309gal overflow question

[LoneRanger]

well, I purchased the custom tank this weekend! I am excited, but I still have lots of research to do.


concerning overlfows, I was wanting to do External overflows to keep the area insiode the tank uncluttered, But the tank builder had given the idea (although never done by him) of just doing 3 or 4 bulkheads on the top of the tank to act as overflows (screens of course) I was mostly concerned with noise, he said his store displays run similar with no issues but he hadnt done it on anything as large as mine. (8feet long, 24"high, and 31" wide) do you think the water surface would be skimmed enough?


thoughts?



L.R.

 

[Elliott]

it would likely be noisy and difficult to tune compared to a standpipe. also raising or lowering the water level can be done with standpipes, not with bulkheads.

 

[Brandan]

With screens on bulkheads, sometimes they do not allow skimming to be the best. The screens restrict that somewhat. What you could do to keep down on noise is put a T on the backside of the bulkhead on the outside, and cap off the top and drill a hole in it, this would basically be an "External Durso" pipe. If you wanted, you could put an elbow on the inside facing down, but then you willl not skim the surface at all. I think this would work just fine, but there are better ways to do so.

 

[RocketEngineer]

While I only have a small tank, I feel this idea is very sound.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310585

K.I.S.S.

Also, a Calfo style overflow only takes up room at the top of the back wall of the tank rather then space on the bottom. It also skims the entire length of the tank rather then just a few places. This reduces the flow at any given location and keeps snails and fish from taking an unintended trip to the sump.

 

[Elliott]

RocketEngineer: thanks for the link, never seen that before, excellent

 

[LoneRanger]

very cool, I replied in that thread.


L.R.

 

[Po-vegas reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11768360#post11768360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RocketEngineer
While I only have a small tank, I feel this idea is very sound.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310585

K.I.S.S.

Also, a Calfo style overflow only takes up room at the top of the back wall of the tank rather then space on the bottom. It also skims the entire length of the tank rather then just a few places. This reduces the flow at any given location and keeps snails and fish from taking an unintended trip to the sump.

Have seen this set up on lots of tanks works great

 

[bag151]

I went with the true external overflow, the only real downside is that you see into the overflow, which I am going to cut out a piece of black acrylic to black out the box. There is also no chance of fish or snails getting in the overflow.

Calfo's are nice and cheaper because they don't have to water jet the overflow out of the top of the tank, but it doesn't look as clean.