Time To Drill Holes

[SPO-00L]

Hey Guys,

Well the time has come to drill the tank for the plumbing. The tank is a 6x2x2.5. I currently have 2 bulkheads (25mm ID) that require a 35mm hole. I dont have a weir at the moment. Im not keen on drilling the bottom of the tank incase there is a leak somewhere which will cause a flood. I was planning on getting a small weir made up in the top corner and drilling 2 holes in it for the drainage to the sump, and 1 hole on the other side of the tank for the return line.

I figure this way that if there is a leak for some reason that the sump tank (4x2x2) will not overflow and cause a flood.

What do you guys think? Any help would be much appreciated before i start drilling

Cheers, Trent

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I would agree. I feel safer having the holes at the top on the back or sides then having the bottom drilled.

If you have the return drilled under the water line make sure you have a 1 way valve on the return line to stop the return line syphoning the water from the display tank if the pump turns off. Or have the return pipe just below the water surface.

I personally have my return line going up over the top of the tank. I then have a small hole in the return pipe just below the water surface. This means if the pump goes off the return lines syphons out water until the hole goes above the waterline and sucks in air. This breaks the syphon and stops the tank draining into the sump.

 

[SPO-00L]

Cheers Barney.

I was thinking the same thing with the one way valve for the return line. Do you think 2 holes for the drain to the sump is overkill? Im starting to think that 1 hole would be sufficient.

Thanks, Trent

 

[xxBarneyxx]

2 holes is definitely the way to go. You want both of them to be able to handle the whole water flow by themselves as well. That way if one gets blocked (can happen very easily) then you wont end up with a drained sump and flooded display tank.

Depending on how you set it up it can help to have one hole slightly higher then the other. The lower hole will be the one doing all the work but then if it blocks the water line will go up to the second hole so you will notice that the water level is a bit higher and that the first hole is blocked. This is a bit overkill and in some set ups isnt very practical.

Regarding the one way valve. I have been told that they can sometimes have issues with reliability and because even when they are open they will have some restriction in the line it can cause blockages. this is the other reason I always have my return coming from the top of the tank with a hole just under the water level. No need for a non return valve and no worries about back syphoning.