Sanity check on my plumbing, water feature, filtration idea

[kevinp]

what are you putting in it ?

[ndame88]

Kevinp, RETFs

Josh, that makes sense now, so really only reason to have a bulkhead is to drain into a sump is for water changes. So would you recommend drilling into Exo Terra glass? by the way I am following your 29 build, really looking great, thinking of doing a background like that.

[J Teezy]

if you are going to run a canister filter you don't need a sump is what i'm trying to say. One thing you could do is have your bulkhead in the bottom of the tank (but you'll have to drill a hole in your stand as well) and attach a ball vlave to the plumbing so you can drain out what you want when needed or you put in the side or back at the height you want the water to drain out to maintain a constant water level for you filter to draw water from

[TheFroggyDragon]

I set mine up with a little tube on the bottom of the tank. I can hook it up to a pump and syphon all the water out from the bottom then put the tube back in tucked down until the next time I need to drain water out. I use a misting system with distilled water. Personally I don't like drilling any tank since it usually reduces the value and you only have one shot to get it right. If you do drill it practice a few times on inexpensive glass.
Let us know how it turns out!

[J Teezy]

i dont think you can drill the bottom of exo terras now that i think about it, think its tempered, so if you drill the back or side this is what i would do

If i was doing the back set it on its back on a couple pieces of 2x4 or something to getit off the ground. Fill the tank with water so that the drill bit is sitting in the water, put enough in to make a water height of about 1/4" maybe. always best to drill from the inside out if possible so that the chip out if you get any is on the outside of the tank

[TheFroggyDragon]

Reread my post and its a little confusing. With mine there was no drilling.. the tube end is in the center of the bottom of tank and runs to the front of the tank. I open the doors hook up the little pump, plug it in, and out comes the water into my bucket that I can discard.

[ndame88]

Thanks for the replies, I think I want to put it at a heigth on the back that I want the water level to be, I dont plan on drilling it myself, I know you have to be patient and go very slow, something I struggle with, so I am going to contact a couple of glass shops.

Any suggestions on the size of bulk head to be used?

[J Teezy]

I'd probably use a 1/2" bulkhead