Boom Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 drilling and adding overflows. How hard is it to do? Who in edmonton will do it? and is it risky to ruin the tank? I'll be getting a 150 or 180 gallon tank and I want to have a sump. If the tank I get isn't already drilled from factory, it will need to be done. Just wanna know the risks and where to get it done.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaggle Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 There is always a danger of cracking the tank when drilling it. Just check the bottom to see if there is a sticker that says "don't drill" that usually means that it is tempered glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seajays Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Hey Boom. Check this out. You can buy bits a MOPS. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzpOtssB9mA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 I believe Crystal Glass will drill for you - I was going to go that route, but found diamond bits at Princess Auto for $20 (set of 4), and did it myself. I drilled the side of a 33gal that I'm using as a sump - just followed the lead of the guy on YouTube that John posted. Easy, peasy! :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wow. That looks really easy to do myself. I wold assume any warranty is out the window if you drill the tank yourself? I'll be getting either a 150 or 180 gallon and may drill it myself then. Anybody else drill their own tank, at the bottom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I wouldn't drill the bottom of anything smaller than a 90 b/c I beileve it's pretty standard that the bottom pane be tempered. Just an FYI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Thanks. It will be my new 150 or 180 gallon tank. I will make sure it's not tempered. I want to drill it to have the overflow in the center back of the tank. Do many people use a Durso standpipe in their overflow? I was thinking that's the way to go??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baker_jeff Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'm about to drill my 30gallon, doing the bottom is a bad idea? To the OP: I can lend you my drill bit from MOPS in a couple weeks if you need it. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Thanks. It will be my new 150 or 180 gallon tank. I will make sure it's not tempered.I want to drill it to have the overflow in the center back of the tank. Do many people use a Durso standpipe in their overflow? I was thinking that's the way to go??? If you can get 2 holes drilled, you may want to go with the Herbie overflow system - there are a lot of guys on CanReef who swear by it, and I'm enjoying it too! If you can only get 1 hole, then Durso would be a good way to go - or a reverse Durso, so the extra piping is in the sump and not in view of your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) I intend to drill two holes and have a durso standpipe. One whole sized for a 1 1/2" bulkhead and 2" piping for the durso. The second hole will be for the return. Any idea how to figure out what size pump I would need to power the return? I was looking at a 3000 gph pump. Is that too much? Jason, do you have any diagrams of how the Herbie system works? Edited October 3, 2008 by Boom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Jason, do you have any diagrams of how the Herbie system works? You can look it up on CanReef.com there are some great threads about the Herbie there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Thanks. I will check that site out. Any idea about my question on the pump? It seems to me that if my pump does 3000 gph and the bulkhead were only 1" (inside diameter) which can only handle 600 gph flow thru, then my pump would pump the sump dry and overflow the tank before the standpipe (bulkhead) could keep up. Right? So do I not need to try to match the flow rate leaving my tank (i.e. size of the bulkhead) with the pump pulling it out of the sump and back into the tank??? Or am I mis-understanding this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 O.k. I think I've figured it out. Obviously I was missing the fact that, the same as the flow out of the tank and into the sump is limited by the size of the bulkhead, the flow out of the sump back into the tank would be limited to the size of the return tubing. Right? So even though the pump CAN do 3000 gph, it won't because it's limited by the size of the return tubing. (in my case it will likely be 1") So then is there any point to going with a larger bulkhead / drain pipe? If it isn't clear, I'm new to the whole overflow, sump, durso standpipe thing. So any / all help is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Your pump will move more water with pressure than your overflow will with gravity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 If you can, go with a larger drain pipe. My 90 gal has 1.5" drains and 2x 3/4" returns - works great. This way the drain will be able to keep up with the pump and you won't risk overflowing the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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