Reinstalling overflows

darkiss · 11/14/2012, 08:05 PM

So I have some crazy overflows, the ones that are typically found in all glass aquariums.

Does anyone think that it would be a good idea to replace them?

Looks like they also have some sand stuck in the bottom on the first piece of plastics that is supposed to collect the water from all levels.

darkiss · 11/15/2012, 09:18 AM

guess i will just leave them in, and try to blast the sand and gravel out or something

here is a picture so u can kind of see.

I looked down in the first plastic flap and I can see old sand down in there.

Fizz71 · 11/15/2012, 09:29 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're getting good skimming from the surface, the 3 inlets are fine. I wouldn't worry about sand in the middle column either..it's inevitable. Unless there's so much that it's blocking the bottom inlet or you can see a build up of detritus in which case a turkey baster is your best friend.

Although you did say gravel...if you really have gravel you need to keep it (the gravel) clean like you do the rest of the tank. To keep gravel out you can put a screen in front of it...I'm not a gravel fan.

darkiss · 11/15/2012, 09:33 AM

well it is a used tank, and the person before me used gravel

Fizz71 · 11/15/2012, 09:56 AM

The only tank I've ever owned with gravel was over 20 years ago so I'm not an expert on it, but from what I read because of the large particle size you have to vacuum it a lot to keep the detritus from building up.

darkiss · 11/15/2012, 10:00 AM

yes, i don't want gravel. I have a used tank that the previous owner used gravel in, and some of it has been caught in the overflow system, because of the design above.

I am actually just remove both overflows and then having pipes stick streight out into the top of the tank, so then the pipe would just catch the water that needs to go into the sump, and then there is no need for an overflow box.

Fizz71 · 11/15/2012, 10:13 AM

You can do that, but you might wind up with other issues...like sucking water water sounds, too much water into the sump on power failure, less efficient surface skimming, greater chance of drain blockage (which could cause a DT flood)...and that's off the top of my head.

Overflows definitely have their purpose.

11/14/2012, 08:05 PM	#1
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	Reinstalling overflows So I have some crazy overflows, the ones that are typically found in all glass aquariums. Does anyone think that it would be a good idea to replace them? Looks like they also have some sand stuck in the bottom on the first piece of plastics that is supposed to collect the water from all levels.

11/15/2012, 09:29 AM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're getting good skimming from the surface, the 3 inlets are fine. I wouldn't worry about sand in the middle column either..it's inevitable. Unless there's so much that it's blocking the bottom inlet or you can see a build up of detritus in which case a turkey baster is your best friend. Although you did say gravel...if you really have gravel you need to keep it (the gravel) clean like you do the rest of the tank. To keep gravel out you can put a screen in front of it...I'm not a gravel fan. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

11/15/2012, 09:56 AM	#5
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	The only tank I've ever owned with gravel was over 20 years ago so I'm not an expert on it, but from what I read because of the large particle size you have to vacuum it a lot to keep the detritus from building up. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

11/15/2012, 10:13 AM	#7
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	You can do that, but you might wind up with other issues...like sucking water water sounds, too much water into the sump on power failure, less efficient surface skimming, greater chance of drain blockage (which could cause a DT flood)...and that's off the top of my head. Overflows definitely have their purpose. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

11/15/2012, 09:18 AM	#2
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	guess i will just leave them in, and try to blast the sand and gravel out or something here is a picture so u can kind of see. I looked down in the first plastic flap and I can see old sand down in there.

11/15/2012, 09:33 AM	#4
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	well it is a used tank, and the person before me used gravel

11/15/2012, 10:00 AM	#6
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	yes, i don't want gravel. I have a used tank that the previous owner used gravel in, and some of it has been caught in the overflow system, because of the design above. I am actually just remove both overflows and then having pipes stick streight out into the top of the tank, so then the pipe would just catch the water that needs to go into the sump, and then there is no need for an overflow box.