Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been slowly acquiring all the components to my future system and today I scored a HUGE glass aquarium for my FT. However, this tank has a hole about a two inches off the bottom of the tank that is fitted with a pvc fitting that allows a male attachment to either side.

How can I utilize this hole? Can I do some type of SLO with it?

I would really like to implement an SLO with this system as through my research it seems that this is the best way to keep a tank clean and not run into future problems that can arise from a NHO.

What do most people use with glass aquariums? I've seen NHO with them but I've also seen posts where they can become a disaster if they become 'unprimed' (?). Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm getting closer and closer to actually putting this thing together.

You could attach your SLO to it. Put an elbow on the outside, run a vertical pipe to the height you want your water level and then a T piece.

Not sure how a SLO will go 2 inches from the bottom though or how easy it would be to get the pipe on the bottom. Perhaps some flexible pipe.

Another option would be to use it as an over flow: put an elbow inside facing up and install a vertical pipe to the water level just in case your SLO doesn't cope.

I'm confused on the elbow on the outside. Are you saying put the vertical pipe, t piece and elbow on the outside?

I'm considering using it as an overflow, but then it wouldn't be a solids lifting overflow, right? And, isn't it impossible to put a SLO in an aquarium without cutting holes.

The pic below is as far as I've gotten but I have no idea if it would work. Thoughts? Keep in my, all the poorly drawn pipes in the picture would be inside the tank.

here ya go

Thanks for the help!

Here is how I did mine..
The piece I'm screwing into the base faces down close to the floor.
It is a simple up and over to direct water out through the base of the tank.
Pipes run to the edge of the tank, and up the outside to an open topped tee piece.
(The external pipes can be seen running up the side of the tank behind me.)
Just place the tee piece at the height you wish the water level to be.

After the top tee, the waterflow behaves the same as any other overflow setup.
Also its a good idea to drill a small (3-4mm) hole in the top of the up and over bit
to release any trapped air as the tank fills, or you may need to flush it like I did.

Hope this helps