Overflow in Middle VS Corner Overflow

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
I am going to start drilling my 40 gallon aga reef tank. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of having my overflow in the middle vs the corner? I would like to incorporate a Sea Swirl in my Closed Loop. I have a Quiet One 5000 for my closed loop with T connectors to direct water via loc line around the tank. I would like to incorporate the Sea Swirl in there for Random Flow. I have a Quiet One 3000 for my return from my sump. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you very much.

 

[MarineGirl411]

anyone?

 

[wav3form]

Here's another style overflow. Doesn't answer your question but may give you another option to consider.

http://www.austinoceans.com/products-overflows.html

 

[dystopian]

This is just my opinion but I've always enjoyed tanks with corner overflows more than middle overflows, the reason primarily being that with middle overflows, it's always in your main area of focus, whereas with a corner overflow, you can aquascape the focus area towards the other side and even use the smaller overflow area towards an asymmetrical rock design. It's doable with a middle overflow, but it seems much more difficult, although it a middle overflow does better support a symmetrical rock formation.

 

[MarineGirl411]

I just wasn't sure where to put the overflow. I like the little box overflow Wav3 sent me. That would look very nice. I didn't know if it would be harder though to get the fish waste directed toward the corner vs the middle. Is that even an issue? If I did a corner, that would be good because then I could put the Sea Swirl in the middle and the Loc Line on the sides. But then again, would it be harder for the fish waste to get to the corner? I'd appreciate your input. Thank you.

 

[dystopian]

I would imagine a good random flow is more crucial to keeping fish waste suspended in the water column than the overflow box position. A center overflow would probably be better in general at catching fish-poop from the water column due to it's position and the fact that you have an extra overflow side, but you can always direct some flow towards the corner overflow to compensate. Overall, I don't think it would be a really noticeable difference in performance if you used a corner overflow compared to a center overflow. The more important issue is how you'd keep detritus in the water column and away from settling onto the bottom or in live rock.

 

[FLIPbmw]

It depends on how you want to aquascape it and IF you want it hidden.

Corner overflow = Pack rocks up in the corner to hide it. It gives a slanting look.

Middle overflow = Pack rocks up in the middle to cover it. the edges can have less and less rock or you can fill the whole back wall with rocks.

 

[MarineGirl411]

well I was thinking of adding a sea swirl along with the closed loop via loc line. This would keep it suspended I believe. I'll have 2 loclines in the back pointing towards rockwork and then one pointed towards the back of the tank to get detrius behind the rocks, I have a y connector and would then have 2 more in the front of the tank. One directed towards the middle, then one directed straight ahead. Hmm....How does that sound? If I added a sea swirl, wouldn't it have to be placed in the middle of the tank for best flow? Wouldn't it be weird if I added it on the side of the overflow box in the middle? I think it would get stuck on the overflow box. Just not exactly sure what to do. I don't want to have a bunch of fish poo not going in the overflow.

 

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
Can anyone else give me some advice? I'd really appreciate it. If I need a corner overflow, will it be easy for the fish waste to collect as easy as a center overflow? Please let me know. I'd really appreciate it.. I want to keep this up there on the list cause I need some more opinions. Thank you.

 

[MarineGirl411]

bump

 

[dystopian]

I don't think you'll have any problems or even notice too much of a difference in waste collection with a corner as opposed to a center overflow. It's really more of an aesthetics issue. Do you like looking at a tank with a large overflow column to the corner or in the center?

Another alternative is to use an EXTERNAL overflow. Then you don't even have to look at an overflow in your tank at all!

 

[MarineGirl411]

I wouldn't know how to do an external overflow. Do you have a link on how to do that? It was going to be a small box, but yes I'd prefer no box if that was possible. =) Let me know. Thank you.