Help with plumbing - stupid pre drilled tank

[reef_grrrl]

I'm setting up a 75 gallon acrylic hex tank, aka the most awkward tank size known to man. It's an old Tenecor tank... And it's got the tiniest overflow box and the darn thing is drilled for a half inch "return" and a 1" standpipe. I ordered new bulkheads from BRS, I don't feel comfortable drilling the tiny hole because it's already super close to the 1". I plan on plumbing an external return up the back and using both of the drilled holes for drains. Before I measured I was hoping to do a Herbie drain, but now it seems silly to have a 1/2" siphon on a 75 gallon tank. The flow is going to be relative slow- I'm planning for seahorses. The overflow box is so tiny I can't physically fit a 1" gate valve in it. What should I do? Herbie? Durso?

 

[mfinn]

I'm setting up a 75 gallon acrylic hex tank, aka the most awkward tank size known to man. It's an old Tenecor tank... And it's got the tiniest overflow box and the darn thing is drilled for a half inch "return" and a 1" standpipe. I ordered new bulkheads from BRS, I don't feel comfortable drilling the tiny hole because it's already super close to the 1". I plan on plumbing an external return up the back and using both of the drilled holes for drains. Before I measured I was hoping to do a Herbie drain, but now it seems silly to have a 1/2" siphon on a 75 gallon tank. The flow is going to be relative slow- I'm planning for seahorses. The overflow box is so tiny I can't physically fit a 1" gate valve in it. What should I do? Herbie? Durso?

pictures would certainly help.
I have never seen anyone put a valve inside a overflow box, no matter what kind of setup.
Think outside the box. lol

 

[reef_junkie]

+1 any gate or ball valves should be outside of the tank. 1/2" return and 1" drain is plenty.

 

[reef_grrrl]

pictures would certainly help.
I have never seen anyone put a valve inside a overflow box, no matter what kind of setup.
Think outside the box. lol

Oh. I don't know what I was thinking! That makes total sense having the ball valve outside the tank. I think I saw some pictures with the ball valve on the inside I guess I'm asking more if I should do a durso on the 1" with the 1/2" as a emergency or a herbie and then which one would work out best as the siphon.

+1 any gate or ball valves should be outside of the tank. 1/2" return and 1" drain is plenty.

I'm going to use both as drains, and plumb the return up the back, the idea of having 75 gallons of water on carpet on the second floor with no emergency drain is scary.

 

[mfinn]

Oh. I don't know what I was thinking! That makes total sense having the ball valve outside the tank. I think I saw some pictures with the ball valve on the inside I guess I'm asking more if I should do a durso on the 1" with the 1/2" as a emergency or a herbie and then which one would work out best as the siphon.



I'm going to use both as drains, and plumb the return up the back, the idea of having 75 gallons of water on carpet on the second floor with no emergency drain is scary.

I think I would do a durso ( only because it's what I'm use to and have had no problems making them quiet) on the 1" and make the 1/2" a open emergency drain.
Then look for a return pump that will give you about 350 gph after head loss.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Since the overflow box is small do the Stockman version of the Durso. Smaller, quieter and better protected by the exterior shroud or coupling.

 

[reef_grrrl]

Since the overflow box is small do the Stockman version of the Durso. Smaller, quieter and better protected by the exterior shroud or coupling.

Thats a good idea. I use a Gurgle Buster on my current tank with a HOB overflow, so they seem pretty similar.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Dumb question here....what ki d of gate valve is it? I alway he people saying gate but see ball valves in their pics im just curious if this is something new?

And a half inch hole on a 75 sounds so strange

 

[reef_grrrl]

Dumb question here....what ki d of gate valve is it? I alway he people saying gate but see ball valves in their pics im just curious if this is something new?

And a half inch hole on a 75 sounds so strange

BRS has the "good" gate valves, apparently they're more sensitive to adjustment, but mostly in pics I see regular ball valves.

Yeah the 1/2" hole is supposed to be the return. But even my 20 gallon has a 3/4" return lol.