Where to Drill...

[Dom]

I've always drilled my own holes when setting up aquariums. Personally I've always drilled both the overflow and return at the bottom of the tank with the overflow and returns remaining completely inside the tank.

I am noticing that some tank overflows are drilled into the back of the tank at the top. The only disadvantage that I see by doing it this way is that your plumbing is outside the footprint of the tank. When drilling in the bottom, all plumbing stays within the footprint, which I like as it feels like a cleaner install.

So... which?

Would like to hear from both points of view.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's my take on this.....

Some tanks have tempered glass bottoms, so you can't drill. But more important to me, a bottom drilled tank means one of those behemoth overflows that take up so much space. I went with a Glass-Holes overflow....very small....and the 1500 gph version I put in does have two 1 1/2 pipes coming out the back. SO yes, you have to have it away from the wall....but I also have Vortech drysides on the back side of my tank, so it all works out.