Need help with Overflow and Plumbing

I have no expertise in plumbing and any help is appreciated.

I plan on upgrading my tank to a 40G breeder. I want to have it drilled with 1 drain and 2 returns and a 20G sump.

As for the overflow, do I want it to go all the way to the bottom of the tank or is halfway good?

I was told that a Mag 5 would be sufficient to pump water back into the 40g. Question is how big should the holes be?

Can I use a big tube/pipe running from the Mag5 and then split it with a Y connector to the 2 returns?

Thanks.

 

If you have a hole drilled on the bottom, then it needs to go to the bottom, if the hole is on the side then it shouldn't be to the bottom. Most overflows go to the bottom as having the hole drilled in the bottom is so much easier then trying to do it the other
way.

Yes, but if you have too much head pressure, you won't get much flow, if any. I would use a Mag 6 or 7 if you want to do this, depending on how high the pump needs to pump. You also wouldn't use a bigger pipe from the pump to the "Y" you would use the same size throughout.

I would use 1" bulkheads

 

thanks Guitarman.

I am planning on having all 3 holes drilled on the back pane of the tank, 1 on each end for return and 1 in the middle for the drain, I would say about 2 inches from the top of the tank. Would that be wise?

 

Be sure that your sump can hold whatever water will drain off from your DT in the event of a power failure. 2" from the top for the returns should work but you don't want to be drilling too close to the edge of the glass. If you haven't gotten the overflow yet, check out Glass-Holes.com dope aquarium stuff. They have probably the best overflows on the market.

 

+1 to what was said above me..

I got the 700 gph overflow kit and also a loc-line return kit which came with everything necessary to drill and install a great system..

My local glass shop was going to charge me $20 a hole which would come to $60 so I feel as though I saved a little money going this route..

 

i would go with a mag 7 myself. the reason being so is i have basically the same system on a 75. i have a 1 inch standpipe overflow with a 1/2 return that y's in two. this combo is very quiet on my setup with no modifications. i use two 1/2 loclines on the inside of tank.

 

thanks. think i'll get the 700gph kit from glass-holes.com.

 

good choice.. While you order I would seriously suggest looking at their loc line return kits.. they are a wonderful addition..

 

yea, gonna need 2 kits for the 2 returns. total for the overflow kit and returns are $108, not bad.

should i go for the 3/4 " return kit or the 1/2 " return kit?