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

[Melonbob]

Acrylic scares me, I've only ever had one 30g sump out of acrylic and it let go and dumped on my hardwood floor..........):

I am going to keep my eyes open though, something will pop up.

[ensquire]

I ordered a proper livestock stand pipe and new fittings etc and am probably going to replumb the overflow box as is. I was seriously considering an outer overflow box but I think I will save that for my next bigger tank. I will find a piece of acrylic and make a cover for the overflow box and keep an eye on it.
What I'm really learning here is that making decisions on the fly isn't all that wise, going slow and planning things before hand is the way to go. but i guess that will be the next tank. LOL

[SmallFry]

Originally Posted by ensquire

What I'm really learning here is that making decisions on the fly isn't all that wise, going slow and planning things before hand is the way to go. but i guess that will be the next tank. LOL

Very true. With my first tank there were a number of things that I did that didn't make sense. In the light of what I learned I planned my upgrade tank way in advance (build is at 18 months and counting) but still a number of things got adjusted on the fly - never underestimate the "Ooh - shiny!" factor..

[ensquire]

I'm so new it all looks shiny LOL

I did learn today that I need a bigger drain pipe. Crappy little pump only pushes 320GPH and if its running wide open the drain is just adequite, on an 80 gallon tank thats not a big enough flow rate

[intarsiabox]

My 90g has only a single over flow in one corner and I used both holes for overflows, one herbie and one straight pipe for emergency overflows. It's not that I'm worried about clogs it's that this way I can place my return line into the tank at the opposite corner of the over flow so it directs the water and any debris into the over flow instead of away from it making it more efficient. No need to drill anything, it doesn't take up any more space and also less plumbing for my return pipe as the return pump is directly under the opposite side of the tank from the overflow.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

My 90g has only a single over flow in one corner and I used both holes for overflows, one herbie and one straight pipe for emergency overflows. It's not that I'm worried about clogs it's that this way I can place my return line into the tank at the opposite corner of the over flow so it directs the water and any debris into the over flow instead of away from it making it more efficient. No need to drill anything, it doesn't take up any more space and also less plumbing for my return pipe as the return pump is directly under the opposite side of the tank from the overflow.

i bet its super quiet too

[ensquire]

Thanks and now the next series of questions. LOL
Drain is a 1" bulkhead with a 3/4" straight pipe and the drain has 3/4" pipe with 2 elbows draining into sump. Return is a 320 GPH pump hooked to a short piece of hose into a 1/2" run about 3' long with 2 elbows attached to a 1/2" bulkhead with a 1/2" pipe into a Locline nozzle. I don't like the open drain, and have experimented with several types of drains, but whenever I change from the straight open end I have to throttle back my pump. I would like and need more than 320 GPH flow, which brings me to
My questions about my options.
Is there any effect on the drainage if I make the pipes bigger before and after the bulkhead? It is still a 1" opening.
I see several options but would like to get some opinions and feedback on them.
My first thought was to order some glass bits and bore out the openings inside the overflow box but my concerns are about how close the boles will be and the space underneath would be tight but might be an option.
Option 2) Use both lines in overflow box az drains (Herbie, or other).Increase pipe to 1 1 1/2 before bulkhead and 1" after. Run an exterior line up the back thAt would tee off into 2 returns drilled thru back of the tank and use nozzles to have some flow behind the reef. in the tank. If this is best option, should the return be a single line or double and should it be 1/2, 3/4, or 1" based on the size of the drain?
Option 2) use 1' bulkhead in overflow box as 1' return line and use second pipe as emergency overflow. Then build either an interior or an exterior overflow box on the back of the tank?

I would like to increase my pump to a Quiet One pushing 800 GPH if I can work out this plumbing problem, and I am really stuck here. My tank has been running for a month now with only the liverock in it and I am dying to start stocking it, but I feel that this will be a mistake until I address this plumbing/flow situation.

Thanks.

Mike


Or option 3) I am overreacting and I should be happy with present situation?