Need advice from guys with big tanks

Wonder if I should drill the side of the tank or the bottom?

 

i like drilling the side. can build a smaller overflow box and its easier to run quiet. drawback is the plumbing on the side or back of the tank. of they get bumped the glass can crack or cause a leak

 

40 or 50mm? I have a strong 4500l/h return pipe running on 25mm pvc

 

I should also be cheaper to replace a side panel than the bottom

 

If you drill the bottom you must use 50mm because your return pipe will go through the same hole. You need some extra glass to build the over flow in your tank.

I never drill on the side as this create a weak spot on the tank and it is n easy point to create a crack.

The bottom glass is suppose to be 20 to 30mm thick pending on the height of your tank. With a thick bottom base glass there is enough support to prevent any cracks. As your tank bottom glass is only 12mm thick you would need an extra piece of glass to support the glass around the edges. In your case it would be safer to drill the side glass

 

i drilled two 25mm holes for the overflow and 2 25mm holes for the return.

 

I tried building a pvc overflow...but that didn't go well today...thus asking about drilling... @Ryno... is two smaller holes better than one big one? I still can't decide on 40 or 50mm?

 

What if I drill the bottom hole like in the picture & still add the support bracing around it like spoken previous to you?

 

Two holes is better. Saved my bacon as an apple snails got in the overflow and jammed up one hole.

 

ther is more than one way to do it. i like having 2 oveflow pipes each with their own ballvalve. easier to get the overflow tuned in and running quiet. i had two returns because i like marine tanks so its better flow

 

You can drill and add another piece od support at that corner.

If I can ask, how high is your side and front pannels?

 

700mm high...water level as on marks is about 630mm

 

If you drill on the side two smaller over flow holes and two smaller inlet holes will work sufficient. You will have more way to direct the return flow to get sufficient enough flow in your tank and the water flow won't be to strong.

 

Decisions Decisions...what would you do if in my shoes?

 

Because the bottom glass is to fin I will rather drill the side panels. Because your water level is at 630mm the bottom glass is to fin and a 50dia hole in the bottom can crack the bottom glass even with extra support.

Your side glass is sufficient to withstand the preasure of the water. I stress about the bottom glass.

 

Okay cool...would you add extra surrounding support around the drilled hole/s on the side?

 

It is not really necessary, but it will support the glass much better. My tank is 900mm high and the water level is at 880 to 890 high. My bottom glass is 36mm thick.

 

Okay no problem...I know what to look for with my next big tank...but want this one to last me long...you agree to 2x 25mm holes? One on each side of the glass?

 

What size fish do you want to keep in that tank? A 4500L/h pump will circulate the water good enough through one inlet hole, but if you are keeping small fish it might be to strong when it comes out of the inlet pipe. If you keep big fish it will be no broblem.

There is a lot to look at when you build tanks with one powerful pump.

 

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