Best way to plumb my 120?

[Kmore1219]

Hey everyone so I recently was gifted with this awesome 120 tank. It already has some holes drilled into it but they are on the bottom left and right side, halfway between the front and back. Ive never had a tank with bottom holes drilled so I wanted to know the best way to go about plumbing it. Heres some photos so you can see exactly how the holes are. There are 4 of them total, two on each side.

 

[Kmore1219]

Photos

 

[MaiReef]

I would try setting up a Herbie on one side and a back up over flow that is a little higher using one whole on the other side and a return pump on the last hole. Get some black or grey pvc from BRS and it will look fine.

 

[Kmore1219]

So with the location of the holes is my only option to have the pipes free standing, no weir?

 

[ShawnSaucier]

I would get the back drilled and use the bottom holes for a closed loop

 

[Kmore1219]

I would get the back drilled and use the bottom holes for a closed loop

So only use the bottom holes for returns? Sorry fairly new to plumbing a tank so not sure how I would work everything out with these holes. Also unsure if I should drill it since I can't tell if the glass is tempered or not.

 

[ksfulk]

Not a return. A closed loop system is designed to take the place of powerheads in a tank (or supplement them) and is not meant to replace your typical drain and return lines. Drilling the back of the tank is generally used in conjunction with an overflow box.

 

[ksfulk]

Basic sump (return/drain) set up

Closed loop system (least complex picture I could find)

In theory you could use the closed loop for your sump drain and return, but you lose out on surface skimmer, and in the event your return pump stopped working, all of the water could drain into your sump (and subsequently the floor!)