How do I plumb a corner overflow?

Just take your dims into Home depot/Lowes and they will basically build it for you. That's what they did for me. Just get the pipe a bit longer so you can cut it down to the length you need once you get the pieces home and fit it in the corner of the tank.

 

For the Durso, be sure you use pipe with an ID that is 1/4" larger than the bulkhead fitting and reduce it down with a reducer bushing. So, for a 1" bulkhead, you want to use 1.25" pipe for the standpipe.

Here's a little article with photos on DIY-ing a Durso. FWIW, we no longer use the intake strainer, as I've found they're a PITA to keep clean. There's a parts list too.

HOW TO BUILD A STANDPIPE

 

You buy bulkheads which are sized to fit the drilled holes. Note the "Hole Size" column just left of the price column on Marine Depot; this is the drilled hole size each bulkhead requires. Bulkhead and Strainer/Overflow Fittings

Since the holes are already drilled, your bulkhead sizes, and therefore your plumbing sizes, has essentially been forced upon you. But there's nothing wrong with that.

Most people prefer thread/thread bulkheads, meaning the ID (inner diameter) on both sides is threaded. This allows you to thread your PVC pipes in (with a male thread adapter, glued onto the bare PVC). The alternative is a slip/slip bulkhead, for which you glue the bare PVC directly into the bulkhead. While that's a bit simpler, the downside is it's a bare to disassemble things if you ever get a clog. See AZDR's thread on bulkheads: http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/bulkhead-installation-tips-111422.html

You'll need simple, basic PVC plumbing stuff you can get at any Home Depot or Lowes. Buy one 10' length of 3/4" and 1" PVC, and cut them yourself. Buy a rachet cutter (like this: PlumbPak 8 in. PVC Tubing Cutter-PP840-2 at The Home Depot) and PVC glue too, along with the purple primer. You'll want to use the purple primer on both pieces, then apply a bit of glue and press together. (Oatey 8 oz. PVC Handy Pack Purple Primer and Solvent Cement-302483 at The Home Depot)

Yes, you can use a slip/threaded elbow at the top of the PVC for the return. Glue the slip end onto the PVC, then use the 3/4" male loc-line adapter on the other end. I did this on my tank; you can see it earlier on in my build thread (see signature).

Not sure I'd trust someone at Home Depot for this. While that may have worked great for you, it's all a matter of the knowledge base of the guy who ends up helping you. Many employees would be a bit clueless on something like this.

That's great advice too, and something else I ended up doing on my tank (upsizing the durso and then reducing it just before the bulkhead). Check out the link Greg gave you there.

 

Thanks for all of the advice, everyone! So I can basically get the exact same setup for the tank as the one on LionfishLair, correct? And would the PVC under the tank be 1 1/4 inch as well?

 

For the durso drain, yes. But I'd skip the strainer as Greg also stated.

No, once the drain comes through the bulkhead just keep it at 1". You can use Spa flex (flexible PVC; most Home Depot or Lowes carry that too) for all the plumbing below the bulkheads inside the stand if you wish. Rigid PVC is also fine, but it's a bit less forgiving if you make a measurement error. I prefer rigid as I think it looks nicer, but it's a fair amount of added time.

 

Awesome. Thanks so much! I won't use the strainer and I'll probably use spa flex.

 

+100 for this thread and Gregs link! This confirms I just made mine correctly. I used spa flex to help reduce the margin of error under the tank.

 

Flex tubing will usually give you less restriction then hard plumbing.

 

Yeah I'll use flex tubing. I'm about to go to Home Depot now, so one more question. Do I use slip or thread tubing? I heard different opinions, so I wasn't sure.

And it should fit in my overflow, right? If not, can I use flex tubing in the overflow?

 

I'm not sure I understand the question? For bulkheads, you have two options; threaded or slip, as I attempted to outline above. People prefer either for different reasons. You may not be able to find bulkheads at Home Depot; that's not something most carry. You'll have to find a LFS that carries them, else mail order.

For PVC, it's just a bare pipe (like so: VPC 3/4 in. x 2 ft. PVC Sch. 40 Pipe-22075 at The Home Depot) If you need a threaded end for a bulkhead or a fitting, you glue on a male adapter, like this one: Mueller Streamline 3/4 in. PVC Sch. 40 Pressure MIPT x Slip Adapters (10-Pack)-436-007P10 at The Home Depot (I'm only using these links for the pictures really; pay no mind to the prices/quantities).

Spa Flex will look like this: Watts 1 in. x 50 ft. PVC Spa Flex Hose-RSFN at The Home Depot
If you need a threaded end on it, you can glue on the same sort of male adapter as above.

It should; you'll want to use rigid tubing in the overflow.