Exterior Waterfall overflow?

Adamw327 · 05/25/2013, 10:58 AM

Has anyone ever seen what i have been thinking about? I will try to explain without drawing up something

I was thinking something like 2x 20g long tanks, in an L shape, with one above the other. The top tank would have some sort of overflow box, or i was considering having it be an acrylic tank, and actually using one side of the tank AS the overflow. The water would "cascade" down into the lower tank, flow to the back of the lower tank and out another overflow, into a sump in the stand and be pumped back into the top tank.

For now im thinking freshwater because of the salt mess from the water.. but im open to suggestions for how to keep the mess down, if such a thing is even possible or ever been done before

ReefReefy · 05/25/2013, 11:06 AM

I can imagine just salt everywhere. Even with freshwater you'll still see water spots on your walls and whatnot from the waterfall splashes.

If anything maybe a smaller tank into a wider tank would help minimize it or even have the water run down some rock or acrylic into the other tank.

spieszak · 05/25/2013, 11:12 AM

I could imagine though drilling one side the the top tank, and enclosing the "water fall" portion between two sheets of acrylic, maybe a 1/4 inch apart. A normal bulkhead wouldn't work, but it would seem you could get something flat on both sides. I think the key would be being able to remove one side of the acrylic sheet "sandwich" so that you could wipe both pieces down. The acrylic would keep the water and salt creep somewhat in check, as long as you could adjust flow so it wasn't shooting out the sides, and being able to remove one sheet would allow for cleaning anything else out. (or even one of the tlf nano magnet cleaners)
You'd of course have to have the tanks sitting at least slightly off center to each other.

Breadman03 · 05/25/2013, 11:19 AM

I saw a thread about something similar a few weeks ago. I believe it was a former PetCo tank that had the higher tank drilled and fitted with bulkheads to drain into the lower tank. It looked pretty neat.

My local PetCo has a planted freshwater setup with a higher center tank and two lower tanks on either side using bulkheads for drainage.

Adamw327 · 05/25/2013, 11:25 AM

I was thinking the overflow teeth on top, or many smaller sized holes, and an angled piece of acrylic for the water to "stick" to when it runs down (could cover in rock), and another small ( shaped piece on the outside of where the water comes out of the top tank to prevent spray

Would take a lot of trial and error i think, and quite a low flow, cant just go drilling or cutting if the flow needs to be variable in testing... time to think

Adamw327 · 05/25/2013, 01:48 PM

Or an easier solution would be to keep 3" or so of the top tank flush with the bottom tank, and have the water flow out of the bottom of the top tank directly onto the surface of the bottom tank.. Im going to have to make some drawing up

05/25/2013, 10:58 AM	#1
Adamw327 Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Owego, New York Posts: 387	Exterior Waterfall overflow? Has anyone ever seen what i have been thinking about? I will try to explain without drawing up something I was thinking something like 2x 20g long tanks, in an L shape, with one above the other. The top tank would have some sort of overflow box, or i was considering having it be an acrylic tank, and actually using one side of the tank AS the overflow. The water would "cascade" down into the lower tank, flow to the back of the lower tank and out another overflow, into a sump in the stand and be pumped back into the top tank. For now im thinking freshwater because of the salt mess from the water.. but im open to suggestions for how to keep the mess down, if such a thing is even possible or ever been done before

05/25/2013, 11:12 AM	#3
spieszak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,877	I could imagine though drilling one side the the top tank, and enclosing the "water fall" portion between two sheets of acrylic, maybe a 1/4 inch apart. A normal bulkhead wouldn't work, but it would seem you could get something flat on both sides. I think the key would be being able to remove one side of the acrylic sheet "sandwich" so that you could wipe both pieces down. The acrylic would keep the water and salt creep somewhat in check, as long as you could adjust flow so it wasn't shooting out the sides, and being able to remove one sheet would allow for cleaning anything else out. (or even one of the tlf nano magnet cleaners) You'd of course have to have the tanks sitting at least slightly off center to each other. __________________ I'm new to this saltwater thing, all comments should be taken with a BUCKET of salt! :-) -Stacey

05/25/2013, 11:06 AM	#2
ReefReefy Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 67	I can imagine just salt everywhere. Even with freshwater you'll still see water spots on your walls and whatnot from the waterfall splashes. If anything maybe a smaller tank into a wider tank would help minimize it or even have the water run down some rock or acrylic into the other tank.

05/25/2013, 11:19 AM	#4
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	I saw a thread about something similar a few weeks ago. I believe it was a former PetCo tank that had the higher tank drilled and fitted with bulkheads to drain into the lower tank. It looked pretty neat. My local PetCo has a planted freshwater setup with a higher center tank and two lower tanks on either side using bulkheads for drainage.

05/25/2013, 11:25 AM	#5
Adamw327 Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Owego, New York Posts: 387	I was thinking the overflow teeth on top, or many smaller sized holes, and an angled piece of acrylic for the water to "stick" to when it runs down (could cover in rock), and another small ( shaped piece on the outside of where the water comes out of the top tank to prevent spray Would take a lot of trial and error i think, and quite a low flow, cant just go drilling or cutting if the flow needs to be variable in testing... time to think

05/25/2013, 01:48 PM	#6
Adamw327 Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Owego, New York Posts: 387	Or an easier solution would be to keep 3" or so of the top tank flush with the bottom tank, and have the water flow out of the bottom of the top tank directly onto the surface of the bottom tank.. Im going to have to make some drawing up