drilling, overflow, sump questions

gooch

gooch

Member
right now I am in the process of trying to convert an old wet/dry system into a sump with refugium. I have a E.T.S.S. Reef Devil skimmer going in it with a 700 gph pump attached to it. My tank is a 72 bow and I think the proposed sump will be somewhere in the area of 20-30 gallons. It pretty much barely fits into the stand so I am leaning more towards the 30 gallon size.
Now, this wetdry came from a 150 gallon setup that had 2 overflow boxes with flex tubing that appears to be 1 1/4" diameter (I am having getting a good measurement of the flex tube). I do not know the rated GPH of the overflows but I am really considering drilling into the back of the tank, drillin the same hole in the back of one of the overflow boxes and attaching the two with a bulkhead and running that drain down to the sump.
Assuming I go with a 1.5" drain down to the sump, and I have a 700ish gph pump on the return should I cut another 1.5" bulkhead (2 3/8" hole) for the return?
Does that seem ok? I would be putting ball valves on both the return and the drain. for added info.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
if you're drilling your tank, why bother with the overflow boxes? just run your plumbing without them. the whole idea of an overflow box is if you want to avoid drilling your tank.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
You could get by with a 1 1/2 drain and a 1" return. If you go bigger than the 1 inch return your pump is going to have to work a lot harder trying to push that much more volume of water up and into your tank causing quite a bit lower flow speed. My recommendation is using the 1" return. It's what I have on my sump for my 90 -- and I have a 900gph pump.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/2937435
You could get by with a 1 1/2 drain and a 1" return. If you go bigger than the 1 inch return your pump is going to have to work a lot harder trying to push that much more volume of water up and into your tank causing quite a bit lower flow speed. My recommendation is using the 1" return. It's what I have on my sump for my 90 -- and I have a 900gph pump.
Ok, that is sort of what I was wanting to know, whether or not I could use the same diameter. So looks like I have to buy a second glass hole saw.. uggh.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Originally Posted by Eric B 125
http:///forum/post/2937409
if you're drilling your tank, why bother with the overflow boxes? just run your plumbing without them. the whole idea of an overflow box is if you want to avoid drilling your tank.
From what I have seen from glass holes is that you take the overflow box and drill a whole through that and the glass and you attach the bulkhead through it so that the water goes over the teeth and then into the box and then through the bulkhead in the wall. I would guess it provides a more stable waterflow. I already have the box so it isnt an issue for me.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Originally Posted by Bountyhunter23
http:///forum/post/2937419
Well if you want to drill you tank and have an over flow box just do like i did. go to: http://glass-holes.com/category.sc?categoryId=3 . I was pretty satisfied. They give you the kit that has everything. Drill bit, bulk head, over flow box, etc.
I have been looking there and was planning on getting the pieces through them. Looks like their actual boxes go for around 40 dollars so I guess its lucky I already have one. Stupid question but do you think the holesaw they give to cut the glass can also cut the plastic/acrylic overflow box that I have?
 
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