120 Build one or two overflows?

[McGee10]

Hi, First let me say thanks in advance this community has always been there for me your awesome!

Now to the good stuff, I am looking to upgrade from my 75 to a 120 gallon the LFS has a perfecto 120 single overflow for $460 should I hold off for the dual overflow at about $650 can't remember the brand. Any thoughts one way or the other.

 

[FirstContact]

You could get a standard 120g and have it drilled building your own overflow or purchase SynergyReefs. I have a 46 and a 120. Both are drilled aftermarket and I built the overflows out of glass bought from glass vendors.

 

[billdogg]

^^^What he said^^^ sort of anyway.

My 120 was undrilled - IMHO, the "reef ready" tanks are anything but, and wildly overpriced as well. I installed a 1500gph kit from www.glass-holes.com in the center of the back panel and could not be happier with it.

Drilling, if you've never done it, can be a bit intimidating, but is actually VERY easy. Just go slow and you'll be fine. The video on gl*******s website (and on youtube) are very helpful.

 

[KingTriton1]

I personally would have one overflow box drilled with two drains and one return all inside the one overflow box. My LFS has one of theirs displays set up like this. This way you can run a herbie on it. I like glass holes in terms of appearance but there overflows are loud from my experience. Plus, I like having all my equipment ran under my tank not from the back. If you have access to the back then ignore this. However most people have their tanks against a wall.

 

[KingTriton1]

That said if you were to drill the back of the tank you might as well just go ahead and run a bean animal on it.

 

[McGee10]

I guess I will have to check out the undrilled tanks it just seams like the factory drilled tanks are a much cleaner look and if you buy an overflow i will be almost at the price of the drilled with pipes hanging out the back. with that said can I do more with the bean animal is it that much better?

 

[KingTriton1]

That much better than a Durso Yes.. That much better than a Herbie no imo.

 

[Rognin]

A coast to coast overflow with a BA overflow is right now probably the best design out there. I find the BA>Herbie, but not by a huge margin. The only thing a BA has that a Herbi doesn't is an emergency standpipe which hardly gets used unless there's an emergency.

 

[Hitch08]

Mike - do some searches on here. My recollection is that two overflows on a 120 is considered a pain in the neck. Can't remember why, but I did the same research earlier this year.

One other thing to consider whether one side or the other (or both sides) of the tank will be seen from the room. My point is that the right side of my tank is fairly close to a wall and the other side is more exposed. Unfortunately, the exposed side is the one with the overflow. Not a big deal, but, it's something to consider if you drill yourself. You can pick your side.

 

[McGee10]

A coast to coast overflow with a BA overflow is right now probably the best design out there. I find the BA>Herbie, but not by a huge margin. The only thing a BA has that a Herbi doesn't is an emergency standpipe which hardly gets used unless there's an emergency.

So what is about the coast to coast overflow that everyone likes so much?
if you divide the surface skimming over the 4' back of the tank does it work as good?

 

[McGee10]

Mike - do some searches on here. My recollection is that two overflows on a 120 is considered a pain in the neck. Can't remember why, but I did the same research earlier this year.

One other thing to consider whether one side or the other (or both sides) of the tank will be seen from the room. My point is that the right side of my tank is fairly close to a wall and the other side is more exposed. Unfortunately, the exposed side is the one with the overflow. Not a big deal, but, it's something to consider if you drill yourself. You can pick your side.

If I go with the two overflow, one will be exposed if I go with the single it ends out in a corner hidden, having said that I just want what works best for the tank.

 

[KingTriton1]

One overflow box is better than two on a 120g. Herbie can work on both but is much easier with a single overflow box. Why go with two and use up more room when you don't have to? Also unless you go with a bean animal buy the tank reef ready. Why spend more effort and money doing it yourself when you can just have someone else do it for you for less and probably come out better looking?

 

[FoothillCorals]

These Ghost overflows are nice.

http://reefsavvy.com/the-reef-savvy-difference/

 

[Drae]

These Ghost overflows are nice.

http://reefsavvy.com/the-reef-savvy-difference/

Best overflow period. Reef savvy and synergy reef has designed the sleekest, dead silent, and easy to install overflow ever. Fashion and function in this one and the smallest in tank footprint available. Just my opinion obviously.

 

[McGee10]

These Ghost overflows are nice.

http://reefsavvy.com/the-reef-savvy-difference/

The Ghost overflows are nice, but with the price of the tank then add the price of the $235 Ghost, I can buy the pre drilled overflow tank.

so is the overflows coming out the back that much better?

 

[McGee10]

Drae, the tank you are putting together the 48x24x20 is that a production tank? who's brand is it? it looks like a good size.

 

[FirstContact]

The Ghost overflows are nice, but with the price of the tank then add the price of the $235 Ghost, I can buy the pre drilled overflow tank.

so is the overflows coming out the back that much better?

Yes, the overflows out the back and centered are way better, accessible and way easier to clean.

 

[d2mini]

If you want what's best for the tank, go as big as you can with no teeth.
The overflow needs to surface skim, and the bigger and flatter it is, the better it will do.

 

[sleepydoc]

From personal experience, get a standard tank and drill it yourself for an aftermarket overflow or make your own coast to coast with 2 pieces of glass and some silicone.

As dennis said, a longer overflow is better for surface skimming. Some people will debate how much surface skimming is necessary, but I've heard nobody argue that less is better.

I have a 120 corner flow that I ran as a Herbie for 3 years. Difficult to keep the overflow clean and adjusted properly. I finally cut out the overflow, plugged the holes and drilled the back for a bean. Hands down better than a Herbie. Looks are a matter of opinion, so you have to decide that for yourself, but if you have it stocked, people will spend far more time looking at your livestock than the overflow!

 

[McGee10]

From personal experience, get a standard tank and drill it yourself for an aftermarket overflow or make your own coast to coast with 2 pieces of glass and some silicone.

As dennis said, a longer overflow is better for surface skimming. Some people will debate how much surface skimming is necessary, but I've heard nobody argue that less is better.

I have a 120 corner flow that I ran as a Herbie for 3 years. Difficult to keep the overflow clean and adjusted properly. I finally cut out the overflow, plugged the holes and drilled the back for a bean. Hands down better than a Herbie. Looks are a matter of opinion, so you have to decide that for yourself, but if you have it stocked, people will spend far more time looking at your livestock than the overflow!

WOW, good to know! Thank you