External Overflow Question

D

dreadhead

New member
I'm setting up a 65G on my 1st flr which will overflow into a basement sump and refugium. I plan on using an external overflow box to save space in the tank and I'm trying to determine what overflow rating I should look for. I was thinking an 800gph rating would be sufficient.?.? I will be utilizing the bean animal overflow system with the external overflow box, if that at all matters.

I guess I'm just looking for any input to make sure I'm on the right track.
 
I bought the medium one that's in that link. I never got to use it because I broke the tank, but it's a nice looking overflow.


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Yes, sorry I should have been more clear but the style in your link is exactly what I was going to do. Sounds like I'll go with one rated for no more than 800 gph. I appreciate both of your feedback, thank you!
 
Well actually, I would have to use the large size Eshopps which is rated at 1000gph for bean animal as it needs 3 separate standpipes. Should I have any concern using a 1000 gph rated overflow with the intention of only moving 5-600gph?
 
That won't be a issue. The rating on them is the maximum rating but they can handle less. Honestly, I would get as big of a overflow box as possible so I can maximize surface skimming. I'm not sure how long the eshopps box is but they have a couple different manufacturers of the ghost type overflows u may want to check into so u can get as long of a box that your tank can fit. The exterior box is usually smaller then the interior but it is the interior box that gives u surface skimming. I made my own ghost overflow with a internal weir & external box so I never researched the prefabbed boxes to much but I do know they make them 24" & 36" long. If I'm not mistaken your tank is 3' long so I would go with atleast a 24" box.
 
thanks for the info! Yes my tank is 3' in length. It does have the support bar that crosses across the middle of the tank on the upper trim - I think this would hinder me from being able to utilize a longer interior weir (unless I had a custom box built that split the center of the tank).?.?.
 
You can add a gate valve and a DIY silencer to drop the flow if needed, otherwise it's going to gurgle like crazy. The DIY silencer was under 10 bucks in PVC parts from Home Depot, or Canadian Tire hah. It's ok, my wife is Canadian. Just got back from holiday in New Brunswick.

You're going to need a fairly large return pump.

Also, I don't know if you have an Apex or similar, but I wouldn't run an external overflow without some sort of level detection in the DT. I said nah, this will never happen to me. Yet my tank overflowed so. many. times.
 
oh man a Canadian Tire reference - very nice! I actually moved to Indiana so I need to update my location - I haven't been on these boards in 10 years so just getting started back up.

I think the gurgling/noise should be managed by utilizing a bean animal return system which entire premise is dead silence AND safety by using redundant standpipes (3). Unless I'm not understanding your info and I'm missing something.

I do know that I would prefer a through-tank external overflow with 2, if not 3, bulkheads through the tank to minimize any risk of a blocked pass through that would cause my return to overflow the DT.

I'm still wondering about the interference of the cross beam in regards to trying to use a longer internal weir to increase surface skimming. I can picture how one should look because right now I can only fit a ~16" weir/external overflow between the edge of tank and the support beam that crosses the middle of the tank.

thank you everyone for the responses! Very much appreciated.
 
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