Overflow options for 29gal.

[bstoner]

I am setting up a 29gal with a 20 sump. Mostly all a DIY project and I am trying to figure out how I want to setup my overlfow.

I am planning on drilling the tank but I also wanted to explore any options to have the overflow external like an acrylic tank would be setup. Does anyone have any links or info on doing that on a glass tank?

Or is it even possible. I have been searching the internet for a few days and I am not really finding what I am looking for.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[ecobalance]

keep it simple

a simple hole in the back with a inch and a half bulkhead with a pipe with slots cut in it screwed into it,and wala

 

[bstoner]

I want to skim the surface water with a weir type overflow.

 

[Katchupoy]

like ecobalance said. drill then put an acrylic box around that, this will serve as aoverflow box and skim the surface.

 

[bstoner]

A guy on RC is recomending just cutting the glass at the trim level for as wide as I want the overflow and then make the box on the back. I am not sure just how hard its going to be to cut the glass but I like the concept.

Any input on this way?

 

[Cwazy Clown]

this is kinda like the ctc external overflow..

if it was me, i'd go glass shop, cut a hole @ bottom for 20$, then buy a an acrylic corner overflow..

 

[btuck]

Hey bstoner,

If you decide you need acrylic work done talk to shadowfax on the indmas board. He does quite a bit of acrylic work.

 

[bstoner]

Will do btuck, I still havent decided what I want to do.

 

[NaH2O]

bstoner - I don't know if this photo will help at all, but it is on a very large tank. I don't know if I'd attempt something like this on a 29 gallon...but I'm a wimp about cutting glass . At any rate - its a great thread to look at for inspiration: 400 Gallon Sunroom Reef

You could also do a small acrylic coast to coast like on my tank (great at skimming the water surface), with one hole drilled for a standpipe in an overflow box to go to the sump. Also, your overflow box doesn't have to go all the way to the bottom. You could make a short box, and drill a hole out the back of the tank and plumb that to the sump. I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[bstoner]

Thanks for the link Nikki I will read through that thread.

Also it might help to mention that I will be running a downdraft skimmer that requires a special overflow, I didnt realize this when I started the thread.

Here is more info about the skimmer.

Now all I need to figure out is internal or external overflow.

 

[returnofsid]

You can also make an inexpensive but effective internal skimmer box by using a large diameter PVC or ABS pipe. Cut it the length you want, length doesn't really matter much. Then cut it lengthwise. Throw one length away or save it in case the first one gets screwed up...lol. Cut some teeth in one end of it. These teeth will be your skimmer. Silicone it to your tank and silicone a piece of acrylic or PVC sheeting to the bottom to block the bottom off. Inside this piping would be your durso stand.

 

[bstoner]

This is basically what I am planning on right now. I still havent decided for sure about the width of the overflow.

There are no durso's becuase the skimmer wont work right with them. I am going to try another method of keeping things quiet. The middle drain is the emergency overflow and the drain on the left will feed the fuge. I plan on putting a ball valve on both drains to regulate the flow, any reason not to?

I would like to put LR Rubble in the section with the return pump, any problems with that? Also I was thinking of using a Mag 5 or 7 for the return pump. The skimmer section needs about 500 gph flow and whatever else I have will probably go to the fuge section. Any sugestions on the pump? I thought about using a SCWD on the return line for more random flow as well.


Sorry about the bad quality of drawing.

I dont think I missed anything but I am sure I did.

 

[returnofsid]

Other than a durso stand, which you mentioned won't work for your application, I only see a couple possible problems. #1 You may need a bubble trap between refugium and pump. #2 With your return lines being different lengths, you might get more flow going through the shorter one than the longer.

I don't know about the Mag 5 or 7 but I do believe that Mags are known for creating a bit of heat. I know I'm in the midst of replacing a Mag 18 because of noise issues...although mine's being used for something it's not really intended to be used for, which might be the cause of the noise.

Also, make sure to drill some kind of holes in your return lines just below the water surface of the display. That way, in the event of a power failure, your return lines won't siphon as much water from your display. When the water level falls below the drilled holes, it'll break the siphon. Otherwise, water will siphon to the lowest level of your return or the lowest level of your overflow.

 

[bstoner]

I hope I dont need a bubble trap there I already feel like I dont have enough room in this little 20 gal. I want more of the flow going to the skimmer and less to the fuge section anyway but thats one reason why I want the ball valves, they should do the trick right?

I dont know much about these kinds of pumps so any advice is appreciated.

The holes for the siphon break, how do you keep water from squirting out of them when the system is operating normally?

 

[returnofsid]

The holes are dilled below the water line and are very small. Some water will come out them during normal operation...but very little. Not enough to have any effect at all.