Internal vs External overflow

[GoToSleep]

In the What Would You Do Differently thread chrissreef mentions external on the end overflow. I'm planning a 300+gal peninsula set up and was just taking it for granted that I'd have it drilled with internal overflows. As this is a peninsula the overflows will be on one of the short ends of a 36x72 (or maybe 36x96) tank. Can anyone offer pros and cons of internal vs external overflows for large custom tanks.

 

[savethereef]

i have a 180g peninsula tank. and was with the same problem. i finaly settled for the inside overflow. i should of went with external after i got the tank. it reduces your room inside.

 

[rsmall175]

external leves more room for coral

 

[SuperR*]

Go with the external.

 

[flyyyguy]

I use external toothless coast to coasts on both of my current tanks and would never set up a display tank any differently.

Even if it was only at one short end as you are needing, use the most linear area you can and get that thing out of the tank

 

[rlxwcapt]

exterrnal is the way to go

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13316750#post13316750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
I use external toothless coast to coasts on both of my current tanks and would never set up a display tank any differently.

Even if it was only at one short end as you are needing, use the most linear area you can and get that thing out of the tank

Got any pics ??

 

[dzhuo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13316750#post13316750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
I use external toothless coast to coasts on both of my current tanks and would never set up a display tank any differently.

wouldn't toothless allow fish, snails, etc going into the overflow easily? do you ever have that problem?

 

[flyyyguy]

here is a not so good pic of one of them. This is a 60" overflow on a 72' tank

the overflow is running in this pic. You can see the paper thin sheet of water coming over.

Fish are not an issue. The gap is only 1/3". I dont keep any fish that could fit through that

 

[sfsuphysics]

I use a toothless external overflow as well, absolutely love it wouldn't have a future tank without one... unless it was a freebe tank and I had no choice.

Mine doesn't look even a fraction of a percent as nice as flyguy's though... but then again I cut it after the tank was full... (yeah you heard me! Dos Equis guy has nothing on me! ) But it is very functional... yes snails do occasionally hop over but only the smallest of them, as it's not like the top is completely open. Never had a fish get in there, and as fat as my fish are they wouldn't fit, did have a peppermint shrimp wind up living in my sump for a couple years though.