Sumps, Overflows And Tank Drilling

[pirate monkey]

We've been thinking about putting a sump in our system, mostly so we can put the equipment in there, and also a refugium.

Unfortunately the tank isn't drilled and is now full of water, sand and live rock! I didn't even consider a sump before now... I have bought some second hand stuff from freeads (haven't got it yet) and with it comes an overflow, but I'm a bit skeptical about them. How well would an anti syphon valve work?

So is it possible to have someone drill my tank and how much could I expect it to cost? (perhaps someone on here would like to do it?! ) Alternatively, can you hire diamond drills and is it something we could be trusted to do ourselves (I say we... not me personally! Mr Pirate Monkey is a roofer so very handy man) or is the risk of cracking too great?

Any advice gratefully recieved!

 

[jtnova13]

Drilling is risky. YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DRILL THROUGH TEMPERED GLASS.

make sure whichever panel you are drilling is not tempered.

If you check out glassholes.com, they have an installation video, or check youtube for how to drill.

hob overflows are ok, if you have an aqualifter or something that will re-siphon on breakage, you should be fine.

They also make (or you can make) a hang-on refugium.

 

[pirate monkey]

Drilling is risky. YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DRILL THROUGH TEMPERED GLASS.

make sure whichever panel you are drilling is not tempered.

If you check out glassholes.com, they have an installation video, or check youtube for how to drill.

hob overflows are ok, if you have an aqualifter or something that will re-siphon on breakage, you should be fine.

They also make (or you can make) a hang-on refugium.

I have a juwel tank, they're not made from tempered glass, apart from the front panel on the bow fronted tanks. I'd like the back drilled so no need to worry about the bottom being tempered either.

How does an aqualifter work? I'm not sure I quite understand the concept, if you wouldn't mind explaining. Also what happens if the aqua lifter fails?! You don't fill me with much confidence to say I should be fine

 

[jtnova13]

well unless you are on an internal drilled overflow with standpipe and have a sump designed to hold the extra water that will drain on pump failure, i think it's just a matter of time before you have a flood. ALSO, put a check valve on the outlet of your pump... if the pump fails, water will siphon backwards into your sump.

I believe how an aqualifter works is, on the U part of the overflow, there is a hole in which the aqualifter sucks air. Since the front of the overflow is under water, it will suck water up instead of air and cause the siphon to form again. Something like that.

 

[pirate monkey]

Mmm that's what I thought. I think we will go ahead with drilling the tank, my OH is happy to give it a whirl, the tank is second hand so wouldn't be the end of the world if it went wrong (although would be a huge inconvenience!) He's decided to make a new stand, so we're gonna have to get the tank pretty empty to move it, might as well drill it then!

I would drill a hole in the return pipe outlet, I think that stops the back flow from what I've seen from other posts.

So would the aqua lifter have to be on all the time? It seems a good idea to get the siphon started but other than that it wouldn't need to be on, would it? I suppose it could be connected to a float switch in the sump, so if the water dropped below a certain level it would turn on?

Thanks for your help, btw! I'm sorry if I'm a bit clueless

 

[bitteraspects]

The aqualifter will pull out any extra air in the overflow due to cavitation. So yes, it would need to be constantly running.
I just hooked the airline coming of check valve to the venturi of a powerhead in the tank. It serves the same purpose.

 

[SkiFletch]

Pirate Monkey, have a search through the good old Google for "Calfo Overflow". The Calfo style overflow is for when you drill the side or rear of the tank. You'll get a lot of ideas doing it this way. I use a Calfo overflow myself and it works great

 

[jtnova13]

make sure you don't drill it dry.

Make a reservoir around where you want to drill with plumbers putty, pour water in, drill.

glassholes.com has a video and they also sell an actual overflow with bulkheads etc.