help wanted on drilling size

[kissman]

I am gonna set up a 20g refugium and am trying to fig out what size holes to drill for overflow in tank. will be pumping 250gph. Can anybody answer this for me.

[cronicreef]

you should be ok with a 1" bulk head with a flow rate of 250gph. How are you planning on mounting the bulk head. Stand pipe or vertical.

[scubadude]

Hey Kissman,
Welcome to RL

Sounds like your gonna be using a powerhead for your feed to the fuge? I would think a 1/4" would work. they have some really slick speed guest fittings on Marine Depot's site here is the 1/4" speed guest bulkhead that I would probably use.



and heres the link to all the connections on their site

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...tings.asp#tube

As far as the hole size goes I would order the fitting first and use a dremell on glass or a drill bit on acrylic depending on what your 20g is made of. as far as drilling goes for glass here is a thread you might find helpful.

Drilling glass tanks TOTW 1-24-05

[scubadude]

you should be ok with a 1" bulk head with a flow rate of 250gph. How are you planning on mounting the bulk head. Stand pipe or vertical.

I think 1" is a tad overkill for the low flow that he wants for his fuge.

Kissman your not talking about using this as an overflow are you? I was debating answering to a 1/2" bulkhead but even that I think is a bit overkill. most likely he is limited to space constraints too which would cause alot more clutter w/the bigger plumbing.

[kissman]

I am pumping 500 gallons an hour in my display tank. I am gonna take one of the overflows of the main tank and drain it in too the refugium and then put 2 overflow holes drain into the sump. I should add that I am gonna upgrade my sump pump to 750gph. With a Mag Drive 7.

[scubadude]

Ok im confused.

talking about drilling hole in the 20g for overflow or the main tank? I thought you were gonna drill the 20g and overflow into the main tank which would be better gravity feeding the fuge water into the main tank and less chance of planktonic life damage through pumps. Check this thread out If your real handy this might be something you are willing to venture.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=444094

[kissman]

the display tank will be overflowing into the fuge, yea I would love to place it over the display tank I just don't have the room. So I have to sit it beside the display tank. The holes will be drilled in the 20g fuge. With 250g - 350gph rate. Might tee it off to slow the rate down some depends on how it all works out.

[Randy]

If you are going to drill a hole, make it a hole that is worth while drilling. 1" is not overkill at all. Reef tanks should have adiquate flow. I have learned this the hard way. You should price the difference between a small pump for your "system" pluss the additional costs for powerheads for circulation.

I prefer to just have kick ass flow through my system. Even though you have a one inch overflow hole, were only talkin 50 cents for a PVC adapter to reduce it down to 3/4". This ensures "versitility" for future upgrades.

I read somewhere that reef tanks should have the flow rate of approx 10 time per hour "the size of your tank". In other words if your tank is 30 gal, you should have a pump that will do 300 gal per hour. Now 300 gph may be what a pump is rated for, but you have to incorporate "head pressure" which will bring your flow rate down.

I don't even use bulkhead fittings. They are just too expensive. I use PVC fittings and a rubber O ring to make mine. This is so simple and way cheap. If you are interested I'll post a DIY pic of how to do it. Just say the word.

[gqsmoothster]

I don't even use bulkhead fittings. They are just too expensive. I use PVC fittings and a rubber O ring to make mine. This is so simple and way cheap. If you are interested I'll post a DIY pic of how to do it. Just say the word.

WORD.


I'm interested.

[Randy]

http://www.randystacye.com/images/DI...eadFitting.jpg

This is a drawing that should depict it well enough.

[gqsmoothster]

Thanks.