advice please

[slyforestfire]

i am planning to drill my tank and install an overflow so i can add a sump to my setup. overflow is rated to 700 gph and the aqueon proflex model 1 is rated to 550 gph. first question is what size drill bit and bulkhead should i go with? next will i have to purchase pvc and hard plumb to the sump or will flex hose coming with the sump work?

 

[WillKatt]

Id personally go with 1" bulk head and drill size that is appropriate for the bulk head you choose. What size is the flex tubing? I personally like to run hard pipe when I can but as long as the flex tubing will work with the bulk head you choose it shoulbe be fine.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Everything you need, supplies and information, can be found HERE.

 

[slyforestfire]

Id personally go with 1" bulk head and drill size that is appropriate for the bulk head you choose. What size is the flex tubing? I personally like to run hard pipe when I can but as long as the flex tubing will work with the bulk head you choose it shoulbe be fine.

im not sure of dimensions on the flex tubing, foster-smith doesnt give any info on that and i havent ordered yet so i cant take measurements.

 

[slyforestfire]

Everything you need, supplies and information, can be found HERE.

thanks for the link. looked at their all in 1 kits. ever used one? would be worried it might be a bit flimsy.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Glass-Holes overflows are the best! I have one on my 90 gallon and would use nothing other than a Glass-Holes. I actually would never....never...buy a tank with those conventional behemoth overflows in them. I would only buy an undrilled tank and install a Glass-Holes. I think you get the picture! :bigsmile:

 

[Zack]

Glass-Holes overflows are the best! I have one on my 90 gallon and would use nothing other than a Glass-Holes. I actually would never....never...buy a tank with those conventional behemoth overflows in them. I would only buy an undrilled tank and install a Glass-Holes. I think you get the picture! :bigsmile:

Ha! Behemoth, that word needs to be used more often. I'm dropping it in every post now. Or maybe for my signature?

Sent from my VS950 4G using Forum Runner

 

[slyforestfire]

Glass-Holes overflows are the best! I have one on my 90 gallon and would use nothing other than a Glass-Holes. I actually would never....never...buy a tank with those conventional behemoth overflows in them. I would only buy an undrilled tank and install a Glass-Holes. I think you get the picture! :bigsmile:

i certainly do. ran the numbers and its a great deal getting everything together, i am so into the idea of building my own custom system. have decided to take your suggestion. what really sold me on it is the slip fitting on the 90deg elbow. since thats 1 1/2in and so is the flex tubing i can cement them together and done.

 

[slyforestfire]

the tutorial video was very helpful too. the only concern i still have is this...... corded drill or cordless. one source says to use corded because they typically run higher rpms, the other says cordless to avoid risk of shock and for the adjustable chuck. would like more opinions

 

[cparka23]

A cordless drill is plenty fast for this kind of job. I've used both and had no difference either way. Faster speed is not the issue, since you should take your time anyway.

While using the glass-holes template, drilling is ridiculously easy. That's not to say that people don't make mistakes, but it's easy enough for anyone to do without any issues IMO.

 

[redfishbluefish]

All of my holes have been with a corded drill:

I heard about using the clutch on cordless, but if you need the clutch, something is terribly wrong.

Anyway, you want to go very slow (with the rpm’s of the drill), and with no pressure on the drill. Do not push down. If anything, you are slightly lifting up to take the weight of the drill off the glass. This is especially true right when you’re about to break through to the other side. If you are putting too much weight on the drill, you will splinter the glass around the hole.

I don’t mean to scare you….it actually is very easy. Just go slow with the bit speed, and no pressure on the drill, and you’ll be fine.

 

[Dave A]

since thats 1 1/2in and so is the flex tubing i can cement them together and done.

If it's the flex tubing that has rubber ends, similar to a hose feom a shop vac, don't use cement, just a hose clamp is fine. You'll thank me one day. ;)

 

[redfishbluefish]

If it's the flex tubing that has rubber ends, similar to a hose feom a shop vac, don't use cement, just a hose clamp is fine. You'll thank me one day. ;)

I've got a hunch he's talking about spa flex, which is a flexible PVC that needs to be glued. Either rigid or spa-flex is OK as long as you put in unions. Here is my tank with the 1500 gph Glass-Holes, and you can see the unions:

 

[bairdimusprime]

Paul's tank is amazing too I've seen it in person his advice is always top notch as well

 

[slyforestfire]

thanks again everyone its all been very helpful. sump should be arriving wed or thurs at the latest, then ill know what im working with for included tubing. so excited to be building a fully custom setup and having it be exactly the way i want.

 

[slyforestfire]

didnt scare me redfishbluefish i was just curious to see what others thought would be. glass holes actually is the site that recomended the cordless in their video in case your curious. planned to tests both types of drill and practice on an old cracked 10gal i have lying around. better to learn trial and error style there then on my dt.

 

[slyforestfire]

sump came in today..... pretty heavily disappointed. the tubing provided is the rubber ended corrugated piping. it and all the connectors are useless to me @ 1in diameter. elbow on overflow is 1 1/2 in, so ill be purchasing tubing and connectors that wont restrict flow. other reason im disappointed is the "bubble chamber" is not attached at all to the shelf as it should be. aqueon is sending me a free tube of waterproof acetone based glue to remedy the problem. just annoyed, dropped $200 on this product and it doesnt even arrive intact. knew before purchasing i planned to mod this thing to fit all my equipment where i want it. hoped the inlet would be plug and play but no such luck.