new overflow idea

[Aadler]

So, I am going to redo my 40 hex tank (my main display tank, in living room). I currently have an overflow box, 12 high, 12 wide anf 3.5" deep in my tank, with a 1.5" drain, which I split into 2 1" drains dont ask why.

I am thinking about adding a glass box on the OUTside of my tank, 12 high, 8 wide, 5 deep with a glass/plexi bottom to drill 2 holes through to use 1" pipe siphon method and cut my internal overflow box down to 12 wide, as short as i can, and 1-1.5" deep.

then I am going to make a foam/rock wall for the majority of the back of the tank and a more simple rockwork/coral platforms.

I could use all glass on the outside, but i wanted to use 1/4" plexi for ease of drilling, i can use glass if needed, just figured it would be a bit cheaper.

Does anyone think there would be any risks involved in have this box on the outside? anything i should worry about as far as siliconing it and not holding long term etc?

thanks,

mike

 

[Aadler]

 

[Bowman]

Attaching your plastic/acrylic box to the outside of your glass aquarium is going to be your biggest challenge. Silicone does not bond well to plastic and being on the outside of your tank the jouint is prone to failure. If it was on the inside of the tank water pressure would tend to help hold it in place. You would be better off making your overflow box out of glass and then siliconing that box to the back of the tank, HTH

 

[Aadler]

All contact points will be glass, i think I am going to scrap the glass/acrylic bottom, to complex, ill just drill two holes in the 1/4" glass.

You still think that it will be hard to keep it stuck to the tank?

 

[Aadler]

oh you thought it was all plastic, the internal is plastic, the external is glass.

 

[Aadler]

Is 1/4" required, or could i get by with "double strength" 1/8", it is maybe 3/16", but not quite.

 

[ReefWidowed]

The thicker the glass the easier it is to drill without cracking....I would def do some "practice" drills on scrap 1/8 before you commit to it.

 

[Aadler]

mm didn't think of that. just $50 for the 4 pieces of 1/4 i need :/

 

[itZme]

One potential problem with your design is that if the bulkhead develops a leak or needs to be replaced for any reason your tank will continue to drain until it gets below the bulkhead.

Most of the external overflows I have seen use a diamond tool in a dremel to cut a slot for the water to flow over.

I have some 1/4 glass. What sizes are you looking for?

 

[Aadler]

that shouldn't be any more problem than it is now, if it leaked now they whole thing would keep leaking until the sump in basement would empty.

I am looking for roughly 5 inches deep, by 12 wide and 12 high.

so (1) 12" x 12.5"
and (3) 12" x 5"

or there abouts.

 

[Aadler]

there will still be the internal overflow box, because of the hole drilled in the back of tank, i will always need this, currently i have a durso drain IN the internal overflow box, so it takes up a lot of space in tank, I want the box to only be about 1-1.5" into the tank so i have a bit more room.

 

[vietcu]

You should call around some other glass places to see if there are any better prices. $50 for 4 pieces of that size is way too much IMO, should be around $20 for those pieces.

 

[DonDon1]

I agree with vietcu on the that price. I got 6, 12x14 baffles and a few smaller pieces all 1/4" glass for $50 at a glass shop be me. Glass and Mirror, on Lorain RD. by W.117

 

[Aadler]

im running into minimum charges mostly :/ i didnt want to go west side, but ill call them tomorrow, i got that way for work i guess.

 

[Jeff Trout]

I dont get why you need a box on the outside?couldnt you just put a "Y" on it or a 90?Dont only the top of the water from the inside of the tank need skimmed off the top?Maybe I missed something.

 

[itZme]

I think his problem is that there is a hole already in place right now for a bulkhead through the back wall. I would suggest drilling another hole next to it so there is a place for the water to drain in case the first hole gets slowed or stopped by something.

You are right though he could just add another bulkhead to the design for emergency drain and use the cut down internal overflow with 2 bulkheads for the siphon method without getting into siliconing glass on the back.

If you do use the external box I would just remove the bulkhead on the back wall from your design and let the water flow through the glass. if you are worried about anything going down the drain just put a bulkhead strainer into your drain tubes.

If you are really concerned about it you could silicone some gutter guard over the holes in the glass.

 

[Jeff Trout]

I still dont understand.what good does it do to have a box on the outside?He stated in his first sentence that he has an overflow box,even if the hole is already there why does there have to be a box on the outside?
thanks,jeff

 

[itZme]

You are right in the way you are thinking but I think he is going for a very short and not very deep internal overflow. He mentioned going with a siphon style drain set up. Mine are all the same system (full siphon with emergency drain) and I have an internal glass overflow box with 2 bulkheads in the back wall for each of my tanks.

I think he was going for more of an external overflow box but without the internal box he would lose surface skimming so I could see why he would want to leave a very narrow box inside and then put all the plumbing outside.