pump manufacturers tend to overestimate.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s on the order of 1500GPH. I’ve been thinking about getting the apex flow meters. Maybe I need to break down and do that.

Again, though, my flow is split between two overflows each with their own herbie configuration. Even so it is very quiet.

03/11/2018, 02:59 PM	#1
Antegon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Chicago Posts: 97	Adding more/drilling a pre-drilled corner overflow Working on a 75g build. The tank is pre-drilled, and only comes with one drain and one return. I would like to avoid learning how to drill glass on this tank I already bought, haha, but I have read a lot of horror stories from tanks without proper redundancies in place. The pipe is big, and I believe of the durso design. (Curved-over, downward-facing main intake, with airline coming out an inch at the top, and a 1/2" hole drilled in the pipe directly below the airline, about an inch down, and about an inch above the main intake opening level.) It's 1 1/2" pipe, down to an inch at the bulkhead. Can I get away with this, or is it absolutely nessassary to drill another line or 2 for a herbie/bean animal set up? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/11/2018, 06:16 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Single pipe systems can work...but are typically more noisy and less failsafe... You just need a valve on the pump output to valve it down to help lower the noise and pay more attention that it doesnt get clogged __________________ Who me?

03/11/2018, 08:38 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Check valves will eventually fail...antisiphon holes are a much better plan __________________ Who me?

03/11/2018, 09:09 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I would not try to squeeze a third hole in the bottom. Some bottoms are tempered after being drilled, so that would not end well. Plus there isn't really enough space. Much better to put another hole in the back of the overflow. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs Last edited by ca1ore; 03/12/2018 at 08:16 AM.

03/18/2018, 08:18 PM	#12
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	This tank already has two holes drilled, right? One for the drain and one for the return. The other option is to use both holes for a herbie style drain and run the return up and over the back of the tank. No extra drilling needed.