Horizontal Overflows

[jimroth]

I am very close to ordering my new 210G tank, but I'm getting some pushback from the tank builder.
I wanted to incorporate a horizontal ("c*lfo") overflow with 2 X 1.5" drains. He says I won't get good flow without a vertical overflow to "push" the water down the pipe with a column of water.
Does anyone have any experience with horizontal overflows so as to be able to confirm or deny this? I don't want to get it and have to add the traditional overflow afterwards. That would be no fun.

 

[rlxwcapt]

Get a new tank builder. If you think about it all over flows are horizontal. Water is going to move to the area of least resistance. Many tank manufactures are installing horizontal overflows. specialy the ones that are external. I would make it external and horizontal. good luck

 

[rlxwcapt]

check out the not a typical doctors office. They have pictures of the tank with a Horizontal external overflow.

 

[jimroth]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9004339#post9004339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rlxwcapt
check out the not a typical doctors office. They have pictures of the tank with a Horizontal external overflow.

Cap'n, that is a nice tank, but it has what I would refer to as an external overflow box.
I am referring to an internal gutter-type overflow running the length of the tank, with two drain holes out the back, anyone have any experience with those?

 

[rlxwcapt]

You get the same result. if it is external or internal.

 

[radone]

Check my www. That's a 210 there with an external overflow

I agree get a new tank builder BTW the overflow is the full width of the tank and there's (3) 1 1/2 drains in there I currently run 2 but have that option for feeding something else.

Sorry those pics are a few months old now

 

[radone]

The stlye your refering to is "coast - coast" or Calfo. They all drain the same way

 

[cward]

Mine works great. Here's a pic before it was plumbed all the way.

 

[bolrog]

If you look at all the Dorso standpipes on all the tanks on this board, where does the water they suck down come from.

All I can see is that it is mostly from the top of the water. So the argument from your current builder is invalid.

Check all the HOB overflows they don't go all the way down

 

[benf]

I just had a 200 built with an external horizontal overflow with 3 2" drains. The tank is 6ft and the overflow box is ~5 ft... Here is a pic of the back of my tank

 

[Kshack]

Jim,

I have that exact overflow. Box is 2.5X5 placed 1.25 down from top of tank. Two 1.5 inch bulkheads. Bulkhead is connected to a "T" outside the tank and the top goes up about 6" and then is caped. Hole drilled in the top for a Durso type drain. Only problem I had is air getting sucked into bulkhead. This was noisy. Overcame this by placing a 90 elbow inside the overflow box. Problem with this was the elbow would not fit in the 2.5 inch width that I had. Solution was to heat the elbow in hot oil to flatten somewhat. I would pan the box to accommodate the elbow and take into account the width of the bulkhead you are using.
Ken