Using Bulkheads as overflow?

[ace1uno_00]

I want to use three 1 inch bulkheads to let the water flow down to my sump/fuge and two 1 inch bulkheads to flow the water back into the tank with a 4 way to make water flow pass the bulkheads so it will not suck up food and towards the front to make a good water flow.
The tank is a 90 gallon long.
What do you think?
Should i do 3 intake and 2 return or 3 return and 2 intake?

[ace1uno_00]

the ones with the arrows are the returns with the 4 way thats how the water will come out. the ones with the x over it represents the intakes with the screens. lol

[mp3z24]

you will need more flow area for the water going to the sump. so, 3 intakes, and 2 returns is the better option.

also, you will need to look at how you will stop the flow of water if a power outage occurs. i would say that your intakes need a 90 degree elbow (or something) to turn them upwards. that way, there is a defined surface under which no water can flow out the intake if the power goes out. in addition, the return lines also need something to bring the return water over the normal surface level of the tank, and then turn downward under the surface... then you can use your 4 way to distribute the flow. you will need to drill a hole in the return piping that is submerged in the tank. place the hole just below the normal water level.

i know it sounds like rambling... but you dont want to overflow if you lose power.

~mike

[ace1uno_00]

Sweet! Thanks mike.
whats the best drill bit to use on acrylic?

[greenmaji]

I would build a interior overflow box all the way across the back if I had it drilled up top (best way to get the surfase water out of there to get skimmed [acronym:8748c14704="In My Honest Opinion"]IMHO[/acronym:8748c14704])
Ive seen it called a calfo overflow before.. :P

[ace1uno_00]

All the way across the top?!?!? You got a link for that?
[acronym:0c9e9dfdd6="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:0c9e9dfdd6]

[mp3z24]

i would agree on the idea for an internal overflow box. probably the best option for skimming the tank water into the sump.

as for the drill bit, i know that there are special drill bits for plexi/acrylic/etc, but i think you can also take a standard drill bit and modify the tip to make it work on plastic. there was a post up here somewhere....

some outside reseach led me to this...
http://www.bertram31.com/proj/tips/drill_acrylic.htm

this was the one i was thinking of...
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/acrdrill.htm

~mike

[ace1uno_00]

A overflow box would be more effective?
Whats the reason for that?
I figured 3 bulkheads taking in surface water would be enough.

[greenmaji]

protein floats. the most concentrated water is the surface water.. the wider the intake of that water the more effective your skimmer will be.. Ill see if I cant find a link to another site that has one of these things built.. Ive seen them :P

[greenmaji]

this is the only place ive seen pictures of this project.. RC.. but.. Ill add a couple of the pictures here.. (you have to be a member of RC to see the pics..)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=473152

it is posible to go all the way across the tank with it.. you would have to go with a lower water level.. teeth are not required either its called a weir when the teeth are absent..
you can go just below your center brace with the top of the overflow is what Im saying.. and the only part of the overflow box that needs to be that big is the parts that go over the bulkheads you can make the rest of it more shallow... [acronym:1ee19e0c5f="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:1ee19e0c5f]