Drilling for a return

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 09:33 AM

I've tried searching but didnt find what I was looking for.. I need to drill a return line in my 40B. Of course I want it as high as possible for siphon when pump is off. Can anyone tell me a safe distance from top and side? Thanks

hijinks · 01/15/2018, 09:41 AM

generally 3/4 of an inch. I like to do it at least an inch though.

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hijinks

generally 3/4 of an inch. I like to do it at least an inch though.

I need to fit a 3/4" bulkhead, so I'll have to be further away than that.

hijinks · 01/15/2018, 09:44 AM

What I do is take a wet erase marker.. place the bulkhead where I think I want it.. outline the inside and then see if the outer diameter of the circle is a good distance from the edge of the glass.

ca1ore · 01/15/2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Str8linespeed

I need to fit a 3/4" bulkhead, so I'll have to be further away than that.

An inch from the outside edge of the hole, not from the center.

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 11:14 AM

Ahhhh, an inch from the outter edge of the bulkhead. Duh, what was I thinking? Ok, thank you...

Knighthawk · 01/15/2018, 12:23 PM

Here’s my 40 breeder drilled for two returns and the eshopps large overflow. I just used a longer section of loc line inside the tank and drilled a small hole on the bottom to break the siphon(which I would highly recommend). I don’t get much draining from the returns this way.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 12:27 PM

Thanks for the pic. The hole you drilled was on the bottom?? I've seen it on the top, so thought I would ask.

Also what paint did you use on the back?

Knighthawk · 01/15/2018, 01:18 PM

Nah that’s the back of the tank on the top. I just set it on it’s side while painting it. I used rustoleum flat black and the finest foam roller I could find. It took one of the smaller cans to coat it all the way. I would probably get some black silicon or electrical tape to cover the gap between the trim and tank. You can’t get the paint under the trim all the way.

IMG_1723.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knighthawk

Nah that’s the back of the tank on the top. I just set it on it’s side while painting it. I used rustoleum flat black and the finest foam roller I could find. It took one of the smaller cans to coat it all the way. I would probably get some black silicon or electrical tape to cover the gap between the trim and tank. You can’t get the paint under the trim all the way.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry about the hole question.. I meant on the line loc, not the tank.

Thank you for the input on what paint you used. I was debating about Limo tint, or even vinyl like they use for wrapping cars.

Knighthawk · 01/15/2018, 01:58 PM

Here ya go. You can see in the second picture where the loc line comes out of the water a little bit. That’s where the hole is and it’s facing down so it sprays some water into the tank.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Str8linespeed · 01/15/2018, 07:41 PM

Ahhhhhhh, Now I see what your doing. Thanks!

Str8linespeed · 01/22/2018, 11:20 AM

I've got to bump this back up because Im unsure of the hole.

I need help determining what to do. My tank has trim top and bottom. The trim is 1.5" wide top and bottom. The holes for my overflow box are 4" from the top rim of the tank to the bottom of the hole. If I put my return hole just low enough to clear the trim it will only be .75" higher than the bottom of the overflow.

Is it recommended to cut out a section of the trim to get the hole higher (so I can tighten the bulkhead nut) or just go as high as I can go, without cutting the trim?

jewlz · 01/22/2018, 12:15 PM

I wouldn't cut the trim for aesthetics.... Structurally, It might not make a difference, but do you really want a weak spot in the trim, right at the same place you have a weak spot in the glass?

Str8linespeed · 01/23/2018, 05:33 PM

Thanks for the input. I'll probably just keep it as high as I can.

Knighthawk · 01/23/2018, 06:38 PM

Just drill it as high as you can. I wouldn’t cut into the trim.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

waterhorse · 01/28/2018, 05:41 PM

Just got a new glass 125 gal, no overflow. I've been told it could be tempered glass and shatter. I've looked for a "tempered" stamp, tried looking for waves from a 45-degree angle, and the polarized glasses trick. I just cannot tell. Is there any other way to know if I'm going to destroy my tank or not? I cannot find a brand on it anywhere and the person I bought it from didn't know. TIA

01/15/2018, 09:33 AM	#1
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	Drilling for a return I've tried searching but didnt find what I was looking for.. I need to drill a return line in my 40B. Of course I want it as high as possible for siphon when pump is off. Can anyone tell me a safe distance from top and side? Thanks

01/15/2018, 12:23 PM	#7
Knighthawk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 167	Drilling for a return Here’s my 40 breeder drilled for two returns and the eshopps large overflow. I just used a longer section of loc line inside the tank and drilled a small hole on the bottom to break the siphon(which I would highly recommend). I don’t get much draining from the returns this way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/15/2018, 01:18 PM	#9
Knighthawk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 167	Drilling for a return Nah that’s the back of the tank on the top. I just set it on it’s side while painting it. I used rustoleum flat black and the finest foam roller I could find. It took one of the smaller cans to coat it all the way. I would probably get some black silicon or electrical tape to cover the gap between the trim and tank. You can’t get the paint under the trim all the way. IMG_1723.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/28/2018, 05:41 PM	#17
waterhorse Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 1	Just got a new glass 125 gal, no overflow. I've been told it could be tempered glass and shatter. I've looked for a "tempered" stamp, tried looking for waves from a 45-degree angle, and the polarized glasses trick. I just cannot tell. Is there any other way to know if I'm going to destroy my tank or not? I cannot find a brand on it anywhere and the person I bought it from didn't know. TIA __________________ Horses are so wonderful, God put them on land and in the sea.

01/15/2018, 09:41 AM	#2
hijinks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 505	generally 3/4 of an inch. I like to do it at least an inch though.

01/15/2018, 09:44 AM	#4
hijinks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 505	What I do is take a wet erase marker.. place the bulkhead where I think I want it.. outline the inside and then see if the outer diameter of the circle is a good distance from the edge of the glass.

01/15/2018, 11:14 AM	#6
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	Ahhhh, an inch from the outter edge of the bulkhead. Duh, what was I thinking? Ok, thank you...

01/15/2018, 12:27 PM	#8
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	Thanks for the pic. The hole you drilled was on the bottom?? I've seen it on the top, so thought I would ask. Also what paint did you use on the back?

01/15/2018, 01:58 PM	#11
Knighthawk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 167	Here ya go. You can see in the second picture where the loc line comes out of the water a little bit. That’s where the hole is and it’s facing down so it sprays some water into the tank. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/15/2018, 07:41 PM	#12
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	Ahhhhhhh, Now I see what your doing. Thanks!

01/22/2018, 11:20 AM	#13
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	I've got to bump this back up because Im unsure of the hole. I need help determining what to do. My tank has trim top and bottom. The trim is 1.5" wide top and bottom. The holes for my overflow box are 4" from the top rim of the tank to the bottom of the hole. If I put my return hole just low enough to clear the trim it will only be .75" higher than the bottom of the overflow. Is it recommended to cut out a section of the trim to get the hole higher (so I can tighten the bulkhead nut) or just go as high as I can go, without cutting the trim?

01/22/2018, 12:15 PM	#14
jewlz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: North America Posts: 116	I wouldn't cut the trim for aesthetics.... Structurally, It might not make a difference, but do you really want a weak spot in the trim, right at the same place you have a weak spot in the glass?

01/23/2018, 05:33 PM	#15
Str8linespeed Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Oakdale, MN Posts: 461	Thanks for the input. I'll probably just keep it as high as I can.

01/23/2018, 06:38 PM	#16
Knighthawk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 167	Just drill it as high as you can. I wouldn’t cut into the trim. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk