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

[Melonbob]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by pirate

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.

Same here my skimmers bubbles are the loudest thing I hear, and I get no sump noise or gushing water I have mine made as a true herbie with durso emergency stockman standpipe as my main drain with gate valve and all my returns are housed in through my overflow .

Drilling isn't that hard either if you don't want to run the lines over you could also drill through the back for returns or another drain if your tank is drillable

[paddyob]

Putting a snail screen on your drain keeps snails out as well. People have been running single drains for a long time and, I agree... if you clean your tank and pipes on occasion you should not have to worry about it.

Sure Denny, a second drain is nice... but not necessary. It comes down to personal choice I believe. Single drain tanks would not be out there if they did not work. Having an emergency drain is something easy to do if, say you build a 200 gallon custom and they factor the cut into it already.

I almost added a second... but after soliciting advice from several reefers and staff at a few LFS, I cam to the conclusion to leave my single drain and clean it and the screen.

Maybe its famous last words.......

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Putting a snail screen on your drain keeps snails out as well. People have been running single drains for a long time and, I agree... if you clean your tank and pipes on occasion you should not have to worry about it.

Sure Denny, a second drain is nice... but not necessary. It comes down to personal choice I believe. Single drain tanks would not be out there if they did not work. Having an emergency drain is something easy to do if, say you build a 200 gallon custom and they factor the cut into it already.

I almost added a second... but after soliciting advice from several reefers and staff at a few LFS, I cam to the conclusion to leave my single drain and clean it and the screen.

Maybe its famous last words.......

A tank need not be custom made for a herbie style overflow and it doesn't need extra real state ......i mean CPR overflow boxes are " safe" but I wouldn't use one even though some say they never had a flood. And call me nuts but constantly moving and cleaning a snail guard( which would have to cover your complete overflow or us no more effective than a stanpipe filter cap) is not fun nor is the worry of it and it's def not pleasing on the eye, again I suggest reading up on herbie style overflows and then say one drain is as good . Fact of the matter is you can do alot of different styles but in the end having a emergency drain makes total sense and if it can be incorporated then it won't hurt in anyway , I also understand that some tanks don't have the option but I don't think that's the case here

herbie all the way baby lol the best fight against floods we have is being prepared for the worst case scenario. I