Starting a new 250g

leishman

leishman

Member
(My 1st post!)
New 250g question
I'm getting ready to order a new 65"x36"x25" (253g)
My question is, can I forego an overflow and just drill the tank for 2 surface drains with screens?
If so would 2x1.5" be enough, or would I need 2x2" drains?
Both drains will run to the sump and be returned to two 1" Sea Swirls by two MAK4s. (I will also have 2x6100 Tunze Streems in there for circulation)
Thanks
Rik
 
A

asbury030

Active Member
If i were u i would get the people who u are ordering it from to drill it for you. You wouldnt want that baby to crack on u.
 
leishman

leishman

Member
I'm not drilling it! This is an ordering question. Do I order it w/an overflow and give up valuable real estate, or just get it made with the holes drilled for surface drains?
The cost is not much different, the overflow would cost $80 more.
 
leishman

leishman

Member
I'm not drilling it! This is an ordering question. Do I order it w/an overflow and give upp valuable real estate, or just get it made with the holes drilled for surface drains?
The cost is not much different, the overflow would cost $80 more.
 
nemo lover

nemo lover

Member
To me its kind of sounds like a personal choice. What would you like? After all this is the tank you will wake up to every morning.
 
leishman

leishman

Member
I guess my question is: I want to use surface drains, but I have no idea of the diameter of drains needed. Each will have to handle 1500 GPH. Will 1.5" be OK or will I need 2"?
 
robchuck

robchuck

Active Member
Rik,
Welcome to swf.com!
As others have said, the drainpipe location is a matter of opinion, but there are a few other factors that may influence your decision.
If you go with the surface drains and screens, you will need to use 2" plumbing and drains to handle the MAK4's. The advantage of using overflow boxes is that you'll have 25" of vertical space to use Durso standpipes. This allows you to take advantage of gravity and flow more through the drains than using same-sized plumbing on surface overflows (that's why 2" plumbing would be needed for surface drains and 1 1/2" standpipes would work fine). I hope this all made sense.
By the way, I really like the flow you're planning for this tank! Will the tank be made of glass or acrylic? And if you don't mind me asking, who are you having build the tank?
 
robchuck

robchuck

Active Member
Also, having a width of 36" with your new tank, overflow boxes wouldn't take up too much real estate in your tank. My new tank has 1 1/2" bulkheads in an overflow and only sticks out 5" from the back wall.
 
leishman

leishman

Member
Thanks Kip and Rob: and now wjwaz59 (just saw your post afetr I had typed the below). Great link thanks.
The tank will be glass (by glasscages.com) and be euro braced.
It will be 29" in-wall and 7" jutting out into the room for side views. This makes an aditional 5" on the back impossible to pull off. It is being located in the area where my washer and dryer are now. They are being moved in to the addition as soon as it is done, (Only 4 weeks to go). The advantages are many, the draw backs are few, (unless you can add some)
Advantages:
Water supply (RO/DI hook up) in place
Inground drain
Vented directly to outside
adjasent storage closet can be mini fish room
no hood needed (Just egg crate to stop jumpers)
Disadvantages:
No access to rear of tank as soon as it is running
I have to buy a lot more live rock
 
attml

attml

Active Member
Hey Rik,
Welcome to SWF.com! This is where I do the majority of my posting. mrogers is usually here quite a bit too! As far as your question, I really like my AGA Reef Ready Megaflow system. I had similar considerations when I set up my 120 but am very happy with the overflow boxes. I do wish I had the additional space but it is extremely quiet and hasn't had any problems at all.
Mark
 
leishman

leishman

Member
Hey Mark:
Missed you at the WAMAS thing last w/e. WAMAS got MACNA for next year! Hope they can pull it off.
I'm still undecided on the drain issue. I have 20+ days to decide before my 30 day deadline. I would love the extra tank room if the surface drains can do the job. They will pull from the surface and aid in skimming. I saw a pluming fixture today called a, "double wey", it is a 3 way (double Y) 2" fixture that could attach to a 2" drain and supply plenty of flow to the sump. Just an idea.
I need all the educated help I can find before order day!
Rik
 
S

spsaddict

Guest
i thought long and hard bout this same topic a few months ago, i am really glad i decded to agains the surface drains, i had the opportunity to see one in action and boy was it LOUD...also the maintence on them is bad, you must clean them often...... just a pita... anyway, cant wait to see the progess... keep us up tp date
 
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