Drilled tank hole location???

[Jokes]

Alright, so after numerous design changes. I was actually finished my DYI dual pvc overflow dry fitting on my tank and was about to glue everything together the other weekend. I decided to just have my tank drilled and get it done the right way before I get my tank going. So my question is after looking around at several designs. Where do yall think I should have my holes drilled? I've seen 2 different designs that I liked. I am planning on having 2 holes drilled for saftey, just in case one gets clogged for some reason.

Option 1: Having both holes drilled on either side of the back of the tank at equal heights.

or

Option 2: It was a design I seen I on the BulkReefSupply youtube channel? I think they said it was a herbie design? Both holes were drilled staggered (one higher than the other) and both bulkheads fit behind 1 overflow box that was set in one corner of the tank?

 

[JohnK]

Whatever you do you will want to use an overflow box. Without one you will get very minimal surface skimming and be very limited in how much flow you can have before it gets super loud.

Those "DIY PVC" overflows often seen on youtube are a joke and should be avoided like the plauge. They can work, but offer near zero surface skimming and are lucky to keep up with a trickle of flow, maybe 250gph in 1" pipe. They are good for people who are building up their youtube accounts, not much else. (beware of anything by "urajoey" he's a menace to the hobby with his horrible youtube advice)

A herbie drain uses a restricted siphon with a second back up drain. Siphon drains can handle @ twice the flow compared to traditional drains using the same sized plumbing. With a herbie, it's not really the location of the holes, it's that the actual drain pipes inside the overflow are at different heights. This can be done by putting one bulkhead near the top and the other lower, or both can be lower and the backup will have a section of pipe extending to just above the height you want water level in the overflow box.

What size tank will you be using, and do you have any preference where you want your overflow box? There is no one best way to do this, a lot of it is personal preference how you want it set up.

 

[Jokes]

Yea, after some serious concideration, I decided it was best. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my aquarium once I start stocking it.

I don't have any real preference. Just curious as to which was best? I would like to have my return in the center of my tank. So either way I guess the overflow would be on the sides of the tank. And yes I was planning on using an overflow box. Just wondering which design would be good for me.

Would it still work if I had 2 seperate overflow boxes on either side of the aquarium at equal height like this?

| |O|.............|O||
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|_______________|

Or would it be better if I went with design from BulkReefSupply's youtube channel where it was setup like this inside one overflow box on either side of the tank.

| |O |..................|
| | O|..................|
|________________|

Whatever you do you will want to use an overflow box. Without one you will get very minimal surface skimming and be very limited in how much flow you can have before it gets super loud.

Those "DIY PVC" overflows often seen on youtube are a joke and should be avoided like the plauge. They can work, but offer near zero surface skimming and are lucky to keep up with a trickle of flow, maybe 250gph in 1" pipe. They are good for people who are building up their youtube accounts, not much else. (beware of anything by "urajoey" he's a menace to the hobby with his horrible youtube advice)

A herbie drain uses a restricted siphon with a second back up drain. Siphon drains can handle @ twice the flow compared to traditional drains using the same sized plumbing. With a herbie, it's not really the location of the holes, it's that the actual drain pipes inside the overflow are at different heights. This can be done by putting one bulkhead near the top and the other lower, or both can be lower and the backup will have a section of pipe extending to just above the height you want water level in the overflow box.

What size tank will you be using, and do you have any preference where you want your overflow box? There is no one best way to do this, a lot of it is personal preference how you want it set up.

 

[JohnK]

Herbie drains need both bulkheads in the same box.

 

[Jokes]

Yes I understand that. Do you think I should go with that overflow design as opposed to having 2 seperate overflow boxes with only 1 bulkhead in each?

Herbie drains need both bulkheads in the same box.

 

[JohnK]

Personal preference really. I run a herbie because it's silent and you get no bubbles in the sump. Downside is it needs occasional adjusting.

If there is an ideal way to do it, that's probably a "bean animal" drain system in an external overflow box.

 

[Jokes]

Awesome, I think I will go with the herbie design. I have seen the bean animal design but that looks a little too complicated for me. Haha

Personal preference really. I run a herbie because it's silent and you get no bubbles in the sump. Downside is it needs occasional adjusting.

If there is an ideal way to do it, that's probably a "bean animal" drain system in an external overflow box.