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- Apr 4, 2020
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I am starting a new 55 gallon tank build. The tank I bought has two holes in the overflow box, one meant for a return line and one meant for the drain.
I was going to go with a Durso standpipe, but read on this forum that Herbie is the way to go.
So, I watched some YouTube videos and learned how to drill glass. Guy at my LFS let me borrow his diamond drill bit.
I ended up making the dumbest mistake ever and accidentally drilled opposite to the spot I meant to drill. I should've marked the spot with a sharpie but didn't I couldn't find one and rushed into the job (I am a noob, I know).
So now, I'm trying to determine how best to proceed. Here are my options, roughly ordered from most desirable to least desirable:
1. Buy some 1/4" glass, cut it, and silicone it to the hole. Then just go with a Durso standpipe and just use the holes the aquarium already has. Or I could just plumb the return line over the top.
2. Buy some 1/4" glass, cut it, and silicone it to the hole. Borrow the drill bit again and drill the hole correctly this time.
3. Attach a 90 elbow to the inside of the tank, and have a pipe inside that goes towards the top of the tank. The loc-line can come out through the top of this pipe. Might look ugly but might not be too bad if I use a black pipe and put some live rock in front of it.
4. Use the drilled hole as it is and have the return outlet low in the tank. Use a combination of a check valve, plus a tube going over the top of the tank that will act as an air siphon. The tube ending would be slightly submerged, so if the return pump is turned off, the water level would lower and then the tube would pull in some air and stop the back-siphon.
My guess is that the best solution would be #2. But, I am scared that drilling another hole may increase the chance of cracking the tank, plus I am not very confident in my abilities. The hole didn't come out very clean. I would probably go buy a drill guide this time which could make a better cut.
If I could do #4 without making it an unreliable design, I wouldn't have to glue the hole shut or drill another hole, plus it would look good as well.
Please let me know your thoughts - I want to consider my choices carefully, since I jumped the gun last time!
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