Can I drill running tank?

I know its possible but want to know how I should go about blocking off the area to drill and what is the best spots for return? Also for a gravity fed refuge does a hole need to be in the bottom?

 

IMO a reef build will only benefit with the addition of a sump and fuge. The increased water volume helps to keep parameters stable with less effort, unsightly equipment is out of site, so the display is less cluttered. I'm sure you've read all of this already.

There are so many different thoughts and "right ways" to set up, you just have to go with the one that suits you.
Heres my thinking. The sump is a place for equipment only and should be ran with a bare bottom. No rock, no bio-balls, nothing that will trap detritus and become a nitrate factory. I don't run a filter sock all that often. I believe they steal food from filter feeders, especially my zoa's which feed on detritus that settles on them. If I do run a sock it's only when I do a big water change and blow a lot more detritus off the rocks and into the water column. It's easier to trap the excess in a sock than siphon it out of the corners of the sump.
My fuge is remote, meaning it is set up separate from the sump but drains into the sump and shares the same return pump that feeds my display.
You can put mud in but don't waste your money on the products made for the hobby. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a 25 lb. bag of Special Kitty unscented, non-clumping clay cat litter for $3.00. I haven't done this personally but have read enough about it that I will be using it in my current builds DSB and as the first layer of substrate in my upcoming African Cichlid tank.
My current fuge has a DSB which is made up of a 4" layer of CaribSea Seaflor deluxe. There is about 10 lbs of rock in there, some chaeto, about 25 red mangroves and some oddball macro algaes that I've collected over time. It's home to a good amount of pods. I have mixed beliefs that the pods actually survive the trip from fuge to display so I keep a small brine shrimp net shoved in behind the chaeto. The pods make this a home and once a month I shake the adults off into the display tank.
Merry Christmas!

 

LOL I thought my mind was going for real. Why didn't you just start another thread instead of editing the title and question?

No you probably don't want to grind a hole in a running tank and the hole in the fuge can go into the bottom but you'll need to add a stand pipe to maintain the water level.

 

good luck on drilling it with it running, if you do it make a thread out of it because I'd love to see how it works out. I also would have a back up plan ready and waiting because I'm betting the tank will brake. no you don't need the return in the bottom. I think you can do a return in many ways depending how you want it, the main guyed line if you ask me is to have your overflow as far from your return as you can.

 

I know I have seen a video of some one doing it. They drained the tank bout half way to do it. I'm not sure how they lubricated it...i think that would make a mess unless you put a bucket under it or something. If you do it make a video. If it works it'll be great proof if it doesn't it'll make a great video lol.

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Sorry after just seraching i found the sump info lol

 

I thought you were too Mike. Thought the season had gotten you.

 

I will deff make a vid if i do the tanks are on sale right now for 1 dollar a gallon for perfecto tanks. I thought about fitting my overflow cover in there first with silcon then trying to drill it so i can clean the mess up. Just need to know bottom or side to drill?

 

I know right! ROFL

 

Main guyed line? Sorry trying to learn the excatly how it works so i know where to drill and i assume by guyed lines you mean return as in the water being put back into the tank?