Back in the hobby! New drilled aquarium questions.

[jetchanic]

I just picked up an incredible deal on a standard 150 with a really nice custom built stand and canopy. The tank is drilled in some odd places (in my opinoin). I'm wondering what my options are for filtration on this tank. The holes are drilled on the center line of the tank. There are 2-1 1/2" holes about 4 inches from each other on one side of the tank about a foot away from the end of the tank. On the opposite side of the tank There is one 1 1/2" hole about a foot away from the side of the tank as well. Thanks for the advice

[SunnyHouTX]

You could use one of the holes on the one end and the other hole on the opposite end to hook up an FX5 canister and also run a wet/dry on it with a HOB overflow. Well that's what I would do if I had that tank

[jetchanic]

I thought of those but I don't want a HOB overflow. It seems a little odd to have a HOB when the tank is drilled plus those have the possibility to be recipies for disaster. I wonder what they orginally used the three holes for.

[SunnyHouTX]

I don't think you'd want to hook up a sump to those holes, that could end up in a real disaster. HOB overflows are pretty safe, at least in my experience.

[phish]

You can have a Y going out and you have two output.

[SunnyHouTX]

+ 1

[jetchanic]

Hmm... I think that's what I'll do. Have the return Coming through one of the holes on the side with the 2 holes then an output on both sides of the tank. Thanks for the help. Now to find an fx5 or a 2260.

[JasonC]

Looks like they tank used to have a closed loop system on it.

Another option would be to put bulkheads on the holes, use a small stand pipe with screen for the intake of your canister filter and another with loc-line for exhaust. Make sure you have some sort of quick disconnect between the filter and the tank. Hide the intakes/exhaust with rock, plants or wood. Presto - no visible filtration system.

[cichlid1409]

two options in my opinion.
1. hook up an eheim 2260/2262 to the holes. from what i've heard they are the only ones able to hold up under the pressure on a drilled setup like this. (someone correct me if im wrong)

2.run the plumbing from the holes up the back of the tank then back down to a wet-dry. by running the pipes up the back of the tank and putting a hole at the top of the pipe it will break the syphon when power is lost and not flood the floor. check out this build if you cant quite envision what im saying http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...S-AND-VIDS-NOW**

[TaTeR ToT]

If it was me, I would add three more holes, put two fx5's and a large wet/dry .
Just my $.02

[SunnyHouTX]

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...S-AND-VIDS-NOW**

That is definitely an option. I like the clean look and would do it if my tank was drilled.Tater's idea is a good move as well.

[jetchanic]

I was going to do the set up with a wet dry that was done in the link posted by cichlid1409 and then realized that my stand is finished on all sides. Meaning that there are no holes in the stand to run the pvc up the tank. I just picked up an fx5 and i'm going to be plumbing that into the bottom of my tank for now. Anyone have any input or suggestions for any other filtration options? Thanks.

[SunnyHouTX]

I was also thinking that one of the holes was for drain/refill

[TaTeR ToT]

I was also thinking that one of the holes was for drain/refill

I like this idea.

[SunnyHouTX]

Yeah, the more I think about it the more I want to do it whenever I get a house. A carbon canister/cartridge will be hooked up inline using PVC unions so refills will be super easy.