What size plumbing do I need for my aquarium?
The most common size for home aquarium plumbing is 3/4” for return lines and 1” for drain lines. These sizes can vary though as tanks get larger or smaller and other connections are made to various other pieces of equipment.
Can you make a sump without drilling the tank?
No. You can get an overflow box that draws a siphon up and over the edge of your tank. You will need a pump to push the return back up to your display tank.
What is a pre drilled fish tank?
A “reef ready” or simply “drilled” tank is often used. This style of tank has holes drilled into the rear pane allowing water to drain into the sump or refugium. After transiting the sump, water is pushed by a return water pump through the second hole and into the aquarium.
What is aquarium plumbing?
Aquarium plumbing systems are connected using either soft plumbing or hard plumbing methods. Soft plumbing refers to a system of flexible vinyl tubing, clamps, and barbed fittings. These flexible setups are easy to install and are also easier to disconnect. Hard plumbing is a method that utilizes PVC pipes.
Can I put PVC pipe in my aquarium?
PVC is a great material to improve your aquarium. Not only does it offer great benefits, but it’s also easy to use for creating tunnels and caves and is a great solution for aquarium overflow and filters.
Is copper pipe safe for aquarium?
Copper has been used effectively for many years to control algae and fish parasites in freshwater and marine systems. Because copper does not discolor the water, it is a preferred treatment for use in display aquaria. Chronic copper exposure will also adversely affect fish health.
Where should I drill my aquarium?
You want to drill the holes near the top to control the back flow to the sump when the power goes out or you turn off the return pump. The lower the hole the more water that can drain back to the sump and the greater the odds of a flood.
Can you drill a 10 gallon aquarium for overflow?
This weekend I drilled two 10 gallon aquariums and installed overflows for an automated water change system. This was my first time drilling an aquarium and it went really smoothly.
What kind of plumbing do you need for an aquarium?
Plumbing based on PVC has a lot to offer and it’s easily expandable when needed. It’s no surprise that PVC pipes are material of choice for most successful reef systems in the hobby, especially in the medium to large sized aquariums.
What kind of paint to use on aquarium overflows?
After I installed the bulkheads and overflows I painted two sides of both aquariums using black acrylic paint. The two tanks are going side by side on the shelf with the overflows in the back. I’m still waiting on some plumbing parts and the filters for these two tanks, so the final setup will be in a subsequent update.
What do drain lines do in an aquarium?
Drain lines are the lines bring water down from the display tank into the sump. There are many different approaches to achieving this, but mainly fall into one of two categories: Siphon based systems, or a Gravity system (which involves drilling a hole in your tank).