Calfo Style Overflow boxes
- Thread starter Jeremy Blaze
- Start date
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Lecture? No it is kind advice. You said I certainly wasn't trying to make anybody into a fool, so can the lecture please. but your tone and wording certainly illustrate otherwise. You took (2) shots at the guy and ended up being wrong AND guilty of what you poked fun at him for (not reading the THREAD).
The photos you posted above are NOT of a "calfo" style overflow, even though they are in this thread and offer an alternative to a calfo style (a.k.a.) coast-to-coast overflow. It may help if you went back and started at page (1) and read the entire thread.
The photos you posted above are NOT of a "calfo" style overflow, even though they are in this thread and offer an alternative to a calfo style (a.k.a.) coast-to-coast overflow. It may help if you went back and started at page (1) and read the entire thread.
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BeanAnimal
Premium Member
It depends on the type of fish you keep. You are correct, some fish fit right through the egg crate. It also depends on the width of the overflow and the volume of water going over it. Many fish will not "go over" but jumpers may.
Can you describe your setup (or proposed setup) and livestock?
well the calflo i have is 16'' wide
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/DSC02776.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/DSC02776.jpg
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
You will want to build a guard that fits on top of your overflow box that will narrow the gap down to 1/4" or so.
Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
I use plastic guttergaurd on mine to keep fish out.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
The drawback in the case of such a long overflow is that a fish could easily land ON the gutter guard and not flop back into the water.
Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
I make the guttergaurd a vertical wall not laid flat across.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Then you severely reduce the linear overflow length, limiting surface skimming
Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
It sits back a bit from the top si it is not a problem in that regard.
I have had problems with snails and fish going overboard due to the flow i have. This is a great DIY idea that I thought i would share. I made the top clear so i could see whats going on inside and vented as a backup just in case the side slots get clogged for some crazy reason and to keep fish from jumping in. Slots are 3/16 wide machined by Me
CALFLO aka Coast to coast overflow
Before..
Calflo After..
Lexan top CLEAR for viewing inside of calflo black outer rim to match the calflo. This is removable at anytime with no modifications to original..Clean Simple just how i like it.
Plastic Methylene Chloride Glue
CALFLO aka Coast to coast overflow
Before..
Calflo After..
Lexan top CLEAR for viewing inside of calflo black outer rim to match the calflo. This is removable at anytime with no modifications to original..Clean Simple just how i like it.
Plastic Methylene Chloride Glue
henrystyle
Member
What tool did you use to machine the teeth or slots.. nice job
Did you make a template?
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
The slots significantly reduce the surface skimming of the overflow and increase the noise.
Long lengthwise slots would be MUCH more effective if you are concered about keeping fish and snails out.
Long lengthwise slots would be MUCH more effective if you are concered about keeping fish and snails out.
I do have to say it has always struck me kind of funny when people go to all this effort to build a coast to coast overflow box whether internal or external, the point of which being to maximize your surface skimming ability............and then they put teeth in it, reducing its surface skimming effectiveness by 50%(give or take depending on your teeth dimensions).
a c 2 c operating properly is taking such a paper thin sheet of water out of the tank you only need that horizontal gap to be less than that of what most people can fit through their teeth in the first place.
a c 2 c operating properly is taking such a paper thin sheet of water out of the tank you only need that horizontal gap to be less than that of what most people can fit through their teeth in the first place.
henrystyle
Member
So no teeth....Got you...Slot across the back.
I'm building a 190g out of acrylic. I'm trying to have an external c 2 c with the back tank wall having this slot overflowing into the overflow box. You said there should be a thin sheet of water overflowing. So about a 1/4" long slot or groove (indent) across the top of the back wall?
I want the running water level in the tank to be about a 1/2" from the height of the tank.
I'm building a 190g out of acrylic. I'm trying to have an external c 2 c with the back tank wall having this slot overflowing into the overflow box. You said there should be a thin sheet of water overflowing. So about a 1/4" long slot or groove (indent) across the top of the back wall?
I want the running water level in the tank to be about a 1/2" from the height of the tank.
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