125g Closed Loop Setup help

What about this...

Drain from the 2 left side holes through the filters and split the return line.
1 return line flows to the 3rd hole in the back of the tank, while the other return line flows to a 10gal sump (above the water level of the 125) which then drains back into the 125... the 10gal will hold the heaters, Co2 and whatever else needs to be added. Thats IF i can drill the side of the 10gal.

I would scrap the overflow idea if you're going to be adding CO2. Just plumb the system you described through the two more accessible holes and block off the unused one. Or if you feel the need split the return.
 
SubRosa - then I'd still need about a 60 gallon sump because the other two holes are about halfway down the tank aswell... I know it's not the most ideal drill spots but for $100 for a drilled 125gal in good shape I just have to get a little creative =)
 
Can i ask what you are trying to achieve?
IMO the best way to plumb your tank would be to have a sump under the tank. The two holes on the side of the tank as overflows and either have the return on the third hole or over the back of the tank. If this is done properly there will be no way your sump would overflow if the power went out.
 
SubRosa - then I'd still need about a 60 gallon sump because the other two holes are about halfway down the tank aswell... I know it's not the most ideal drill spots but for $100 for a drilled 125gal in good shape I just have to get a little creative =)
The position of the holes is irrelevant to where the tank drains down to, it all come's down to how you have your plumbing.
 
The holes locations do matter if I don't want pvc piping inside of the tank though, which I don't. The goal is to have a highly planted tank and overstock it....
 
The pipes can be painted or hidden.
If you don't want any pipes in your tank i would just patch all of the holes up and use canister filters with in-line heaters instead.
 
Do you think the suction from these two drain holes would be too much? I have bulkheads with built in screens, but If I decide to have small fish I think this might be a problem which is why I was going to go the internal overflow route... Maybe I'm just overthinking this, but I'd think the fish would get stuck to the bulkhead screen haha


I would scrap the overflow idea if you're going to be adding CO2. Just plumb the system you described through the two more accessible holes and block off the unused one. Or if you feel the need split the return.
 
Very true, could do that... and could also just have the closed loop system. And I can't take anything you say seriously when everytime I read one of your posts all i see is a big thumbs up hahaha

The pipes can be painted or hidden.
If you don't want any pipes in your tank i would just patch all of the holes up and use canister filters with in-line heaters instead.
 
With the holes where they are i would set the tank up like this.
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I would use krylon fusion to paint the pipes so you cant see them easily or install acrylic overflows to hide the pipes. The return doesn't need to be inside the tank like in my diagram, you could patch that hole and have the return over the back of the tank.
If you want to take advantage of the holes you have in the tank you are going to have to have pipes in the tank.

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