overflow placement

[cronicreef]

I have been trying to figure out where I want to put my overflows in my tank that I'm going to order. I'm looking at a tank that is 3' front to back 30" deep and 72" long. I'm planning on putting the overflows on the sides for now.

I would like to know if anyone has a tank with the overflows on the sides and weather or not that they like them and if they would get anothere.

I'm planning to do my second reef with this setup but it's different than what I have so I thought I would do some planning befor hand!

Please tell my the size of your tank too

 

[NaH2O]

cronicreef - Welcome to Reef Frontiers! My tank is no where near the size of yours, but I did dual overflows in the back corners with the coast to coast overflow across the back. The only thing I would do differently is to have a short overflow box with the drain out of the back instead of down the bottom....I think it would have provided some better flow (if that is possible in my tank). I really like the corner overflows (at least for my tank) because it gave me the opportunity to have a great closed loop design in the middle of the tank. There are great tanks to look at on the board for some ideas.

Here is one that is of similar size with the overflow placement: 280 gal custom reef aquarium

Here is my tank being constructed and the plumbing design: 120 gallon Reef Tank for NaH2O and Some Plumbing for Nikki

Here is another tank (120 gallon) except this one has a center overflow with the coast to coast: Zeltar's 120 gallon mini-series

Hope these help get you started!

 

[cronicreef]

What size PVC did you use for your outlets and what are you running for your return pump. I'm thinking I want to go with 2" for both and have a revolution running back into the tank!

http://www.oceansmotions.com/

I'm going overkill on the return pump no matter what. I what toget as much flow as possible to get rid of any powerheads. But I'm not sure on the GPH yet. I'm still planning everything so everything isn't set in stone.

 

[Curtswearing]

Howdy Ben,

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!! (Think Inwall75).

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having the overflow on the side but the back corners give you more room for aquascaping. With a tank that long I would at least consider looking at a coast to coast overflow with dual overflows.

Macbeth has spoken with the owner of Oceans Motions many times and Maxx has purchased one but we aren't setting it up until next weekend likely.

My dinky 75g tank only has one corner overflow.

 

[cronicreef]

Thanks inwall, I think were talking about the same thing. I wan to have a overflow box in both the left and right side. That's what you mean by coast to coast right!

When you say dual overflows do you mean outlets in each box! I was thinking of doing that too.

Also I was thinking of haveing a outlet in the middle without a box just a pvc pipe for a Fuge! But I'm not sure yet!

 

[Otter]

I did exactly what Nikki is saying on my 90, 2 short overflow boxes connected with a coast to coast and drilled through the back. I also installed a CLS with (1) drain and 2 inputs through the bottom of my coast to coast and branched off with Loc Line and 4-3" spray nozzles. I'm working on my stand and canopy right now. Then comes the wiring and finish plumbing. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics when my kid gets back from vacation with my camera.

 

[NaH2O]

cronicreef - the coast to coast is a trough that connects the overflows/runs the entire length of the tank. It skims the whole surface and is awesome. I have 1-1/2" drains to the sump, and only a Mag 12 (3/4") return over the top of the tank. I am counting on my closed loop (amp 3000) for my circulation/flow. I also did the motorized ball valve - it works great.

jlehigh on the board just put a movie up of his oceansmotions on a 280 gallon tank. Here is a link to his thread: 280 In Wall Project