Drillable Tanks / Sumps

[Dgomez10]

Hello!
I am upgrading to a 100gal tank and want to set up with sump. Any recommendations on tanks that are not tempered and can be drilled?

or

is it possible to set up a sump without drilling or using an overflow? Can you use a pump to take water to the sump and a pump to return to the tank?
Any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[ReefLab]

Waterbox aquariums "freshwater" tanks are great rimless options that you can (im assuming) drill. call them and confirm its not tempered glass. As far as I know the large petco tanks are not tempered either (you can use polarized sunglasses to tell if they are or not)

You can set up tank with an overflow that relies on a siphon (like this one) but I would not use it. Definitely do not use a pump to exchange water. If one fails, you have a disaster about to happen, not to mention the flow rate not being perfectly tuned with each other. Do it once, do it right.

 

[magicwhistle]

Yeah the best way is definitely to drill. It’s not as bad as it seems if that’s why you asked about other options. (I was pretty apprehensive before I drilled mine about a month ago).

Most of the aquarium manufacturers will list product numbers and which panels are tempered.

If you don’t want to drill you can always spend a bit more and get a reef ready tank. Usually they’re drilled in the bottom though so the overflow is larger.

Like reeflab said I also wouldn’t recommend the siphoning overflows because of the possibility of the siphon breaking (even if it’s remote in modern ones). Then your return pump will flood your display tank.

You can’t use a pump to remove water because you’d have to perfectly match the flow rates and ensure they remain matched over time... Or again you’ll end up with a flood. Then there’s the consideration if one fails.

It’s just easiest and safest to use a drilled overflow.

Edit: for instance here’s the tempered or not sheet for marine land aquariums (the brand I used):

http://cdn.spectrumbrands.com/~/media/UPG/Marineland/Products/Manuals/Marineland%20Aquarium%20Specifications.pdf

You can also call them up and they’ll let you know.