Overflows on a 220

[ebe]

I picked up a used 6 foot 220. It has overflows on both ends, centered on the ends. Two drains and one return on both ends. Both overflows need to be resiliconed back in.

I would prefer they be in the back corners but really don't feel like redrilling any holes. So I am leaning to just putting them back in where they were or maybe just using one and putting glass over top the holes on one end.

Comments anyone?

 

[smoothdog]

I would just use one end and set up a bean-animal overflow. It will be simple, silent and give you more space in the tank. You will need all three holes, but your return can just go over the back/side.

 

[ebe]

How thick should the glass be that I use to cover the holes.

 

[benjammin03]

How thick should the glass be that I use to cover the holes.

I would use a bulkhead and plug to seal it instead of silicone.

 

[smoothdog]

3 bulkheads just to plug holes would be a little pricey. Check you local glass shop for a glass scrap big enough to cover all three holes. How thick is the tank glass? I'd try to go close to the same thickness, but the bottom glass is holding all of the weight so you could go a little thinner on the patch glass. Just be sure to put the patch on the inside of the tank.

 

[jtrasap]

I agree, just silicone some glass over the holes. A glass shop will probably have some old scraps lying around.

 

[mpgrant77]

Just my opinion but I would cover both sets with glass and drill the back for a ghost overflow. It opened up so much space in the take for rock scape. either way I would go like smoothdog said with the bean animal-setup.

 

[ebe]

Evidently 1/2 glass must be impregnated with gold. I got a piece of 3/8 glass, 6” x 16”. I would think this should work better or as good as using bulkheads.

 

[Lance A. Lot]

I have some scrap 1/2 glass from when I covered the holes in the bottom of my 180. I would highly recommend the ghost overflow. I could get it to you next pizza night if you are interested.
I dealt with this issue when I was doing my build.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554245&page=2

 

[ebe]

Went with just one. Wish I would have done two. Now I get a film on top of the water on the other end of the tank.

 

[Crooked Reef]

I had this issue with my 4 foot tank. I moved my mp40 up a bit higher on that side glass and haven’t had an issue since. Pretty much any pump up top on that side to create water turbulence may help though if you have a spare koralia or something like that laying around.

 

[smoothdog]

What Crooked said! You should be able to fix this with proper flow.

 

[jtrasap]

I agree, and maybe run all of your return water to the opposite end of the tank from the overflow, that way everything flows in one end and gets forced down to the overflow end.

 

[ebe]

Dropped the return pipe and moved a wave pump to the top on the other end. Problem solved.

 

[smoothdog]

Glad to hear you got it worked out.