First SW Tank - 55g

**riot** · 07-10-2011, 10:13 PM

Ok, So I have the tank and I am in the process of removing the trim and sanding down the sharp edges on the glass. This is my first SW adventure and it is going to be a long road of trial and I'm sure error. I am going to be drilling holes in the back glass and installing an overflow within the tank. My plans so far are two 1" holes on either side of the tank and a 6" piece of glass running the length of the inside of the tank, installed on the back glass for the overflow. This tank is nearly 20 years old and upon leak testing has no problems whatsoever. The silicone looks good as new save two or three spots. I plan on redoing the entire bottom inside seals and leaving the vertical silicone alone as it looks fine. Here are a couple pics of the first step in the process. Cleaning and removing the trim.

**sheamurai** · 07-10-2011, 10:47 PM

Welcome to the salty side!

Love to see these threads when the tank starts from scratch!

**Cliff** · 07-10-2011, 11:12 PM

Your going to enjoy learning about, and setting up, your first SW Tank

I would suggest drilling a little larger hole than one inch. That will fit a 3/4" bulkhead flange and a 3/4" hole would only give you around 400 GPH which can be a little low for a 55 gallon set-up. I would suggest a 2" hole for a 1.5" bulk head flange. Then you will have the option to increase or decrease your flow based on what you will need

GPH Drain Diameter size
200 0.58”
400 0.83”
600 1.01”
800 1.17”
1000 1.31”
1200 1.43”
1400 1.55”

**riot** · 07-11-2011, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Cliff

Your going to enjoy learning about, and setting up, your first SW Tank

I would suggest drilling a little larger hole than one inch. That will fit a 3/4" bulkhead flange and a 3/4" hole would only give you around 400 GPH which can be a little low for a 55 gallon set-up. I would suggest a 2" hole for a 1.5" bulk head flange. Then you will have the option to increase or decrease your flow based on what you will need

GPH Drain Diameter size
200 0.58”
400 0.83”
600 1.01”
800 1.17”
1000 1.31”
1200 1.43”
1400 1.55”

Are you suggesting I drill two 2" holes? As my plan is two drill two 1" for 800 GPH. Is this sufficient?

**Cliff** · 07-11-2011, 01:10 AM

Ah, OK, when you mentioned the two holes, I though you going to use one as a return line

**riot** · 07-11-2011, 01:13 AM

Ahh ok. Is this what you suggest? My plan for the return lines was to have two on either side come up over the back glass.

**Cliff** · 07-11-2011, 01:29 AM

It can be easier to have a your return line drilled. There will be a few less elbows in the line that way and you can limit the drop in GHP from your return pump.

You can still have two drain lines, I've seen a lot of set-ups with two.

If your drilling two holes, I'd drill a third for your return

**riot** · 07-11-2011, 01:38 AM

Do you think I would get enough flow with a central return line? The plan is for two 1" holes on either end of the overflow box. With the return line needing to be drilled as well, I would have to place it in the center either below the overflow box or have two separate spill overs with the return line in the middle. What I had envisioned is a little different. I'll see if I can illustrate it on this tablet.

**riot** · 07-11-2011, 01:45 AM

OK here you go. This is rather rudimentary but here is what I had in mind.

The dotted line signifies the bottom of the spillover/overflow that I will construct within the tank. The drain lines will be on either end and the returns will come up over the back glass and create flow in either direction.

**Cliff** · 07-11-2011, 02:20 AM

That can certainy work

You would likey only need one return line as the 800 gph is not alot of flow from the drain lines. You could use a line-lock fitting at the end of a single return line to divde the flow if you would like.

Could save you on some of the plumbing work and a little $$$