i need some advice

[diastech]

i just bought a used 90 gallon tank. now there is a hole drilled on the bottom center of the tank where the in of the canister filter goes to and there is anothe hole just to the right of that where the return pipe returns water back from the canister filter.

now, i want to start by setting this us with a canister filter that i already have, then eventually setup a sump as time progresses. what i would like to know is....

1. can i still setup a sump system the way my tank is drilled?
2. is it possible to plug those holes and drill new holes on the bottom of the tank in a corner or more towards the back wall but still on the bottom of the tank?

i will start with that then go from there.

thanks in advanced for the help / advice. :.

[medic1175]

Can you post a pic, will make it easier to give advice.

[diastech]

sorry, i am going to see if i can take some pics and post them.

[snowmaker]

2. is it possible to plug those holes and drill new holes on the bottom of the tank in a corner or more towards the back wall but still on the bottom of the tank?

If they are factory holes, the bottom may have been tempered after drilling and not possible to drill again...
Just a thought.

[diastech]

i just attched some pics, i took them with my cell phone, sorry for thepoor pic quality.

[diastech]

this is a used tank, so i dont know if its tempered? there is no sticker stating it is, but it is use and might have been removed. i looked for a manufacture name on the tank and i could not find one.

[medic1175]

the best thing i can come up with would be to use the existing holes and build rockwork up to hide the overflow and return. you could put an island in the middle and another on the end. maybe try and find/build a cylinder type overflow. might be kinda cool not seeing the overflow and return.

[diastech]

i am not sure if i mentioned this before, but i dont have a overflow setup. i have whats shown on the pics and a small tube for the intake and a longer tube for the outlet back into the tank.


also, if i have as shown above and a couple of tubes as mentioned ubove on this post, can i build a sump below the tank using what i have here?

[jayman10134]

you can drill the back of the tank and just have it drain out the back, drill it about 5 inches down from the top of the tank. install a 90 degree then put about 5 inches of pvc then an inlet. when you set up the tank you can turn the 90 degree corner to lower or raise the height of the water. i think thats the easiest way to do it without getting an overflow.

[diastech]

ok, so another question. if i did nothing to this tank, left the bulkheads right where they are, can i connect my canister filter and then when i have the time and money, the way the bulkheads are, can i setup a sump system? or i am going to be running into problems when i try to convert it?

[mickeyfinn]

You could, but without a standpipe of some kind or an overflow, there is a potential for the whole tank to drain if there is ever a leak. Pretty risky if you ask me. Are you a gambler? :)

[jimmyj7090]

You could connect a canister filter (or "closed loop" pump) to the tank the way it is connected now, but you will absolutely need to add shut off valves so that you can reliably close those holes so the canister can be cleaned. Also keep in mind that better be a well built canister that seals really well, or else any small leak could drain the entire tank onto the floor.

Also FWIW it is rare, and usually not a good idea to run a canister filter on a reef tank. They tend to act as "nitrate factories" unless cleaned constantly.


To connect a sump, you would have to add a stand pipe, or overflow box, or both. Otherwise the entire tank would drain and there would be no way to make it work. IMO your best bet (using the existing holes) would be to build an overflow box around a stand pipe. That way you would get a deccent "surface skim". Just a stand pipe is a possibility and easier to set up, but it would be much more tempermental in terms of tuning, and it would be MUCH more prone to potential obstruction and resulting floods.


To seal the existing holes and go with another arrangement, it's as simple as getting small squares of glass and siliconing them over the holes. Very easy, and reliable. It would take 5 min and would then just need to sit for a few days for the silicone to cure properly.

[diastech]

ok, here is what i came up with and please let me now if i am on the wrong or right track with this.

i bought a stand pipe kit at the local store, its all white (marineland brand) but it has all the tools needed. so i am going to use that as the intake standpipe for the sump.

now to make a overflow, i bought a 6 inch x 2 foot piece of white pvc. i am going to cut it to be exactly 23 1/2 inches in lenght because it will be just below the rim of the top frame for the tank.

for the return, the kit came with all the things i needed, but all in white. i painted the back of the tank black, so i did find some gray pvc tubing and elbow so now it looks like it will blend in.

so thats what i figured out so far, what do you think?

also, i have a few more questions on this because this is all new to me. with the stand pipe, do i just push it in the bulkhead and it is heald by pressure fit? or does it need to be siliconed into place?

and for the overflow, is there a certain shape and size i should be making the holes for the water to fall into the overflow box?

also, what kind of pump, and what rating do i need for the return? its a 90 gallon tank.

[jayman10134]

i don't know about all the other stuff but i would leave the pvc pipe at 2 feet and make teeth half an inch down. that will keep stuff from ending up in your overflow. also, if you do the teeth that far down you can adjust them later if you don't like the height the water ends up staying at. its better to leave it long and shorten it after experimenting with it IMO.

[diastech]

The thing was I was going to sillicone the overflow to the botton of the glass to prevent it from moving. So I would not be able to pull it out. I hear what your saying though. It makes perfect sense do it that way.

[medic1175]

Not to hijack, but where did you find the standpipe setup? Also, do you recall how much it cost.

[diastech]

Its a marineland kit and I bought it at rumford pets in east providence, $50 dollars and its universal. I hope that helps.

[dcforester1]

Did you ask the previous owner how they had it setup, maybe they could give you some ideas.

[MisFit]

do a search for a stockman standpipe.