Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

Without a picture, I don't fully understand your displays trim.

However, you can put the overflow anywhere you want. You can put it above the trim, but that is less room for error. I personally am never comfortable with the water level above the trim.

My C2c is sealed against one side of the tank and is 6" inches short of the other side. I have a 1/3" gap beneath the bottom of the trim and top of the C2C. I heard no noise from the water flowing over the C2C.

wherever you put the C2C water is going to overflow the top of it.

Water seeks the point of least resistance.
 
Without a picture, I don't fully understand your displays trim.

However, you can put the overflow anywhere you want. You can put it above the trim, but that is less room for error. I personally am never comfortable with the water level above the trim.

My C2c is sealed against one side of the tank and is 6" inches short of the other side. I have a 1/3" gap beneath the bottom of the trim and top of the C2C. I heard no noise from the water flowing over the C2C.

wherever you put the C2C water is going to overflow the top of it.

Water seeks the point of least resistance.

I got the "above or below trim" issue straight - you are 1/3 below, I was considering 1/3 above (the bottom edge of trim) so taht fromt eh front of the display you cant see the water line.

As far as the side wall of the box, mine will be similar to yours - sealed to the right side of the tank, and about 10" short of the right side (where the return bulkhead will be). On that right side I have to have a side wall to the box...if Im 5" deep by 5" high, the side wall would be a 5x5 square.

The question is, should that sidewall of the box be, say, 5 1/4" high, so that water only flows over the front of teh overflow box - will the fact that it is flowing over a corner (and both the front and side of the box) cause any more noise? The attachement shows teh red overflow box, just at the bottom edge of the trim, with the right sidewall slightly taller than the rest of the box....
 

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As long as the C2C is level. I too have my return in the area. I personally like the idea of water being pulled sideways from that 10" area. If you build it up, water on that side might take a bit longer to get into the C2C, but will eventually get circulated.

rich
 
I got the "above or below trim" issue straight - you are 1/3 below, I was considering 1/3 above (the bottom edge of trim) so taht fromt eh front of the display you cant see the water line.

As far as the side wall of the box, mine will be similar to yours - sealed to the right side of the tank, and about 10" short of the right side (where the return bulkhead will be). On that right side I have to have a side wall to the box...if Im 5" deep by 5" high, the side wall would be a 5x5 square.

The question is, should that sidewall of the box be, say, 5 1/4" high, so that water only flows over the front of teh overflow box - will the fact that it is flowing over a corner (and both the front and side of the box) cause any more noise? The attachement shows teh red overflow box, just at the bottom edge of the trim, with the right sidewall slightly taller than the rest of the box....


I don't see any reason why the end panel need be taller than the rest. Since surface skimming efficiency is based on the effective length of the overflow, shortening it by making the end taller would just make the overflow less effective.

Place the top of the overflow even with the bottom of the trim on the outside of the tank, and you are not going to see the water line, unless the tank is not level. If the tank is not level--simple: make the the tank level.
 
Picking up the tank w/ holes and the glass pieces for the box today.....hope all this discussion helped and the execution was right! We'll see.....
 
" For 1" bulkheads:::

From the top edge of the glass: (minimum)

1" down for the top of the overflow weir. (for a rimless, some are more comfortable 1.5", if so add accordingly)

1" down for the water level (water level will be around the top of the elbows--see other posts)

3/4" down for the center of the hole. (~ outside diameter of the elbow)

Holes set @ 2" below top edge of glass:

Total: 2 3/4" down from the top edge of the glass, rimless or rimmed.

This puts the edge of the hole 1 7/8" down from the edge of the glass, to follow the 1x hole diameter rule (1.75" for a 1" bulkhead) "

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Ok so just to make sure i am on the right track before I screw anything up.

I am doing 1 inch bulkheads to 1.5 inch plumbing just like the original instructions.

I have a rimmed 29 inch tall tank

I purchased a 1 inch holesaw/diamond tip drill bit.

My 4 questions are very specific.

Is the measurement I am going for 2 and 3/4 inches?

Is that measurement to the top part of the hole or the center?

Should I be measuring from the bottom of the trim or the top of the trim?

Will a 1 inch holesaw fit a 1 inch bulkhead or do I need to drill a bigger hole?

Sorry to be so needy but its my first time and i want it to be special...
 
If it is a 1" bulkhead, 2 3/4" below the top edge of the glass for the hole center. minimum. The bottom of the trim on the outside of the tank, is 1" below the top edge of the glass. The top edge of the glass is below the lip inside the tank, so the dimension can be double checked.

The hole saw needs to be 1.75" in diameter. I would advise you to reduce the outside plumbing size to 1". 1.5" is too large for a 29 gallon tank, unless you are planning a couple grand through the sump. Sorta like going after a mouse with a bazooka. Open channel 1.25".
 
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Thank you very much for your help. If it wasnt for people like you and Bean that take the time to really help people like me there would be a lot more broken tanks out there!

BTW, if 2.75 is the minimum, what would be the recommended?
 
29 inches tall a 150, yes 1.5" is reasonable.

Lower will cause a longer drop in the overflow, but give some more headroom. (keep the water level change inside the overflow) A trade off of sorts. I would not want to go lower than 3 3/4" below the top edge of the glass. I don't think there is really a recommendation though.
 
Ok so i am going to punch my holes 3 inches from top of glass. I am going to put a 48 inch semi coast to coast overflow in. How tall is the overflow? And do i put it flush with the bottom of the trim?
 
Put the top edge of the overflow even with the bottom of the trim. I don't have the height figure handy, but figure the bottom 3/4" from the bottom of the down turned elbows.... easy enough to figure out once you have an elbow in there.
 
hole placement

hole placement

Hi guys,

This my first post so should really introduce myself before asking questions. I'm from NZ and have had 3 tropical tanks in the past, this is my first salt water tank. I'll post more info if I spot an introductions thread.

I really like the silent overflow idea. I have all the bits and pieces and ready to start drilling but I'm not sure if I'm too high for the positions of my holes. I've attached images with dimensions (65g tank total). My bulkhead is 1" in diameter.

Please let me know if there's anything that can be improved on.

Both images here
 

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Here is an added consideration...DO NOT LET THE C2C LEAK as you fill the tank.

I had thought a leak would be good to releave pressure against the C2C. The issue is when the power goes out it leaks into the C2C. As the C2C fills it drains EXTRA water into the sump. I don't have that much extra room to deal with the C2C leaking. I will have to let it dry and silicone the area where it leaks.

rich
 
They dont have 1.75 holesaws at lowes ace or hd i can get 2 or 1 3/8 or 1 1/4 what is my best bet and what bulkhead size will correspond?
 
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