Calfo-style overflow on 180g

pjgriffin · 08/31/2006, 08:47 AM

After five years with a 90g reef I am upgrading to 180g+ (80x24x24). The tank will be custom built to fit against a basement wall with my existing fish room immediately behind the wall.

From expereince I know that a conventional internal rear overflow limits aquscaping and is difficult to access when fish go exploring. Corner/end internal overflows will not work with my layout.

I have therefore planned an external Calfo type overfow that will stretch at least 48" at the back of the 80" acrylic tank. This should give me suitable thin skimming (current pump can produce about 1500gph at the applicable head). I then plan install two 1.5" drain bulkheads plus a spare of some size.

I would appreciate advice from those with such an arrangement:

What is the size of your horizontal overflow? (I am thinking 4"x6" deep)

Have you installed any Durso/Stockman type systems? If the overflow is shallow and I have three large bulkheads to drain and the sump level is only 8 inches lower will it be noisy?

Any suggestions/thoughts would be helpful

Peter

drstupid · 08/31/2006, 10:22 AM

i have one running the full 4' length of my custom built 120. it's 6 3/4" x 6 3/4" including the dimension of the 1/2" glass. the back glass on the tank is maybe 1/4" lower than the rest, and even with my return flow cranked there's no more than 1/8" water being skimmed.

i have two 1 1/2" drain lines with dursos on each, there have been no issues "balancing" them. the whole setup is very very quiet. since it runs the entire length of the tank, there are also two 1" bulkheads in the bottom allowing the return lines to pass through.

the builder put a black acrylic panel across the back glass to obscure the plumbing, i would recommend doing that, it looks very clean and professional.

pjgriffin · 09/01/2006, 08:22 AM

Thanks for the information. I intend to make the overflow as narrow as possible to install/access the Durso and the probably about 6" deep which appears to the "typical" depth.

Still trying to decide if my returns should be through the overflow or at the ends of the overflow (since I will have 48" overflow on 80" tank).

08/31/2006, 08:47 AM	#1
pjgriffin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 41	Calfo-style overflow on 180g After five years with a 90g reef I am upgrading to 180g+ (80x24x24). The tank will be custom built to fit against a basement wall with my existing fish room immediately behind the wall. From expereince I know that a conventional internal rear overflow limits aquscaping and is difficult to access when fish go exploring. Corner/end internal overflows will not work with my layout. I have therefore planned an external Calfo type overfow that will stretch at least 48" at the back of the 80" acrylic tank. This should give me suitable thin skimming (current pump can produce about 1500gph at the applicable head). I then plan install two 1.5" drain bulkheads plus a spare of some size. I would appreciate advice from those with such an arrangement: What is the size of your horizontal overflow? (I am thinking 4"x6" deep) Have you installed any Durso/Stockman type systems? If the overflow is shallow and I have three large bulkheads to drain and the sump level is only 8 inches lower will it be noisy? Any suggestions/thoughts would be helpful Peter

08/31/2006, 10:22 AM	#2
drstupid Aquarist emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Narberth, PA Posts: 760	i have one running the full 4' length of my custom built 120. it's 6 3/4" x 6 3/4" including the dimension of the 1/2" glass. the back glass on the tank is maybe 1/4" lower than the rest, and even with my return flow cranked there's no more than 1/8" water being skimmed. i have two 1 1/2" drain lines with dursos on each, there have been no issues "balancing" them. the whole setup is very very quiet. since it runs the entire length of the tank, there are also two 1" bulkheads in the bottom allowing the return lines to pass through. the builder put a black acrylic panel across the back glass to obscure the plumbing, i would recommend doing that, it looks very clean and professional. __________________ i'm not a real doctor, i just play one on tv. Current Tank Info: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2429266

09/01/2006, 08:22 AM	#3
pjgriffin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 41	Thanks for the information. I intend to make the overflow as narrow as possible to install/access the Durso and the probably about 6" deep which appears to the "typical" depth. Still trying to decide if my returns should be through the overflow or at the ends of the overflow (since I will have 48" overflow on 80" tank).