Thanks T. Now I need to decide if I want the overflow the whole length of the tank, biased towards one side, or maybe a 3 or 4 foot overflow in the center of the rear glass. I just hope it doesn't cast a huge shadow in the tank. That will allow me to be able to look into the sides without seeing into the overflow.
Holy reefer!!!! Dd 250 custom
- Thread starter teesquare
- Start date
Will you be able to access both ends of the tank? Or will it go into a corner of a room?
One consideration....I am 6'1'' and have "Albatross" arms ( I have to buy a 35'' sleeve on dress shirts.....
But I would not want to have to reach across the 36'' front to back dimension to clean, or remove anything from the overflow..... And my tank sits on the factory stand/cabinet - which many complain is too low... If you make it taller, you mutiply the "dis-comfort level" of cleaning/maintenance. If you make it difficult - chances are it will not get done.
Add to this if you intend to put a canopy on it that you have to lift, ( I am ordering my elctro-mechanical lift today!) or slide the lights out of, - but you still have a narrow, finite space ( in height) to reach across...
I would recommend getting a bunch of cardboard and tape, make a model of the tank, at the exact height it will be, and pretend you are needing to get to the middle of the back panel....:bigeyes:
Another reason I wanted to put the overflow on the end. I can get to it. It can have a cover plate, and I can fit a piece of cabinet grade ply, stained black over the gap between the bottom of the overflow and the end wall...but, I can still get to everything with out a trip to the chiropractor en-sueing:lol:
T
One consideration....I am 6'1'' and have "Albatross" arms ( I have to buy a 35'' sleeve on dress shirts.....
But I would not want to have to reach across the 36'' front to back dimension to clean, or remove anything from the overflow..... And my tank sits on the factory stand/cabinet - which many complain is too low... If you make it taller, you mutiply the "dis-comfort level" of cleaning/maintenance. If you make it difficult - chances are it will not get done.
Add to this if you intend to put a canopy on it that you have to lift, ( I am ordering my elctro-mechanical lift today!) or slide the lights out of, - but you still have a narrow, finite space ( in height) to reach across...
I would recommend getting a bunch of cardboard and tape, make a model of the tank, at the exact height it will be, and pretend you are needing to get to the middle of the back panel....:bigeyes:
Another reason I wanted to put the overflow on the end. I can get to it. It can have a cover plate, and I can fit a piece of cabinet grade ply, stained black over the gap between the bottom of the overflow and the end wall...but, I can still get to everything with out a trip to the chiropractor en-sueing:lol:
T
The tank is going to be viewable on 3 sides with the back of the tank against a wall. There will be a canopy, but I am going to make it with removable side panels so I can "get in". I wish I could put the overflow on an end, but I think it would be pretty ugly to look at since both ends will be viewable. I guess I could make the end with the overflow not viewable, but I think that may look weird considering the tank will be against a wall and not near any corners.
Yes - I understand your think about aesthitics..... But these tanks are big to reach across. Not possible for another location huh? I know I only had the one spot to work with. I am afraid for you:bigeyes: with the fixed canopy.
But I am sure there are ways to do it that I am not familiar with. Keep me posted on what you work out. I enjoy seeing how others find ways to continue improving everything in the hobby!
T
But I am sure there are ways to do it that I am not familiar with. Keep me posted on what you work out. I enjoy seeing how others find ways to continue improving everything in the hobby!
T
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
RichK
I concur with T on this. I have a 60" long 30" deep tank with a 48" long external overflow on the back and as it sits against the wall it's almost impossible to reach the center. As a result I never clean the bottom of the overflow box (and mine is 12" deep as opposed to Ts) so I rely on snails to keep the detritus in check. As you are contemplating a 36" deep then even with an internal along the back it will be difficult to get to. If at all possible I would go with one at the end like T's. You'll still get good surface skimming if you make it full width. Definitely go with an external -- why pay for that nice deep tank and then have an overflow taking up valuable real estate.
With some creative cabinet design you can enclose the end and have access doors to get to the overflow.
If I had to do my tank again (it's an Aquarium Obsessed tank from Canada -- not sure if the are still in business) I would go with a full width external on one end.
Just my 2c worth. :wavehand:
I concur with T on this. I have a 60" long 30" deep tank with a 48" long external overflow on the back and as it sits against the wall it's almost impossible to reach the center. As a result I never clean the bottom of the overflow box (and mine is 12" deep as opposed to Ts) so I rely on snails to keep the detritus in check. As you are contemplating a 36" deep then even with an internal along the back it will be difficult to get to. If at all possible I would go with one at the end like T's. You'll still get good surface skimming if you make it full width. Definitely go with an external -- why pay for that nice deep tank and then have an overflow taking up valuable real estate.
With some creative cabinet design you can enclose the end and have access doors to get to the overflow.
If I had to do my tank again (it's an Aquarium Obsessed tank from Canada -- not sure if the are still in business) I would go with a full width external on one end.
Just my 2c worth. :wavehand:
Chicago
New member
TAGGING along.. sorry for caps.. but wow.. little fyi .... on overflow.. anythoughts on running black eggcrate to keep the critters in the tank and not the overflow.. i have a similar set up and even with the eggcrate they sometimes end up doing a little solitary in the overflow boxes...
Sure thing - eggcrate would work - or another fellow had the idea to use a piece of black glass as a "top" for the overflow- with those small furniture bumpers to make the gap which water flows thru.
But maybe I have been lucky thus far. Only one fish went over, and it was "on it's last fins".... so I think it would not have otherwise.
The other thing I have consered was to install black screen pipe (that Aquatic Eco Systems sells) in the turned down elbows in the overflow. It would extend to flush with the bottom of the overflow. The screen pipe would prevent a fish or snail from being sucked down to the sump.
Any thoughts?
T
But maybe I have been lucky thus far. Only one fish went over, and it was "on it's last fins".... so I think it would not have otherwise.
The other thing I have consered was to install black screen pipe (that Aquatic Eco Systems sells) in the turned down elbows in the overflow. It would extend to flush with the bottom of the overflow. The screen pipe would prevent a fish or snail from being sucked down to the sump.
Any thoughts?
T
That is a good point about the fish chasing ....
As for food, I always feed sinking, never floating food - but with the current I am generating in the tank "sinking food" does not mean much if I don't turn off all pumps......and I rarely turn off all pumps.....
I am going to order some black eggcrate! Thanks!
T
As for food, I always feed sinking, never floating food - but with the current I am generating in the tank "sinking food" does not mean much if I don't turn off all pumps......and I rarely turn off all pumps.....
I am going to order some black eggcrate! Thanks!
T
I am going to add eggcrate to my list as well. T, it looks like I will be doing the same overflow as you did, off to one side. I am going to build the tank into a wall with cabinets on each side for the skimmer, etc. The cabinet on the overflow side will actually be like a closet so I can walk into it to clean out the overflow. Chiller will go into the garage on the other side of the wall. Your thread, and a few others, have really given me some great ideas. Now I just need to sell this house and move my current tanks. Sounds like fun huh?
Chicago
New member
reminder as i had a hell of a problem.. with the black egg crate.. get your self a test tube cleaner.. order a dozen of them.. it is great for cleaning the egg crate.. do not simply brush it.. go through each square as you clean to keep the coralline algae at bay.. believe me you do not want it getting a hold...also the troublesome tube encrusting snails (not sure of the exact name) tend to start to grow after years and like it there also.. i caution this over and over because i let mine go for couple of months in the summer and water level rose and caused problems with my silicone seal to the center brace.. long thread somewhere here about the crack and delamination in the glass due to pressure from failed center brace.. story for another day... so keep it clean... also.. the over flow.. makes a nice holding cell for the fish to acclimate if they need to.. looks like you have clear glass so that is a total plus if adding lets say and tang in with other tangs.. through the glass they tend to try and fight for days and eventually after couple of weeks stop and then you can release him into the main tank.. works for me about 9 out of ten times.. i do it with a large clear gallon container.
Chicago
New member
ok.. just looked more carefully at pics... before you add the eggcrate see how the water flows over it.. given you height of glass on the over flow edge.. once the eggcrate is in ..if on top of the glass.. your water lever might be to high... you might have to think of how to install the eggcrate so that you water level is still good...
just my 2 cents worth.. good luck...love the look of the tank..
just my 2 cents worth.. good luck...love the look of the tank..
reminder as i had a hell of a problem.. with the black egg crate.. get your self a test tube cleaner.. order a dozen of them.. it is great for cleaning the egg crate.. do not simply brush it.. go through each square as you clean to keep the coralline algae at bay.. believe me you do not want it getting a hold... Sounds like good "eggcrate dental maintenace!
Good ideas! Keep 'em coming - I appreciate the input guys!
T
jb61264
New member
Me
I had three fish take a ride through my silent/failsafe overflow...all survived but I got tired of fishing out of my sump. Since I put the "top" over the overflow, I have had zero incidents and since I painted it black, I get no algae growth in there either.
Padrino
New member
Thanks guys!
How about the "flow control" pics?
There are 3 Oceans Motions OM-4s that create current and motion in the tank.
Notice all the plumbing. ( My chiropractor has been a busy man)
The center OM-4 is for the return from the sump - it has a drum that makes the water come out of the OM - Omni Flex Nozzles one at a time, and moving from left to right, adifferent nozzle every 15 seconds. This I hope- will give a sort of "washing tide" that pushes debris toward the overflow - on the right of the tank.
Note the nozzles - they - like all of Paul's stuff at Oceans Motions - are works of industrial art. The machine work is amazing to see in person. The nozzles allow you to aim the returns with more options of direction than the black knuckled Loc-Line. Wish they were black......
The ouside of the back panel is covered with the darkest window tint film I could buy at Lowe's. Seems to work pretty well. Easy to install, no spray paint!
And the overflow takes the water to the sump via the 2" black flex PVC going into the right end of the picture. The pipe coming from low left to high right at an angle is the return from the sump. It is pushed by a Reeflo Barracuda. Fed into the center OM-4 under the aquarium cabinet.
THIS IS AMAZING. I wish i found this thread earlier as i am in the works of looking for a house to do something like this.
Please excuse me as I'm a little late to this thread but i have a few questions.
First i love the sump? its not acrylic you mentioned it was some other type of plastic polyethylene or something?? How was that to work with and how did you glue it or secure it together? It really does look awesome!
Second i noticed that you used abs fittings for your overflow, i guess that doesn't really matter since your not gluing any flex tubing to it and it just sits in the bulkheads.
Also i really like the work you did with the tank at marineland! great design. But i don't think i caught the dimensions of the tank anywhere.
Im still on page 2 so ill try and catch up. Amazing so far. Blows my mind away!
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