Overflow design

[b.burnette]

Hello,
I am designing my upgrade tank and looking into building my own overflow box. My current design has 2 separate boxes that would be connected via bulkheads. The boxes could be attached with silicone to distribute the load on the back glass, otherwise they would rely on a series of gaskets.

My question here is: can I forego the bulkheads completely if I remove the backs from the boxes and silicone them directly to the tank, then let the water pass through drilled holes in the back.

The second option would spread out the stress to the tank. I also believe that if I do a good job with silicone, it will be less likely to leak.

This second option is also more like the "glass reef" tank that has a coast to coast overflow with rectangular ports in the back of the main tank.

Just looking for any advice from someone who has tried the same. Thanks!

 

[b.burnette]

With bulkheads:

Without bulkheads:

 

[laverda]

I agree with you and would silicon them directly to the tank.

 

[lapin]

If you are building a new tank there is no need for the bulkheads. Just remove the backs as you call them and silicone them directly to the tank.
I did notice the one bulkhead closest to me in the picture. It has no pipe in the box. This can create a vorex, if its your main drain. Can be quite noisey.

 

[b.burnette]

Thank you for the reply. I really just needed someone to tell me it was okay. Lol. I have been researching overflow boxes and there is a lot of information about the plumbing but there isn't much about the box itself.

 

[b.burnette]

Yeah, I will have a down pipe on that as well. I did it on the one pipe to see if it would fit and was lazy and didn't model the other.

 

[EvenFurther]

My overflow box is exactly like that. Outer box is glass attached with silicone. Inside box is a Modular Marine low profile attached with silicone. Used Dow Corning 795 for the acrylic to glass inside box.