Plumbing setup: Help please

[deerhunter06]

Hey guys I picked up a 120g drilled acrylic tank and stand today for 300 dollars it's in pretty good shape only problem is I have never had a drilled tank I have no idea how to set it up if anyone could offer any help I would greatly appreciate it I'm excited to get this sucker going.

 

[deerhunter06]

Some more pics

 

[deerhunter06]

Pics

 

[rayn]

Drilled tanks just need to be plumbed into a sump. There should be a drain or two drains, then the return/s.

DO NOT break the bulkhead seals. They most likely are sealed and did not leak, most likely will if you do break them open.

Looking back, looks like one drain and two returns. Also look like the return comes up over the back. You can use pvc and hard plumb them or go with spangled tubing and connect everything together. Remember to use unions and ball valves on as much as you can...read everything. Better to have more then wish you had added one more.

 

[deerhunter06]

Thanks so when you say bulkhead seals is that what sits at the bottom of the overflow where the tank is drilled ? I think they are broke. I poured water in the overflow and and it just came out the bottom I assume that's not suppose to happen

 

[deerhunter06]

Please tell me I'm not royally screwed

 

[rayn]

Here are two pics of bulkheads. One is my return line with plumbing going into it. The other is a tank I am working on getting running. If you don't have plumbing going anywhere, then the water will just leak out. They do not hold water.

 

[rayn]

Sorry, second pic.

 

[deerhunter06]

Should they wiggle or should they be sealed in place

 

[rayn]

Once they are tight, they shouldn't wiggle at all. If they do, someone undid them. Take them off and clean very very well.

 

[deerhunter06]

Alright thanks Rayn so what's the plumbing is hokked up to the bulkheads they should be water tight?

 

[rayn]

The bulkheads need to be tight. Tighten by hand should be enough. I like to use a big wrench and go just a tich more. Careful though as you can crack the acrylic if you go to tight.

Double check your gaskets and make sure they are smooth and not gouged or cut at all. You may need a tad bit of silicone if they aren't "perfect" to help seal it shut. Normally though you don't want that.

 

[deerhunter06]

Would you recommend all new pvc all the plumbing came with it but it's pretty brown on the inside

 

[rayn]

If they are filled up with a bunch of crap and gunk, yes. Pvc isn't that expensive.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Please do not over tighten. You'll crack the tank. Hand tighten is enough. Don't forget to leak test for at least a day. Awesome score for 300. Also I use a dobie pad on my magnet to clean the inside it works great. Clean often and polish the out side when you do. Just a little care goes a long way to keeping it nice for years.

 

[deerhunter06]

I dunno it just doesn't seem like these are going to be water tight even with pvc attached to them I don't know anything about it tho. I can't find the right pvc fitting for the return pipe and I'm not sure I have the right one going to the sump I might have bit off more than I can chew.

 

[gcrawford]

Great find for the price. Take your time and try not to hurry it. You can figure it out if you go slow and ask specific questions here. Half the fun is figuring it out.

 

[deerhunter06]

Update - got the bulkheads tightened and they are water tight! No leaks on the whole thing. Now I need to figure out how to plumb it.

 

[deerhunter06]

Also guys I have a 10g sump I built a while ago and never used, would this suffice for the 120g I also have an old 30g tank I could possibly use. My next question what kinda return pump should I buy ? How big and what brand?

 

[jdl513]

I would suggest using the 30 gallon for the sump.
The sump has to be large enough to hold all the water that drains from the display when the power is out.

For the return pump I would recommend a Sicce Syncra 4.
Rated at 950 gph but probably closer to 600-650 gph at 4 feet of head.
That would turn over the 120 gallons of water in your display roughly 5 times an hour.

I find the Sicce's the best combination of reasonable price, running temperature and reliability.