I'm beginning to assemble all the expensive things for a 150 gallon reef tank. I already have the tank and stand, and the tank has dual overflows with 2 drain holes in each overflow. I would like to do a bean animal style overflow and I am weighing my options. If not bean animal, then herbie(s). I would rather only manage one gate valve full siphon adjustment. I'm not afraid to drill the glass but I would rather not if I can be happy with a solution that avoids it. Here are some of the things I am considering.
1. full siphon and emergency left side, durso trickle in the right side, and bear with me here, I am thinking about taking the other right side hole and coming out the bottom, across and over to the left overflow, up over the back of the tank and down into the bottom of the left overflow. Once this equalizer pipe is primed it would maintain the water level between the two overflows so the right doesn't get stagnant, and *should* keep both sides flowing so long as it remains water tight and the water level in both overflows remains above the entrance and exit of this pipe. I know, I can hear several voices screaming at their monitors even now. Return up over the back.
2. Forego the emergency drain. Full siphon left, durso trickle right and the other two holes now plumbed together to equalize the levels and fight stagnancy in the right side. No emergency means not a true bean animal but kind of a weird dislocated herbie drain. Return up over the back. I would have to put a T and a valve in the middle of the equalizer pipe to drain/clean/flush it of any debris that collects in it.
3. Herbie each side. Return up over the back. I don't like this one because even though some people make it look easy, I don't want to manage 2 full siphons.
4. Dust off the glass drills, determine with complete assuredness the glass behind the overflows is not tempered, and drill a hole in the back of each overflow. Use these to create an equalization pipe that does not rely on maintaining siphon over the back. Left side full siphon and emergency, right side durso and return plumbing.
5. Rip out both overflows, plug or use the holes for closed loop, and install a ghost/coast to coast overflow. If I'm drilling anyway, I like this option a lot. However I did something like this once before and the factory installed overflow silicon was a pain to remove, but even worse, it left a permanent ghost mark on the glass that never completely went away and annoyed me every time I looked at it.
6. Rip out one overflow, drill a 3rd hole in the back of the one overflow and do full siphon, durso, and emergency in one side, plug the other holes or closed loop. Return over the back.
Please vote, cheer, jeer, offer suggestions, whatever you think might be helpful. I'm not afraid to drill the tank as long as I know the glass is not tempered. But I like the idea of *not* drilling the tank better. I'm leaning toward #2 or #3 with a slight lead going to 2 for the only managing one gate valve full siphon adjustment. If I'm not being lazy I think I would be happiest in the long run with #4. or #6.
1. full siphon and emergency left side, durso trickle in the right side, and bear with me here, I am thinking about taking the other right side hole and coming out the bottom, across and over to the left overflow, up over the back of the tank and down into the bottom of the left overflow. Once this equalizer pipe is primed it would maintain the water level between the two overflows so the right doesn't get stagnant, and *should* keep both sides flowing so long as it remains water tight and the water level in both overflows remains above the entrance and exit of this pipe. I know, I can hear several voices screaming at their monitors even now. Return up over the back.
2. Forego the emergency drain. Full siphon left, durso trickle right and the other two holes now plumbed together to equalize the levels and fight stagnancy in the right side. No emergency means not a true bean animal but kind of a weird dislocated herbie drain. Return up over the back. I would have to put a T and a valve in the middle of the equalizer pipe to drain/clean/flush it of any debris that collects in it.
3. Herbie each side. Return up over the back. I don't like this one because even though some people make it look easy, I don't want to manage 2 full siphons.
4. Dust off the glass drills, determine with complete assuredness the glass behind the overflows is not tempered, and drill a hole in the back of each overflow. Use these to create an equalization pipe that does not rely on maintaining siphon over the back. Left side full siphon and emergency, right side durso and return plumbing.
5. Rip out both overflows, plug or use the holes for closed loop, and install a ghost/coast to coast overflow. If I'm drilling anyway, I like this option a lot. However I did something like this once before and the factory installed overflow silicon was a pain to remove, but even worse, it left a permanent ghost mark on the glass that never completely went away and annoyed me every time I looked at it.
6. Rip out one overflow, drill a 3rd hole in the back of the one overflow and do full siphon, durso, and emergency in one side, plug the other holes or closed loop. Return over the back.
Please vote, cheer, jeer, offer suggestions, whatever you think might be helpful. I'm not afraid to drill the tank as long as I know the glass is not tempered. But I like the idea of *not* drilling the tank better. I'm leaning toward #2 or #3 with a slight lead going to 2 for the only managing one gate valve full siphon adjustment. If I'm not being lazy I think I would be happiest in the long run with #4. or #6.
