need help with plumbing

[dreamon7]

I'm setting up a basic system with my old 10g refugium and 14g biocube. The fuge fits perfectly in the biocube's stand, so I figured why not use it. Plus, I want to integrate it with my brine shrimp hatchery to eventually feed my dwarf seahorses in the biocube. I'm looking for ideas on plumbing between the two. An overflow could work, but it'd be kinda ugly. Has anyone done something like this before, or got any suggestions?

[floral9]

I'd recommend a HOB overflow, they're super affordable and get the job done, plus they're pretty discreet. For returning the water, a SCWD could work nicely too.

[fleeton]

You could scale down a durso or calfo overflow, works just as well on a smaller setup like that.

[Kodexa]

Listen, if you're not comfortable drilling, don't even think about it. I've seen people swear by sipLion overflows, claiming they've used them for months or years without issues. Let's be real, those people are just rolling the dice. It's like running an electrical wire without a drip loop – you're basically asking for trouble.

For the love of reef safety, just do it right.

[dreamon7]

I should probably get those drip loops set up better downstairs now that I think of it.

The whole idea of drilling, though...the back of the cube is made of a weak plastic rather than acrylic, which seems like it would be easy to work with, but I'm still hesitant. Has anyone had any experience drilling into one of these nano/bio/whatever cubes? I'm thinking an overflow might require a bit too much modification of the hood, and I'm not sure where I could put the sipLion without it looking ugly.

[fleeton]

...the back of the cube is made of a weak plastic rather than acrylic...

It's a common misconception that drilling a tank weakens the wall. But, if you drill slow and avoid chipping the edges, a bulkhead can actually add strength - it reinforces the area.

[dreamon7]

I'm still a bit hesitant about drilling into the cube, even with the reassurance that it can be done safely. If I were to drill into acrylic, what's the process like - is it really as simple as just drilling a hole? What kind of drill bit would I need to use to avoid damaging the material?

On the other hand, I'm thinking it might be easier to just cut a gap in the lid between the hinges. I've had some experience with cutting plastic in the past, but my results were a bit sloppy - I used metal snips and it got the job done, but it didn't look great. Is there a better tool I could use to get a cleaner cut?

[Kodexa]

A carpenter's hole saw is the way to go, just remember to use a pilot bit. Watch out for the teeth biting as you pop through, takes about 10 seconds if you're careful.

Make sure to size the hole saw to your bulkhead or uniseal before drilling, you want it to fit snugly but not too loose. The flanges should cover the hole well, that's the goal.

If the wall is less than 1/4" thick, I'd avoid using a uniseal, or if you're not too confident with plumbing.

When assembling, keep the flange inside with the rubber, putting it on the nut side will cause it to buckle when you turn it. Just hand tighten, firm but not hard.

Oh, and get the flock off while it's hot, or you'll be back with a file later.

[dreamon7]

I think I'm gonna pass on drilling the tank after all, I'm worried about the flow being too much for the dwarf seahorses with the addition of a sump/fuge. Thanks for all the advice though, really appreciate it. I'm guessing drilling glass is a whole different ball game, right?

[fleeton]

I'm setting up a basic system with my old 10g refugium and 14g biocube. The fuge fits perfectly in the biocube's stand, so I figured why not use it. Plus, I want to integrate it with my brine shrimp hatchery to eventually feed my dwarf seahorses in the biocube. I'm looking for ideas on plumbing between the two. An overflow could work, but it'd be kinda ugly. Has anyone done something like this before, or got any suggestions?

I've never had to drill glass, but from what I've heard, it's a whole different ball game. Apparently, you're supposed to use a glass holesaw, and just take it slow. They say you should use water as a coolant to prevent the glass from shattering.