hole sizes for SLO

steveiscrazy

Hello everyone,

I was wondering what size and how many holes you guys have drilled in the bottom of your SLOs. Also I remember seeing someone's design that had a T connection at the bottom of their SLO and branching out so that it could collect waste from the parts that extend out too. I was wondering if this is a good idea or not. Will drilling too many holes affect the suction action at all?

arbe

I use 90mm pipe. It goes from one side the other of my 5000 litre tank so is about 3 metres in length.

Every 50mm I have a 5mm slot which I used an angle grinder to create.

Here is the SLO across the bottom of the tank:

Here are the slots:

steveiscrazy

Thanks Arbe, I like your design. Do you think the slots could be substituted with drilled holes and have the same effect?

Stuart Chignell

A standard for drains in recirculating aq systems is to size the holes so that the velocity is less than 30cm/s.

Slots are better because they are less likely to block and easier to clean if they do.

Jamey

IV got 2 ends that i put on my slo, 1 has 10mm Slots, the other has 7mm Holes, the one with holes is for when iv got fingerling in there and then i swap it over once the fish are big enough to not get sucked through the 10mm slots.

earthbound

You dropped some bits in your tank Arbe...... :wink:

arbe

steveiscrazy wrote:

Thanks Arbe, I like your design. Do you think the slots could be substituted with drilled holes and have the same effect?

You could. You would just need a lot more holes to obtain the same amount of flow.

@EB. I have fished them all out now. They were in there for the gold fish to hide in, in an attempt to keep the mozzies from breeding.

TumblingWheels

Sorry, I think I might be hijacking this thread :shifty:

Arbe, do you ever get fish sucked into the SLO?

arbe

I've never checked. I would count the fish to see if they are all there but they are too quick.

I will say I was concerned that may happen but when Troutman delivered them I showed him the design and he did say it wouldnt be a problem.

earthbound

Cool, trout deliveries and system advice at the same time.... :headbang:

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