bulkhead and strainer overflow

[phantomg23]

i know theres a lot of threads about this topic, but im wondering if anyone HAS one and regrets it. I already have the two holes drilled w/ bulkheads and strainers and im contemplating adding an overflow box for surface skimming.

also can the water level be above the strainer or is the strainer is the max water level line?

[nlgill13]

With a strainer you will want it above the sumps max water level.

I had strainers at first and got fed up with them so I got rid of them (they kept on clogging up with sediment and etc.).

[Knd107]

Seems that it would be quite easy to add a overflow box to your setup. The water level will be at the surface skimming of your overflow box then fall into the box and your water level in the box is at your strainers.

This is the time to adjust your surface level of your setup if you want to. Meaning you can rise it up if you want. Make sure to check your powerheads and returns that you don't make it too high that water splashes over side of your tank. You can always adjust those too tho.

The only question is how you will add the box if you have a active system or its fairly new. In any event, I don't think you should have a real big issue with dropping your water level down and silicone the box on. Keep a heater and powerheads in your tank while the box sets and use a clamp to make it doesn't fall off. Up to you, not sure how you are set up right now.

[Knd107]

Also, I think glass holes makes their box using the bulkheads to hold it in place but it probably doesn't match your holes that are drilled and making a custom one might be more difficult than just getting a overflow box and siliconing it directly to the glass and around your bulkheads.

[phantomg23]

its just a fw test right now so i can drain it. the strainers are 3" down so does that mean the water level in the tank will always be 3 inches below the rim or can i fill it all the way??

i could just buy 1 overflow box and put it on one of the bulkheads and keep one bulkhead/strainer on the otherside

[jimmyj7090]

If you add an overflow box, the height of the top of the box (or the bottom of the teeth if it has teeth) will determine the water level in the display tank. The water will have to spill over the top of the overflow box, then from there it will drain into the strainers and out.

If you do this on one, you will want to do it on both or else it will be rather pointless as the water level would then be set by the strainer with no box and the one with the box would be sitting dry unless the flow exceeded the capacity of the un-boxed strainer.

To back up a bit,
Q; Why an overflow box?
A; far better surface skimming which feeds the right stuff to your protien skimmer and prevents slime build up on the surface which would reduce gas exchange
A; less likely to get clogged up
A; gives you somewhere to put a duroso on your drain so it will be quieter and smoother than a simple strainer
A; sets a steady water level in the tank that will change far less if you increse or decrease the flow a bit (as compared to just strainers)

[planedoc]

A bulkhead and strainer is a cheap way of draining a tank. Something you see in store displays to sell fish. You can not run heavy flow rates using this type of drain. You will have constant water level problems. When you finally get things adjusted within hours a snail or something will block some flow causing water level to rise. Its only good for low flow system like in a store for retail tanks. You could do a coast to coast which offers the best skimming avaliable. What ever you do decide on unless you want really low flow (100 gph or less) definitely use some type of overflow box.

[phantomg23]

i just re plumbed my tank using jimmyj7090's recommendation in my other thread and my tank water level is just about up to the top of the bulk head. i guess now i have to put on overflow boxes. how far from the rim should the top of the teeth be?

[nlgill13]

my overflow box has 1" teeth and the top of the teeth touch the bottom of the tanks rim.

[Twostepper4041]

Love my glass holes overflow.... Well worth the $$$

[eschulist]

I did the bulkhead strainer style for my tank. I think it looks very sleek and for a small tank the amount of flow turned out to be fine.

[ReefTron5000]

At first I regretted not having a strainer but turns out they aren't really critical.

[phantomg23]

that looks nice! my problem is i drilled the holes too low so the water level is 2" below the rim

[LobsterOfJustice]

Just insert an upturned elbow to raise the water level and skim from the surface. This I have run my last 3 tanks.

[phantomg23]

i would like more surface skimming than just two small elbows though. ill have to decide

[LobsterOfJustice]

Originally Posted by phantomg23

i would like more surface skimming than just two small elbows though. ill have to decide

Its more surface skimming than just putting strainers on the holes.

[phantomg23]

Yea i just put on elbows and im gonna keep it like that. Thanks!

[planedoc]

What makes this hobby so exciting is that it is a never ending chore of perfecting your systems water chemistry and feeding habits to insure that your tank /tanks have the best water chemistry and filtration to let the life you have chosen to take care of to thrive. What's so awesome about reef central is that instead of learning from your own mistakes you can learn from others. There is no other place where so much knowledge on salt water aquarium maintenance is available for anyone to read.

[phantomg23]

yea its definitely awesome!