Recommendations for possible additional plumbing

[booth2010]

I drilled 29gal tank and used a 3/4" bulkhead and strainer. The drain is pvc with 3 right angles, pictures below. With only having the one (of course I realized this too late :squigglemouth there isn't much surface skimming. What options do I have to add an additional drain that will allow skimming? Should I do this or will it be okay how it is? I really do not want to tear down the tank to drill a second hole (however this would probably be best, or it would allow me to but an overflow box on to do the skimming... I would rather not :neutral so any other options would be great... Thanks for any help!

Here is the strainer, as you can see it is nearly 100% submerged, there is just enough to let a little air in as to not hear gurgling.

Here is the pipe coming from the DT and going down to the sump (sideways pic tilt head to right lol)

Last 2 right angle, one to go towards sump and one going down.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Coulda used a 45 instead of a 90 closer to the bottom of the tank, would lesson the restriction on the flow.
But anyways.
You could put a straight pipe on the bulkhead, then an elbow pointing up, cutting slots in it, for your surface skimmer.

 

[booth2010]

Would enough water drain if it was just the upturned elbow or should I cut the slits like you said?

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd cut slits in it to catch garbage. I'd also use an adaptor going up to 1".

 

[booth2010]

Okay. I'll try that and see how it goes. I guess that'll raise my water level too so that'll be cool

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, its a cool DIY, turns out well, and skims the surface well.

 

[booth2010]

I'll stop by lowes tomorrow to pick up some pieces and see what I can do

 

[booth2010]

Reefing Madness, I have some extra acrylic laying around and some Weldon-16, what if I was to make an overflow box that was about 6" long x 4" tall x 3" deep and just silicone it in place.? Do you think that would work well too?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea I think you could get away with that.

 

[booth2010]

So I think im going to try and do a few things, i might redrill the aquarium (probably best option) and there will be 2 3/4" drains. I am putting together a DIY toothless overflow I will put in, i will be using the first hole and be drilling a lower second hole. In the images I will upload it will only have 1 hole as I literally just decided to use both when writing this. Tell me what yall think. The dimensions will be 6.5"x5"x3"... maybe adjust but we will see. The different colors show the walls so each wall is a different color. Please excuse the gaps, I made this in a min or two so its rough.

front right view

rear view

front left view

 

[Reefing Madness]

I would recommend using 1" drains, not 3/4".

 

[booth2010]

Alright, for the new hole I will probably go with 1", it just means ima have to buy another hole saw

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, slightly bigger. My bad

 

[booth2010]

It's all good. Or I guess I could use the 3/4 and try sanding it down lol might be little too risky, better to spend 15$ on bit instead of 15$ on bit and 60$ new tank lol

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea right. I hear that.:tongue:

 

[Harrisd503]

Might be a candidate for the "flyguy overflow", check it out!