Overflow for 20 long

[jdpeters]

Currently in the planning phases of a budget 20L build. I want to drill it for a sump. I’m going to remove a whole rack and empty out 1 20L rack. I intended on first making a salt mixing station and then convert 1 20L rack to a tank, sump on the middle and ATO/storage on bottom rack.

My question is can I drill the tank and have it siphon from the bulkhead attached with elbow to set the level and just put a strainer on it? I understand this isn’t best practice or quiet but could it work? It would be very low turn over.

It’s an intentional budget build using primarily stuff I already have on hand. It’s in a detached shop.

 

[Peace River]

Yes, I did that with three tanks and a common sump for several years. I did try several screens on top, but ultimately I left it open and I was fortunate to not have any fish find their way to the sump. By adding a water mixing station with RODI, you have the added benefit to having water if you decide to remineralize RODI water for your freshwater tanks as well.

 

[UncommonSense]

I’ll just add this fun racking system idea I spotted at a LFS while on vacation;

Simply turn each tank 90 degrees; though this system was done with 10g tanks…

 

[jdpeters]

Yes, I did that with three tanks and a common sump for several years. I did try several screens on top, but ultimately I left it open and I was fortunate to not have any fish find their way to the sump. By adding a water mixing station with RODI, you have the added benefit to having water if you decide to remineralize RODI water for your freshwater tanks as well.

You just slipped an elbow into the bulkhead? Was it loud? It’s in my fish room that is already pretty noisy so it’s not a huge concern. I don’t care much about the aesthetic either

 

[Peace River]

Yes. At first, I added a drain head to the top of the elbow, but eventually took that off. The noise, including gurgling, etc. will at least partially depends on the amount of water being returned to the tank and therefore going down the drain. You do have options such as drilling a small hole on the top side of the elbow on the outside of the tank. Sometimes people will put rigid or soft air hose in that hole. With some tweaking, you can make it manageable both for functionality as well as to limit the noise.

 

[UncommonSense]

You do have options such as drilling a small hole on the top side of the elbow on the outside of the tank.

I’ve had good luck here putting a tee fitting in place of this elbow, often adding a stub of pipe to the tee outlet which points straight up to avoid water overflowing out of it periodically!

 

[jdpeters]

Yes. At first, I added a drain head to the top of the elbow, but eventually took that off. The noise, including gurgling, etc. will at least partially depends on the amount of water being returned to the tank and therefore going down the drain. You do have options such as drilling a small hole on the top side of the elbow on the outside of the tank. Sometimes people will put rigid or soft air hose in that hole. With some tweaking, you can make it manageable both for functionality as well as to limit the noise.

Thanks for the encouragement. I was expecting to get persecuted because this method isn’t necessarily the best practice but for the intent of what I need it should be fine. I have some work to do first before I get to this project but I have a ton of spare tanks so it’s worth playing around with. Maybe I will plumb an emergency drain while im at it, wouldn’t be much more investment of my time.

Instead of an elbow on the outside of the tank I could do a t, cap it and drill a hole for a playing around with.

 

[jdpeters]

I’ve had good luck here putting a tee fitting in place of this elbow, often adding a stub of pipe to the tee outlet which points straight up to avoid water overflowing out of it periodically!

That’s a good idea. I’m also looking to make this project as economical as possible with materials I already have on hand.

 

[UncommonSense]

Maybe I will plumb an emergency drain while im at it, wouldn’t be much more investment of my time.

The only extra expense is in the form of bulkheads, plumbing, and consumable glass hole saws! — I think it’s a good idea, too! (My 180g FW’s sump even has an emergency drain plumbed outside, just in case I’m having family or friends work on it while I’m away and they really mess up!)

Instead of an elbow on the outside of the tank I could do a t, cap it and drill a hole for a playing around with.

You’re following right in the footsteps of Mr. Duroso, of the Duroso standpipe!

In his original article, he recommended exactly this on top of a standpipe which teed, then elbowed on the horizontal joint to keep the inlet submerged!

The submerged standpipe inlet significantly reduces pipe resonance amplifying gurgling sound, and the cap pointed up with a vent hole serves as a siphon break!

— it’s worth noting that Duroso, in what I recall being his original article, did note that he had since moved away from the hole(s) drilled in a pipe cap (salt creep clogs holes too easily) instead favoring cutting a slit in the side of the cap, and making a (~1/4”) hole in the pipe stub the cap fits on… this way, the cap can be rotated relative to the pipe stub hole to allow more, or less air in! (A primitive, yet functional valve!)

 

[Peace River]

I’ve had good luck here putting a tee fitting in place of this elbow, often adding a stub of pipe to the tee outlet which points straight up to avoid water overflowing out of it periodically!

Good call out! I have done this in the past as well.

 

[Peace River]

Thanks for the encouragement. I was expecting to get persecuted because this method isn’t necessarily the best practice but for the intent of what I need it should be fine. I have some work to do first before I get to this project but I have a ton of spare tanks so it’s worth playing around with. Maybe I will plumb an emergency drain while im at it, wouldn’t be much more investment of my time.

Instead of an elbow on the outside of the tank I could do a t, cap it and drill a hole for a playing around with.

Yes, I have done this in the past as well with the drilled cap. Often you don't need to add the rigid or soft airline into the hole, but that is an option as well.

We don't always get it right at R2R, but the main reason that I came here over 10 years ago was because of the unpleasantness on the other major forum that existed at that time. I have always tried to be the change that I would expect from others and it is easier when the culture is solid.

 

[jdpeters]

Yes, I have done this in the past as well with the drilled cap. Often you don't need to add the rigid or soft airline into the hole, but that is an option as well.

We don't always get it right at R2R, but the main reason that I came here over 10 years ago was because of the unpleasantness on the other major forum that existed at that time. I have always tried to be the change that I would expect from others and it is easier when the culture is solid.

I’ve read some old dead threads on reef central, there definitely was some hostilities.
On the fresh water side, Cory and the aquarium coop have really created a good environment and I get a sense over here that there’s a general etiquette that’s pleasant