Plumbing question for new setup

samf08 · 08/19/2018, 01:02 PM

I just purchased a used acrylic 125 gallon tank as an upgrade for my 75. I'm trying to figure out the best way to plumb it for the sump. It has 2 half inch bulkhead holes. They are about an inch and half from the top of the tank. My first thought was to use one with an overflow box and the other for the return. However, they are too high so I don't think an overflow box will fit very well. Would it be ok to just use a strainer pointed down so that it is below the water line? That would keep the air and noise down I believe. The other question would be should I convert an older wet/dry into a fuge and use one of the bulkheads to go to the sump and skimmer and the other would go to the fuge. This was an unexpected purchase so I haven't done my usual research prior to purchase.

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salmon alley · 08/19/2018, 06:39 PM

Seems to me that if it's acrylic you can drill new holes wherever you'd like and either patch the 1/2" holes or install and cap-off bulkheads.

Lsufan · 08/19/2018, 09:34 PM

I would definitely drill more holes. If u can increase the size of the existing holes then that would be ideal because u don’t need 1/2” bulkheads for anything. I would drill 3 holes for eighther 1” or 1.5” bulkheads for the drains & setup a beananimal drain. I wouldn’t setup a tank without using a beananimal drain setup. Then I would eighther go over the back of the tank with the returns or drill another hole in each corner for a 3/4” bulkhead for the returns.

mcgyvr · 08/20/2018, 04:41 AM

Yep.. Drill more holes and do a bean animal drain setup with a coast-coast overflow box..
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/s...ow-system.aspx

For a 125G 1" bulkheads would be just fine..I'd use 1.25" pipe outside the tank with 1" bulkheads/1" elbows inside..

1/2" holes are basically useless on a tank that size..Depending on their location you can either patch them or plug them or enlarge them for the 1" bulkheads..

Note: A 1" bulkhead does NOT use a 1" hole.. For a sch 40 1" bulkhead is usually like a 45mm hole.. (1.75" would be fine)..

With acrylic you can use a regular metal hole saw and do not need a diamond bit like a glass tank would..

Read that link above about the bean setup..

samf08 · 08/20/2018, 09:14 AM

Very interesting stuff. My 75 was pre drilled so i never thought about this before. looks like I have a lot to read up on. The good news is that this is an upgrade so I have the time to do it right. Is there a preferred bean animal? Ie Eclipse L, ModularMarine, Ghost overflow...

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mcgyvr · 08/20/2018, 10:24 AM

Any of those with the "bean" type setup are just fine for the most part but the wider the internal overflow box the better as far as surface skimming capability..
Without sufficient surface skimming or surface turbulence you can get a visible protein slick (oil slick look) on the top of the water surface which is usually just not visually appealing..

The fact that you have already searched/identified those that have a bean system shows that you have the capacity to learn for yourself which means you will be just fine... Enjoy..
Ask questions as needed..

08/19/2018, 01:02 PM	#1
samf08 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2	Plumbing question for new setup I just purchased a used acrylic 125 gallon tank as an upgrade for my 75. I'm trying to figure out the best way to plumb it for the sump. It has 2 half inch bulkhead holes. They are about an inch and half from the top of the tank. My first thought was to use one with an overflow box and the other for the return. However, they are too high so I don't think an overflow box will fit very well. Would it be ok to just use a strainer pointed down so that it is below the water line? That would keep the air and noise down I believe. The other question would be should I convert an older wet/dry into a fuge and use one of the bulkheads to go to the sump and skimmer and the other would go to the fuge. This was an unexpected purchase so I haven't done my usual research prior to purchase. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

08/19/2018, 06:39 PM	#2
salmon alley Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Balto/Washington Area Posts: 716	Seems to me that if it's acrylic you can drill new holes wherever you'd like and either patch the 1/2" holes or install and cap-off bulkheads. __________________ "will spay for frags..." Current Tank Info: None currently, but researching for a new system

08/20/2018, 04:41 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yep.. Drill more holes and do a bean animal drain setup with a coast-coast overflow box.. http://www.beananimal.com/projects/s...ow-system.aspx For a 125G 1" bulkheads would be just fine..I'd use 1.25" pipe outside the tank with 1" bulkheads/1" elbows inside.. 1/2" holes are basically useless on a tank that size..Depending on their location you can either patch them or plug them or enlarge them for the 1" bulkheads.. Note: A 1" bulkhead does NOT use a 1" hole.. For a sch 40 1" bulkhead is usually like a 45mm hole.. (1.75" would be fine).. With acrylic you can use a regular metal hole saw and do not need a diamond bit like a glass tank would.. Read that link above about the bean setup.. __________________ Who me?

08/20/2018, 10:24 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Any of those with the "bean" type setup are just fine for the most part but the wider the internal overflow box the better as far as surface skimming capability.. Without sufficient surface skimming or surface turbulence you can get a visible protein slick (oil slick look) on the top of the water surface which is usually just not visually appealing.. The fact that you have already searched/identified those that have a bean system shows that you have the capacity to learn for yourself which means you will be just fine... Enjoy.. Ask questions as needed.. __________________ Who me?

08/19/2018, 09:34 PM	#3
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I would definitely drill more holes. If u can increase the size of the existing holes then that would be ideal because u don’t need 1/2” bulkheads for anything. I would drill 3 holes for eighther 1” or 1.5” bulkheads for the drains & setup a beananimal drain. I wouldn’t setup a tank without using a beananimal drain setup. Then I would eighther go over the back of the tank with the returns or drill another hole in each corner for a 3/4” bulkhead for the returns.

08/20/2018, 09:14 AM	#5
samf08 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2	Very interesting stuff. My 75 was pre drilled so i never thought about this before. looks like I have a lot to read up on. The good news is that this is an upgrade so I have the time to do it right. Is there a preferred bean animal? Ie Eclipse L, ModularMarine, Ghost overflow... Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk