Spray bar questions

[Mr Fishface]

So I have gotten myself a fancy 125 gallon from my local aquarium that they couldn't use. It's a learning curve for me as I have always had more simple tanks. I have never had a drilled tank before! This tank has an overflow in each corner as well as two drilled holes in the bottom of the tank. Best I can figure it was used for some sort of a closed loop system? I'm not new to saltwater but I am new to this concept so I figured this forum was appropriate.

However I had an idea that I don't know if it will work. I was thinking of running two return pumps with one pump being for these two drilled holes in the bottom. I would create a pvc spray bar system that comes up towards the top of the tank. My thinking is that I could glue rocks together around the pipes to make them hidden and give the spray bars lots of random flow. However my concern is if the power goes out, is having a siphon break at the top enough to prevent back siphon? Or because there are holes all over would water just seep down into my sump no matter what. Would the rocks be a problem with all the spraybar outlets? I attached a picture I drew up on my computer to help show what I am thinking. Red is the pvc that would be surrounded by rocks. ​

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I feel like if it were me I would plug the holes and bring the returns over the back

 

[W1ngz]

Unprotected holes and plumbing in the bottom of a tank are just begging for the opportunity to let 125 gallons of water run all over your floors.
The holes in the bottom were probably return lines. For home use, I wouldn't trust a bulkhead in the bottom of a tank that isn't also behind an overflow wall.

In the case of your specific drawing, any power or return pump failure would allow all of the water to leak out all the way down to the lowest hole drilled into the pipe.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Unprotected holes and plumbing in the bottom of a tank are just begging for the opportunity to let 125 gallons of water run all over your floors.
The holes in the bottom were probably return lines. For home use, I wouldn't trust a bulkhead in the bottom of a tank that isn't also behind an overflow wall.

In the case of your specific drawing, any power or return pump failure would allow all of the water to leak out all the way down to the lowest hole drilled into the pipe.

Maybe some quality check valves will help. I'd still be leary if CV seep some water still.

 

[GabeM]

So if there are holes going all up the pipe from the bottom to the top of your tank then the water will just drain when power is cut.

Seems rather bad. The drawing is a side view right?

 

[link81]

if you want to do that, use an external pump, and set up one of the lines as the return to the pump, with the other as the supply. You have to have the supply and return to the pump in the same water space though. Good way to increase flow through the tank, but DO NOT use it as a return to the sump unless it's behind a overflow.

 

[Aquavaj]

The spray bar will work but only as mentioned above with an external pump. A pump in the sump will back siphon and drain the tank down to the lowest hole. Yes you can use a check valve but if it fails you've got a disaster.

Aesthetic wise you'll be stuck with a wall of rock scape to hide the spray bar. And you'll have to be careful not to block the holes for optimal flow.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Glad i checked on here first lol. There are threaded pipe fittings in each hole already sealed. Could i just reseal to male sure they are sealed, and cap both sides to keep water out?

 

[W1ngz]

Do you mean directly in the holes, or are there bulkheads? I can't see anyone threading a hole in the glass directly, it would be horribly brittle and risky.

Assuming it's bulkheads, I would remove them and silicone a piece of glass with a radius of at least a 1" larger than the hole. Put a bead of silicone around the edge of the glass patch also.

Glad i checked on here first lol. There are threaded pipe fittings in each hole already sealed. Could i just reseal to male sure they are sealed, and cap both sides to keep water out?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Do you mean directly in the holes, or are there bulkheads? I can't see anyone threading a hole in the glass directly, it would be horribly brittle and risky.

Assuming it's bulkheads, I would remove them and silicone a piece of glass with a radius of at least a 1" larger than the hole. Put a bead of silicone around the edge of the glass patch also.

I agree. I would be more inclined to seal the holes with glass and silicone rather than risk a potential bulkhead failure at the bottom of the tank.

 

[Hemmdog]

I agree. I would be more inclined to seal the holes with glass and silicone rather than risk a potential bulkhead failure at the bottom of the tank.

+1

 

[W1ngz]

Might be worth stating also that the glass patch has to go inside the tank, not underneath.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Thanks guys! I love the help. How thick would the glass have to be? I have some extra glass from home depot from a previous project. It's thin but I could double layer it? Or should I just try and find a glass company for a thicker piece of glass. And yes, I meant bulkhead. I couldn't think of the right word.

 

[W1ngz]

It shouldn't be thinner than the pane of glass it's patching.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Great thank you very much!

 

[Peace River]

[...] silicone a piece of glass with a radius of at least a 1" larger than the hole. Put a bead of silicone around the edge of the glass patch also.

It shouldn't be thinner than the pane of glass it's patching.

[...]the glass patch has to go inside the tank, not underneath.

+1