Drill=Yes Now Overflow???

[Koop]

OK you convinced me. Once my freshwater guys find a new home and I drain the tank I will do the laptop test. Assuming it is not tempered I will drill.

My next request would be for a little guidance on hole size/location and overflow deign and build. I have quite a bit of acrylic left over from a clear rail deck I removed for a customer. With a little Weld On 4 it seams like I can build any size overflow I want.

I searched around, but got quickly overwhelmed by all the pictures.

Anybody with a design they love?

Needs to handle around 1000 GPH seems like. Is that right?

Thanks Everyone!

 

[Ajae]

I would look at glass-holes, they sell overflow kits along with the diamond hole saw bits. That what I run on my tank since I also moved from freshwater over to reef.

 

[Koop]

I checked out glass holes. They have a pretty nice looking product. I was wondering if I could get an even better result making my own. Especially with a bunch a free acrylic sitting around. I have seen some people run an overflow along the entire back of the tank for instance. I have also seen some overflows on the bak of tanks.

Just so many options and I cannot discern the advantages and disadvantages to them all.

 

[Ajae]

i'm sure you can if you know how to work with it, although if you fit one to the back of your tank, 'you'll be looking at more than 1000GPH. How big is this tank?

 

[thegrun]

I love the coast to coast I built for my 120 gallon tank.

 

[chimmike]

can't reliably adhere acrylic to glass, so you'd need to make an overflow out of glass for a glass aquarium.

Depending on the size of the tank, I'd recommend beananimal.

 

[Koop]

My tank is a 120 gallon tall (60"x18"x26").

Thanks for the info about acrylic to glass, I did not know that.
I could build an acrylic box and bulkhead it to the back of the tank and then use glass for the overflow inside the tank. Does that even make sense. I guess I am unclear why some people have an overflow on the back. More volume?

Thanks

 

[Ajae]

Umm.. i don't see where this would be a problem. The kits come with bulkheads that fit perfectly with the overflows, I have glass-holes acrylic overflow on my glass tank and i've had zero problems. I don't why you would want to adhere the overflow to the back glass.

 

[rsain]

Umm.. i don't see where this would be a problem. The kits come with bulkheads that fit perfectly with the overflows, I have glass-holes acrylic overflow on my glass tank and i've had zero problems. I don't why you would want to adhere the overflow to the back glass.

Apples and oranges. You are both talking about different systems. On several different levels.

Yours doesn't need to adhere to the glass as its attached via bulkhead, correct?

A simple overflow can be built internally to essentially box in the drains (holes). If you are doing that then glass on glass is a must.

-ryan

 

[Ajae]

got it. thanks

 

[Koop]

So if I understand correctly I could make an acrylic box with teeth cut in the top to keep things out of the box. It could be nearly coast to coast and be attached with the bulkheads rather than silicone?

 

[Ajae]

Yes that what i have done, depending on you tank size or overflow size i would make 2 maybe 3 holes with the bulkheads

 

[Koop]

What size bulkheads would you recommend? 1 1/2"? Is there such a thing as too big?