New (Used) Tank, need plumbing advice

[Woogi]

So I picked a 140 gallon glass tank yesterday, and could use some advice on plumbing the overflow. The tank is more of a peninsula style so the current overflow box is on the 'short' edge of the tank, with two 2" holes currently drilled, however only 1 is inside the overflow box. I am unsure of the best way to plumb this, however here is my tenitive plan, please feel free to pick it apart or suggest something better.

Use the hole in the overflow for a full siphon 'bean' herbie overflow

Use the existing hole outside of the overflow as an emergency overflow. (Glued into a bulk head, that will be under the sand bed) with justa screen on top

Cut a new hole on the opposite side of the overflow and use it as a return line. (again, glued into the bulk head, that will be under the sand bed)

My sketch is all approx, and the photos are a bit deceiving, but there is between 3/4 and 1" of room between the edge of the exterior hole and the overflow box.

 

[Sgolden]

Or plug the other hole or use it as a filler. Do you have filler holes ?

 

[Sgolden]

I had holes on the bottom of my tank. I went to a plastic shop and purchased scrap squares to glue down. “ specific for acrylic “. They do make bulk head fittings you can plug .

 

[mfinn]

I'd remove the current little overflow box and add a bigger one to take advantage of both holes and run a herbie drain.
Plumb the return as a over the top return.

 

[Pntbll687]

I would extend the overflow to cover the 2nd hole and run a Herbie overflow.

Is there glass tempered? Have you checked?

As for the returns, I would drill then into the side panel and not the bottom.

 

[andrewey]

I've done exactly what you are suggesting with a tank- worked just fine, so I see no issues with it. That being said, if I could have gone back in time, I would have taken a razor blade to that overflow box and spent the money on a new box to cover both holes and drilled my return higher in the tank. At the end of the day, the $40-100 bucks the overflow will cost will be nothing compared to corals and livestock and you'll be happier you don't have exposed PVC as an eyesore on such a nice tank.

 

[Crustaceon]

I’d consider glass patching over that hole and just going with a single herbie in the overflow or as noted, extend the overflow box and use one hole for full-siphon and the other as a herbie backup.

 

[Woogi]

So as for the glass being tempered, while I have not checked, I am assuming that since there are two existing holes, I doubt it.

As for redoing the overflow, I am open to it, however, I would REALLY like to keep the peninsula style, and if I just put a piece of lexan/plexi 6" out (where the current box extends to) you would be able to see right into the overflow from either of the long viewing pannels

And on the note of keeping it peninsula style, id probably like to keep the returns coming up from the bottom as well.

As for exposed PVC in the tank, I would absoltly get black PVC (not painted) for the exposed parts.

Thanks so much for the responses! I trying to use the hive mind to help and boy are you folks coming through!

 

[Woogi]

Also, while I said Bean overflow I ment herbie

 

[andrewey]

"As for redoing the overflow, I am open to it, however, I would REALLY like to keep the peninsula style, and if I just put a piece of lexan/plexi 6" out (where the current box extends to) you would be able to see right into the overflow from either of the long viewing pannels "

Could you explain that part a bit more- I'm not quite sure I understand. For example, the tank would maintain the same orientation and the overflow box would be the same depth, you would just rebuild the three sided box to be wider to cover up the plumbing. As such, if made out of black acrlyic, you would only be able to see into the box from the back. I think I'm missing what you were trying to say

 

[Woogi]

@andrewe - Sure! Maybe a quick sketch?

So this is existing

This is what I was talking about (leaves 6"+ of a view into the over flow, the hatch mark holes exist, the third is the proposed return)

Or are you suggesting this, leaving ~1 in between the glass and the overflow, but providing a cleaner look

Gotta go run an errund, ill be back in a hour or two! Again, I cant think you guys enough!

 

[andrewey]

Yup- I'm suggesting the last drawing, although the second drawing does have some advantages (namely that while you might not want to see into the overflow area, if a fish/snail gets back there, you can easily see for retrieval!).

 

[Pntbll687]

@andrewe - Sure! Maybe a quick sketch?

So this is existing

This is what I was talking about (leaves 6"+ of a view into the over flow, the hatch mark holes exist, the third is the proposed return)

Or are you suggesting this, leaving ~1 in between the glass and the overflow, but providing a cleaner look

Gotta go run an errund, ill be back in a hour or two! Again, I cant think you guys enough!

You could do that or use a latex paint on the outside to cover the overflow part

 

[Pntbll687]

So as for the glass being tempered, while I have not checked, I am assuming that since there are two existing holes, I doubt it.

As for redoing the overflow, I am open to it, however, I would REALLY like to keep the peninsula style, and if I just put a piece of lexan/plexi 6" out (where the current box extends to) you would be able to see right into the overflow from either of the long viewing pannels

And on the note of keeping it peninsula style, id probably like to keep the returns coming up from the bottom as well.

As for exposed PVC in the tank, I would absoltly get black PVC (not painted) for the exposed parts.

Thanks so much for the responses! I trying to use the hive mind to help and boy are you folks coming through!

Definitely check to see if it is tempered!!

My tank is drilled on the bottom, and is tempered glass. Manufacturers will do this because tempered is stronger, so the bottom doesn't have to be as thick as non tempered

 

[Jaebster]

Out of the 3 pics, I'd go with pic #2. Although seeing the plumbing might be unsightly, as the other poster said, yyou can see if there is a stranded fish back there, see if detritus builds up for cleaning, etc. If you think it is ugly, instead of painting it from the outside, maybe you can cut a piece of black acrylic sheet/panel that would slide in to the space against the glass and make a slot guide for the panel. Things might get stuck in between the panel and glass but it can be easily removing since the panel is removable (if you have enough top space - tank to ceiling height).

 

[Pyrosteve]

I would set it up like this for plumbing. Cover the two and over the top return.

Build Thread - My first 120 gal tank build/DIY

Well to start off I bought a new 120gal peninsula reef ready tank from a fellow R2R member and decided to do as much as I could DIY. he’s had some sand in it but never had water. So once I got the tank home I began to design the stand and canopy. I wanted a stand to be taller than most so I...

www.reef2reef.com

Of course you'd have to build a canopy too.