Overflow positioning

[BengalReefer]

So, I am in the process of putting together a 150 that is 6 feet long. The tank is going to reside in an alcove, so the rear of the tank will be towards a wall and there will be about 6" of space on either side of the tank. I am planning on installing a beananimal drain system. My two thoughts are to either:

A) Run the coast to coast overflow and drains along the back of the aquarium, where access to the stand pipes will be limited, though as long as everything is well sealed and leak tested it should be ok.

B) Run a small "coast to coast" type overflow on one or both ends of the tank, this way I'd have fairly easy access to the stand pipes if something were to go wrong, though I would have less area for my weir(s).

Which do you think is a better plan? Any input from the experiences minds of RC is much appreciated!

 

[uncleof6]

Plan A is by very far, the best plan, based on the needs of the system. (surface skimming/renewal) Bean's system is intended to provide access to the standpipes (internal) from above. (Removable caps on the standpipes.) Place all the standpipes toward the end of the tank. (Pick an end, and design everything else around it.) You do not want or need them to be in the "middle" of the tank. Valves can go under the tank closer to the sump. Pay close attention to your gluing techniques (no primer is required btw) and use a few to no threaded fittings behind the tank, (use non-hardening thread sealant, no tape, on threaded fittings that are mandatory) and there are not any problems that will arise, that can't be dealt with by popping the cap on the stand pipe and running a bottle brush through them.

Don't try to run overflows at both ends of the tank. It will not work out the way you would hope. I am not fond of the idea of shoving a tank in an inaccessible alcove, but running a shorter overflow at the end of the tank, will mean a sacrifice in what the tank needs. E.G. slower removal of organics and slower surface renewal (power heads don't really do that sort of thing,) due to shorter weir, and longer "channel" (the length of the tank.)

This is a no win situation, as you are going to lose something with either choice you make.

 

[BengalReefer]

That's more or less what I was expecting, but glad to get confirmation. I'm not thrilled by the back being against a wall. Even though it will have a decent amount of space behind it, it would involve leaning over the tank to access. Well, I will plan on the traditional beananimal coast to coast and just take time to plumb it extra clean and tight.

Mostly I'm just excited to be able to finally have a tank with a coast to coast instead of those ugly black box overflows

 

[uncleof6]

That's more or less what I was expecting, but glad to get confirmation. I'm not thrilled by the back being against a wall. Even though it will have a decent amount of space behind it, it would involve leaning over the tank to access. Well, I will plan on the traditional beananimal coast to coast and just take time to plumb it extra clean and tight.

Mostly I'm just excited to be able to finally have a tank with a coast to coast instead of those ugly black box overflows

That is the whole point, and the reasoning behind the extra effort needed to implement things simply the way "they should be." Just say no to "reef ready."