What size hole to drill?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I am going to be plumbing in some glass 20G breeders into my new system for QT, species only etc. I was wondering what you guys thought would be a good size to drill for the return and for the overflow?

Also while I am at it. What about a 55g glass I might be using as a refugium?

 

[jsker]

Bump

 

[mcarroll]

1" or 1.5" wouldn't be too big if the required diamond hole saw and bulkheads aren't significantly more expensive.

3/4" should be fine if don't want anything fancy.

 

[mgoesma]

I found this great artical a while back. http://gmacreef.com/drilling-holes-bulkheads-glass-aquarium-tanks/ I would go 3/4 fittings. normally it is a 1 1/2 in hole but but the bulkhead first. They can vary. I have seen from 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 and I'm fairly new.

 

[chomoney]

I went with 1" on a similar set up, though 3/4" would probably be just fine also.

Quick note though: are you sure you want your QT plumbed into your main system? Feels like playing with fire...

 

[mgoesma]

A 1 inch porthole normally requires a 1 3/4 in hole.

 

[Drakonis]

i personally use a 1 1/2" bulkhead even in my 20 gal refugium. i have a mag 7 running flow to this tank and feeding a 3/8" line to reactor and that bulkhead has just a small air gap on it. It would flow far more if it hit full siphon but if it gets there im in trouble lol

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I went with 1" on a similar set up, though 3/4" would probably be just fine also.

Quick note though: are you sure you want your QT plumbed into your main system? Feels like playing with fire...

Sorry I should have clarified!

I want all the tanks inline so I can fill them with tank water. When they are running as a QT they will be off line from the main. I may use a couple for the Tank Transfer Method.

 

[TaylorPilot]

I would double and triple check on that 55 gallon. They use to all be tempered. Things may have changed though, so I don't know for sure.

 

[Drakonis]

Like my setup, that's what I have in mind for my upper refugium but when not a QT is a home to chaeto and extra water volume.

Still work in progress as for plumbing but tis the idea for end result

 

[lawdawg11]

Very old post, so not expecting an answer, but I’m trying something similar, but why can’t I just drill two holes , have a straight shot instead of the staggered waterfall? Looking to connect two 75 gallon tanks, keep my display tank as is, then use the second , like the first foot as a free swimming space with rock that could be cut off and used as a QT, and then the rest like an alternative sump with refugium , protein skimmers, heater, and some biomedia, and some course filter, then the return pump would have a cheap two step canister that I could keep filter floss in one and chemical media in the other, would be easy to turn off and just empty canisters, but I know I must be not thinking of something critical because I can’t find these done anywhere ?