Newbie advise needed... Diary of a new tank junkie

ensquire · #1 01-02-2011, 06:41 PM

Thanks
I do see new growth on the rock which is very encouraging as I have a nice looking reef design going on. Since this is my first sump , I will do some more reading on here.
I have a couple of concerns. first of all, there is a single drain and return and I see the danger in this so I suppose that when I break it down I should add another drain. Where does a person get the bits or do most take the tank to a glass shop and have them do it ?
My return line has 2 elbows in it , does this stress the pump ?

Once again all advise welcome

Melonbob · #2 01-04-2011, 01:18 PM

Hello! Welcome to reefing! I have owned several tanks over the years, up to a 180 gallon that I just sold a year ago when I relocated up here to yellowknife. If you have any specific questions I can help out through PM, or I can come over and take a look. To answer your one question, how big is the single drain you have? Although two is always better than one, usually tanks that size only have a single drain. You would have to get a diamond hole saw, and I left mine with all my tools in Ontario. Remember that if you add a drain, you are losing that much more tank when you add an overflow. If you find any more deals on tanks, let me know, I am wanting to start one up here bad!

reefwars · #3 01-04-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensquire

Thanks
I do see new growth on the rock which is very encouraging as I have a nice looking reef design going on. Since this is my first sump , I will do some more reading on here.
I have a couple of concerns. first of all, there is a single drain and return and I see the danger in this so I suppose that when I break it down I should add another drain. Where does a person get the bits or do most take the tank to a glass shop and have them do it ?
My return line has 2 elbows in it , does this stress the pump ?

Once again all advise welcome

Another option would be to plumb your return lines over the back of your tank directly from your sump and use the both drains in your overflows as drains. Having just one drain is not a good thing one large snail and game over, my tank has 4 x 1 1/2" drains .... Two main drains and two emergency drains but one of each in a normal tank is ideal

Melonbob · #4 01-04-2011, 04:18 PM

I somewhat disagree. Two drains are ideal, but I wouldn't give up the real estate in an 80g to drill another one. Put in a stockman standpipe on your overflow, and you aren't going to get blockage from a snail. I've had at least 10 tanks now, including 5 at once and never had a blocked overflow. I build the standpipe without gluing any of the pipe, and take it apart every once in awhile and clean out any buildup. Two elbows will slow your drain a bit, but its pretty standard to have two 90's in a drain.

reefwars · #5 01-04-2011, 04:48 PM

ensquire you are right to be concerned with one drain trust me many others will say if you can have two then go for it without you run the risk of a blocked drain doesn't matter if others say they run their tank with one I guarantee two is better and can even be quiter( check out herbie silent overflow) on reefcentral it's a great read on the risks of one drain and the bonuses of a true quiet system. There's always more than a snails that blocks overflows a large bubbletip can do damage as can fish or crabs urchins or snails that get trapped.

Sleep easy and go on vacation knowing you won't flood your display always play it safe as you can

cheers

Melonbob · #6 01-04-2011, 05:11 PM

Like I said two is ideal, but you only have an 80g. The only tank I had two drains on was my 180. Never had a flood yet. A stockman standpipe has several holes in it, and a cover over the top of them, the chances of anything blocking it are very slim if done right. and if you use your return as a second drain, they will be right beside each other and if by some reason a large bubbletip or something gets in there, it could very well plug both anyways. If you are set on a second drain, I would go with one in the opposite corner, but be aware that the overflow is going to take up another 6"x6" of tank space. How big diameter is the drain you have?

reefwars · #7 01-04-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melonbob

Like I said two is ideal, but you only have an 80g. The only tank I had two drains on was my 180. Never had a flood yet. A stockman standpipe has several holes in it, and a cover over the top of them, the chances of anything blocking it are very slim if done right. and if you use your return as a second drain, they will be right beside each other and if by some reason a large bubbletip or something gets in there, it could very well plug both anyways. If you are set on a second drain, I would go with one in the opposite corner, but be aware that the overflow is going to take up another 6"x6" of tank space. How big diameter is the drain you have?

They would be next to each other but if they are at different heights you won't block both so say your main drain is closer to the bottom if that gets clogged water rises then your emergency kicks in when it reaches that height in fact my emergency drain doesn't touch water unless a clog happens, again read up on a herbie style overflow completely quiet and safe.

pirate · #8 01-04-2011, 05:59 PM

Depends on where your return is located. If they are both in the overflow box then make it a drain. Do a herbie, so quiet, My equipement makes most of my noise. In my tank I had a drain in a overflow and the return in the other corner, I herbied it. And have my return coming up over the back. I do see 1 (emergency drain line) but if it had been the return you'd still see it. I like the peice of mind of having a back up, incase something happens.