Overflow box teeth

[Ric54]

So I'm building an overflow box and need some help from the pros. So how long should the teeth of the overflow box be? Also how wide should the gap be between them?

I've read once that the water line will be 1/4 higher from the bottom of the teeth. I searched but can't find that post.

Thanks for you help.

Rick

 

[Reefmedic79]

1/4 inch sounds right, my teeth are about 1/2 wide with 1/2 gaps between them.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Teeth cut down on surface skimming which is the entire point of an overflow box. Why would you want something that reduces the surface skimming by half?

 

[Reefmedic79]

They help prevent organisms such as snails ending up in your overflow, possibly clogging your overflow pipe.

 

[Ric54]

1/4 inch sounds right, my teeth are about 1/2 wide with 1/2 gaps between them.

Thanks for confirming that.

Teeth cut down on surface skimming which is the entire point of an overflow box. Why would you want something that reduces the surface skimming by half?

If I do not cut teeth in it what would you recommend to keep the fish out of my overflow box or should I not put anything at all?

 

[RocketEngineer]

If I do not cut teeth in it what would you recommend to keep the fish out of my overflow box or should I not put anything at all?

I don't put anything at all. Snails climb in and out of my overflow box all the time. I have had fish in my overflow twice, one time it ended up in my sump and the second time I spotted it in the box totally unharmed. In both cases the fish didn't show any signs of stress.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

teeth actually cut down the surface skimming by more then half...as there is water tension created by the sides of the teeth...as mentioned the point of the overflow box is to SKIM the surface film off the water, not take 1/4" of water from below the surface...

also as mentioned snails and crabs arent going to do anything but clean you overflow for you...if you are that concerned about them you can put gutter gaurd over the box or put strainers on the ends of the pipes...but i have never had a problem with animals in the box, if they get out great, if not i scoop them, if they end up in the sump also no biggie...at least they are not on the floor cause the water level is too high in the tank from trying to squeeze through the teeth in the overflow box.

 

[ninja66999]

no teeth, jus put a large guage debri filter in there, i use a pond type filter, like for catching leaves, u dont wanna lose a fish if it goes to the sock below if u have one...

 

[reefermad619]

I like my tanks like I like my women... Wide, no socks, and no teeth!!!
:rollface: :rollface:

 

[ZooZ]

What should be the height of the overflow box if you are going with no teeth? Or in other words how much below the top of the tank should it be set?

 

[SGT_York]

1/8" below the desired water level, with plastic rimmed tanks, that is usually at the bottom of the plastic piece.

I prefer a solid dark color lid that is supported by a tooth every 12 inches or so. That keeps the animals out and also keeps the light out so no algae grows. 1/4" gap from the bottom of the lid to the top of the overflow. leaves plenty of space for the water and small enough to keep the livestock out. If you have really high flow or an overflow on the short side of the tank it will need to be taller.

 

[Pogue]

I had started to router teeth into my overflow box made from 1/4" acrylic. I used a 1/4" bit and notched in 1", every 3/4 of an inch. This was going great until I snapped a couple teeth off.

I'm now using some basic egg crate, which isn't very good.
But I've recently had an idea you may want to try.

I'm going to cover my overflow box (I cut all the teeth off), with a piece of black acrylic.
I'll cut it so it's just slightly larger then my box. I'll also cut some "feet" to glue to the lid that will stand in the overflow box, so the lid sits just above the water line. That way I'll have no restriction of water flow, the gap will probably be about 1/3", and I won't have any algae growing in the box from unnecessary light hitting it.
win, win, win

 

[uncleof6]

What should be the height of the overflow box if you are going with no teeth? Or in other words how much below the top of the tank should it be set?

Top of the overflow should be at the same level as the bottom of the trim on the outside of the tank...this hides the waterline...

 

[SGT_York]

Don't glue the overflow lid on, you will regret it.

 

[Maivortex]

No teeth

 

[wolfblue]

i prefer a solid dark color lid that is supported by a tooth every 12 inches or so. That keeps the animals out and also keeps the light out so no algae grows. 1/4" gap from the bottom of the lid to the top of the overflow. Leaves plenty of space for the water and small enough to keep the livestock out. If you have really high flow or an overflow on the short side of the tank it will need to be taller.

+1