Converting 75g Reef Ready to Herbie

[Coastie Reefer]

I’ve just picked up a used 75g reef ready tank. It’s an old school single drain,single return style overflow. I was considering drilling the back for a return line and making the overflow more of a herbie style. My issue is one bulkhead (the drain) is 1” and the other (return) is 3/4”. If I were to convert this which should be the main and which should be the emergency? I’d assume 1” main 3/4 “backup, but that’s just a hunch.

I guess if I wanted to get fancy I could make a jig and drill a bigger hole around the existing hole for a 1” bulkhead, but that makes my stomach knot up just thinking about it...

Ideas and comments welcome!

 

[mamedina]

I have the same tank. I have the one inch as a main and 3/4 as backup. Just make sure to test the back up to make sure it can handle the flow of the return in case of a full main blockage

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Cool. Did you drill the return line or come over the edge.

Another option would be to use a reducer and make the 1” fit a 3/4” pipe...

 

[mamedina]

Over the top for the return line

 

[Coastie Reefer]

BUMP Anyone else have ideas or thoughts?

 

[riche]

I just did it on my new tank and I ran the return over the top.

The difference is night and day with noise

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I just did it on my new tank and I ran the return over the top.

The difference is night and day with noise

Did your tank have two different size bulkheads? How did you plumb it?

 

[riche]

Did your tank have two different size bulkheads? How did you plumb it?

I have the same size for both but If I had the 1" and 3/4" I would do 1" as my main drain and the 3/4" as the e-drain

The 3/4" will be fine as it will only be used in a emergency and it will be able to handle it just fine