Drain/Return idea

jasonp87 · Jul 25, 2016

hello everyone, I posed this idea to my local forum but wanted to throw it out here for additional feedback. I have a new corner aquarium that I am setting up and I am trying to reduce the size of the internal overflow box as much as possible. Anyways, my idea was to reduce the two holes/bulkheads I would need from 2 (1 for drain, 1 for return), to 1. I would do this by cutting 1 larger hole for the drain, maybe 2" or so, and running the return line up through the center. Has anyone else ever done this or seen it done before? Please let me know what you think or share your personal experience with such a system.

here is a basic idea of what I am planning...

Joeganja · Jul 26, 2016

You want to figure out what your turn over rate of your tank should be.

Reeferfourlife · Jul 26, 2016

Are you going to have an emergency drain? I can see issues with debris or something getting trap and clogging your only drain.

willthethrill · Jul 26, 2016

Seems like a cool idea. However keep in mind you have to take into consideration, the outside diameter of the return pipe. Let's say you're using a 3/4" return pipe, that's 3/4 inside diameter. The actual circumference of the OD will cut into the amount of space the water has to drain. I guess it's all about the dimensions you're planning on using. But seems like a pretty genius idea!

fragit · Jul 26, 2016

I agree with the above. I would like to add your probably going to have major noise issues. I don't see a way to silence that nor create a full siphon. Maybe noise is not an issue for you though. I would definitely try and experiment before drilling though.

jasonp87 · Jul 26, 2016

Thanks everyone. Yes, I was considering the outside diameter of the return line since ultimately that is what would restrict flow on the drain. I didn't put the drain silencer in the diagram because it wasn't important for what I was showing. I have always only operated with a single drain. I understand the risks of that though and it may be bigger with a system like this.

KJAG · Jul 26, 2016

jasonp87 said:
Has anyone seen this or seen it done before?

No and theres some major reasons why. The most evident would be the inevitable flood risk. This in itself is an utter, immediate dealbreaker. Plastic bag, snails, fish, anemone, etc, etc, etc... Anything travels down your only drain and its over. Further, your full volume of return to the sump isnt returning to the sump for bio/mech filtration. Its traveling back into the display. By the way, flood failsafes arent the only reason to run more than a single drain. You can run substantially more flow otherwise which equates to a higher turnover. Personally Id scrap the idea and look into setting up a Bean which is virtually impossible to flood with unrivaled turnover capabilities. At the very least a Herbie. FWIW.

jasonp87 · Jul 26, 2016

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will avoid doing it this way. I've never had trouble with a single drain in the past but I do see how this design could make it even more risky. I will go ahead with the three holes inside an arc shaped overflow.

willthethrill · Jul 26, 2016

I implemented the bean animal overflow in my latest 120 setup. Up and running for a few months now. I won't ever go back to anything else. Multiple fail safes, super silent, crazy amount of flow, adjustable flow rate too if you want to tinker with your turn over rate and also have a controllable return pump. Look into it [emoji106]

jasonp87 · Jul 27, 2016

My only problem with the bean is I always see it with an external overflow box and I can't do that. I also don't want pipes visible if I alter it and put the box inside since the boxes also tend to be shallow instead of going all the way to the bottom of the tank.

I have always used the hofer gurgle buster so I will probably stick with that.