Durso overflow box question???

GIJOE007

New member
If I was to eliminate the overflow box and use 2 x 1" durso overflows, would it work safley? One durso will be a full syphon and the other is a backup.

This is what I was thinking. I have 2 x 1" bulkheads for my overflow to the sump. If I was to put 90's from the bulkheads with slotted cuts in pvc pipe inserted in the 90's pointing up (to act as surface skimmer) then fashion some kind of grate to go over the pvc openings. If a snail or something else was to block the full syphon, the back up would kick in.

I dont like the look of an overflow box in tank and space limits me to have an external one so thats out the question. I was just thinking if this would be safe thing to do or not.

I could also fashion a "cage" out of gutter gard grill to put around both durso's and that would eliminate anything cligging to the durso causing potential blocking of the overflows.

Thoughts, comments and concerns???
 
Is this just the most retarded question or what? I mean really, why the need for an overflow? If it's purly for surface skimming, why could I not just cut slots in pvc to make it the skimmer?

Am I completly off my rocker here?
 
I've had a setup like that.. just a straight pipe and not even a durso. It was a large PVC (1-1/2" dia) so I just cut some slots and it was actually very effective. I also put an airline hose to stop the gurgling and it worked fine. The drawbacks of this design are:

-the ugly PVC is exposed - you might want to paint it black or aquascape around it to conceal

- you lose surface skimming area. A 1-1/2" diameter pvc aint gonna skim that much

PROS:

- you save valuable space
-you lose that humongous ugly black box
-you lose the same black box that can trap fish and detritus in
-you can use the same pvc pipe to anchor live rocks
 
heres what i did instead of having the full height black overflows
IMG_0552.jpg


side view
IMG_0843.jpg


durso side
IMG_0842.jpg
 
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