Aqua Lifter Pump line placement

Z-Ice · 11-25-2007, 01:47 PM

Man I am tempted to have my LFS hold my fish while I drain the tank and drill holes. External overflows are a pain in the butt! <<Done venting...>>

Question:
I have sooo much throughput of water my air bubbles are not being removed using Aqua Lifter pump. Where should my line be inside my U-tube?

Logically I have it setup at the top of my U-tube. Air should go to the top. NOT!
http://www.z-ice.com/Aquarium/overflow/dsc01978.jpg

Here's a bad pic of the inside. You can kinda see the line at the top of the U-tube. It ends at the very top.
http://www.z-ice.com/Aquarium/overflow/dsc01980.jpg

Here's a pic with the filter on.
http://www.z-ice.com/Aquarium/overflow/dsc01974.jpg

I would like to have 2 lines. One for the top and one for the back side. I do not want to add too much into the U-tube or my flow will slow down.

1) Could I extend my line to the back where the air bubbles are AND 2) cut a small hole in the line at the top of the U-tube.
http://www.z-ice.com/Aquarium/overflow/u-tube.jpg

Will the air bubbles get sucked out if present at the top OR in back?

Thanks,
Zak

----
55 Gallon Glass Aquarium; 20L Sump; 1-UV Sterilizer-(sump); Coralife Super Skimmer 65(sump); 260 W Compact Fluorescent Lighting; 2-Power heads; 20 lbs live rock; 2-Ocellaris Anemonefish; 2-Fire Goby; 1-Sailfin Tang 1-Pacific Blue Tang; 2-Banggai Cardinalfish; 1-Green Mandarin; 20 Blue Hermit Crabs; 8-Turbo Snails ; 2-Bubble Anemones; 1-Seabay Anemone; 1-Yellow Hand Coral; 1- Polyp; 5-Green Strip Mushroom; 2-Sandsifting Starfish;

a1amap · 11-25-2007, 02:09 PM

If you are thinking about it I would just do it. I also had an OTB drain with an aqua lifter. I got tired of it and drilled. I lowered the water level below where I wanted to drill. With fish and corals in the tank I started I used a misting spray bottle to keep the bit wet and duct tape to hold the glass. Even if the glass dust gets in the water it wont hurt anything. Now that its done I wish I had done it sooner
Al

Otty · 11-25-2007, 02:48 PM

Drill and and be done with it, you will be glad you did.

Z-Ice · 11-25-2007, 03:46 PM

Define drilling. I would like to have the standpipe but for that I must drill the bottom. Hard to lower the water for that :-)

So if I understand correctly, I must drill the back. Close to the top. Add in a piping for a strainer. A strainer similar to the one I am using at the top of my overflow.

I have never drilled glass. How the hell do I do it? Is it worth it? How difficult is it. My aquarium is very old. Does this matter?

Like this?
http://www.z-ice.com/Aquarium/overflow/drill.jpg

If so how big of a hole? What size piping? Currently I am using 1". I am assuming it is too small. How many holes? Or am I pushing my luck going with multiple holes?

Thanks,
Zak