Removing Internal Overflow boxes / Beananimal Question

[Ted_C]

Ok all - got a question for you all to ponder.

I just bought jMonks 156 gallon oceanic. It will be my quarantine (non-medicated) and frag tank.

I'm concerned about the design of the dual internal overflows. It appears water will flow over and into one layer - then overflow into the next section where the drains will be located. the two sections are separated by what appears to be ~ 1/4" of space.

My main concern is the detritus that can get stuck between these two layers - and the detritus buildup that can occur in the drain section. Ease of maintenance is key in my design decisions. I don't want to try to shove a 1/4" ro tube down that slit and try to blow out or siphon detritus.

I'm seriously considering cutting out the dual internal overflows - then using 4 pipes/bulkheads from the bottom holes to support an in-tank coast-to-coast internal overflow (w/ 4 more bulkheads drilled into the internal overflow box) - then setting up a beananimal drain system within the internal overflow and capping one of the bulkheads.

I've never seen this done anywhere. Everyone that has cut out their internal overflows went and drilled new holes in the back of the tank. Maybe it's an aesthetics thing where people don't want to see pipe inside of their aquarium?

Do you see any issues running the beananimal overflow with everything (90's, T's, caps, air break) inside of the internal cost to coast?

 

[kory1006]

Other than aesthetics, there shouldn't be any issues. If anything it may be easier to plumb since the pipes could be a straight shot down.

 

[Ted_C]

maybe I'll get some rock rubble and that aquarium safe concrete and cover the pipes with it - to make a sort of pylon effect in the tank - that might be pretty cool - grow some barnacles and feather dusters on it

 

[anbosu]

Unless I am misunderstanding something you would drain your entire tank if you had a bulkhead problem.

FWIW I had the same aquarium set up (still have it in my garage) and never cleaned out that area. I had bristle worms and other detrivores that lived in there and kept it clean for me.

 

[LiquidCache]

I had the same setup in a Marineland tank, and I had no serious buildup for the time that it was in service.

 

[CuzzA]

You likely have a megaflow overflow or something similar. As stated it's a safety feature because by design it allows for the box to pull water from the entire water column.

 

[ChadRaay86]

You're talking about what I assume is going to be a bare bottom tank for frags that will occasionally have fish in it? If so you're overthinking it. I'm pretty sure that there have been well stocked versions of that tank that haven't failed, and you're talking about a lightly stocked qt/frag tank.

It's fine the way it is, spend the extra money on a few power heads and point them downward to prevent detritus period if you are really worried