Help w/overflow plumbing

Lefty · 01-29-2003, 03:34 PM

Hello all!

New to the hobby but ready to attempt a reef tank! I inherited a drilled 75 glass tank/with stand about a month ago. After looking around and deciding on what type of animals should inhabit the tank I really loved the look of the reefs. I have lurked around planning a stategy for the tank but need some help with the overflow.

My tank is drilled aprox 4 inches down from the top and about 3 inches from the left corner. The hole is 2 inches in diameter w/bulkhead attached. From the reading on the furom it appears that most tanks are drilled toward the bottom or on the tank bottom. I have no overflow built right now.

Does anyone have any ideas (plans or pics) of how to build an overflow box of some sort for this type of set up? I have read that bonding acrylic to glass may be difficult and I would like to have the smallest overflow that is not going to cause problems to the tank in the long run.

I have even thought of this: What about turning a 1 1/2 " 90 elbow up towards the surface. Attaching 1 1/2" pipe to the elbow and cutting slits at the proper water height. I could end cap the top of the pipe to prevent any "visitors ie snails" from falling down. Any downside? Enough flow? It would then be a one inch pipe that would take the water to the sump. I could then use a 3/4 inch pipe as a return.

I also need to decide on my return pump from the sump area? (sump will be a 20 gallon rubbermaid tank).

Brooke · 01-29-2003, 03:56 PM

This is what we did with our 110 FO. we had the holes drilled on the end and used pvc elbows and large strainers. The strainers keep the fish out while still skimming the surface.

HTH-and Welcome to TRT!!!

Brooke

oregon_gorge · 01-29-2003, 11:23 PM

Our 240g has a 2'' in the center and an 1 1/2'' on the left side with intake screens (plastic) from the irrigation shop. My only problem and I want an answer for, is how to stop the sucking sound????????

p.s. We have a 4000gph return pump in a 135g in the basement. It is split off to run the skimmer too.

Good luck, Chris

Doug1 · 01-30-2003, 01:29 AM

This is what I did, I havent tried doing a Durso or Stockman on this type overflow yet, but 2 of these, 1" BH and pipe drains a MAg 1800 no problem

Doug1 · 01-30-2003, 01:35 AM

Heres a whole tank shot for perspective

big t · 01-30-2003, 02:11 AM

I guess I don't know the story Doug, so I will ask. Why is it that you have a 75 gallon rock tank? Are you waiting for some disease to completely die out before you restock, or stock it? Just curious.

Doug1 · 02-01-2003, 08:33 PM

Tom, I came home one night to a Sen 900 that had stopped working, the impellor core had split, due to lack of maint and the iron core had poisoned the tank. Several friends from here got together and sent me new aragonite,and a *****load of Marshall Rock, that spent to long in transit, shall we say, so the curing was interesting

Then about that same time I sorta changed jobs at work and was no longer working the 30+ hrs OT evey pay period, so it cut SERIOUSLY into my reefing fund
but I am conspiring with others and it will be up and running again shortly

big t · 02-01-2003, 11:16 PM

Doug, I am sorry to hear a story like that, that SUCKS! I hope that you find the funds and the time to get it back to its former glory. I would be happy to send out some frags when the time comes, just let it be known, that is if I am around.