Are the "teeth" necessary at the top of an overflow?

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 09:48 PM

I was wondering if I build a overflow my self inside of my oceanic 75 gallon if i would have to use teeth? It seems to me that their purpose is to not allow animals and large debris to enter over the top of the overflow. So what about build one with a smooth edge ontop and eggcrate just on the inside to catch anything that falls? Has anyone done this, would it work just as good?

PUGroyale · 01/08/2007, 09:52 PM

Give it a try

My [purchased] overflow has teeth... I still had to fashion a eggcrate cover for it to keep the pesky snails from getting to the U-Tube. BTW... very important, snail in u-tube usually = flood

hth

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 09:56 PM

I was planning on drilling two holes on the back left corner of the 75 tank. One would be the main overflow and the other would be a "back up" incase of such an event. My return would be just over the back of the tank. I have never used an internal overflow, where should I keep the level of it?

chinaman4u · 01/08/2007, 09:56 PM

I used a stand pipe with a 2" opening. At first I left the smooth edge, but my one clown fish kept getting sucked in. Smooth edge is better at skimming. Then I cut teeth in it, which needed cleaned all the time, but my clownfish at least stays in the tank. Now I have eggcrate over the opening just sitting on top. It needs cleaned but works well to keep anything out.

In your setup, i could imagine fish flowing over the edge to end up trapped, pin up against the eggcrate by the water fall. However, I think the smooth edge is better than teeth

tactical · 01/08/2007, 09:58 PM

That would definitely work. I remember seeing a picture on here somewhere of someone doing just that. I have teeth on mine and still use gutter guard after having a flame angel try a Nemo on me.

salty3 · 01/08/2007, 09:58 PM

I have seen them without teeth but they stop animals from getting in. Melve has a good diy without teeth I do believe but cant remember the correct spelling of it, I'm sure some body else on here will.

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 09:59 PM

Do you think that it is possible to place the eggcrate on top of the smooth edge of the overflow to still allow water flow, but to stop any large object, or clown =) from entering it.

That sounds like a better idea to me than possibly letting something wash over the top and then get pinned on hte eggcrate as you said.

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 10:02 PM

hey tactical, how did you place your gutter gaurd on your overflow? Did you place it on top, or inside the overflow flush with the top

chinaman4u · 01/08/2007, 10:06 PM

Here's what i did and where i drilled. The water level is about 1/2" higher than the level of the edge. Your level will depend on how big an edge you have and the flow.

The elbow is removable so I can change its height if needed.

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 10:14 PM

wow, i have never seen an overflow like that, is it not "boxed" in like the standard ones you see in a "reef ready" tank. Or am I just not seeing the whole picture maybe. How do you keep the open drain like that from making a loud gurgling sound?

chinaman4u · 01/08/2007, 10:27 PM

air line tubing stops gurgling. and in the second pic you can see it tee'd off outside the tank(like a reverse durso), which helps cuts noise down as well and I use that opening to drip kalk.

At some future date i could simply make a box and use that instead of elbow, which is what i planned, but this works fine now. I didn't want to take up valuable tank space, so I decided on a side hole. Looks clean and works great. I have an iwaki 40(~900? gph) pumping into this tank. But I have a backup siphon going into another tank as well, in case this clogs.

chinaman4u · 01/08/2007, 10:30 PM

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 10:35 PM

ah i gottcha. Looks like it works good and saves space. What size pvc is that? and is that iwaki 40 and those pictures of your 75?

chinaman4u · 01/08/2007, 10:46 PM

That's my 120G, the bulkhead is 1" but should be bigger, I'm at my limit for flow. The elbow is 1" to 1 3/4" adaptor. My 75 is drilled on the bottom and i removed the corner boxes and put in a free standing pvc pipe for drainage, which I consider dangerous. Could lead to breakage if I put to much side pressure on the pipe.

Whatever you decide, snails are your biggest worry, guaranteed to get stuck in the most inaccesible place in your plumbing.

redmonkey0019 · 01/08/2007, 10:48 PM

those blasted snails! haha! Well thanks for the help, I will have to post some experience from it so others will know too

01/08/2007, 09:48 PM	#1
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	Are the "teeth" necessary at the top of an overflow? I was wondering if I build a overflow my self inside of my oceanic 75 gallon if i would have to use teeth? It seems to me that their purpose is to not allow animals and large debris to enter over the top of the overflow. So what about build one with a smooth edge ontop and eggcrate just on the inside to catch anything that falls? Has anyone done this, would it work just as good?

01/08/2007, 09:52 PM	#2
PUGroyale Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,711	Give it a try My [purchased] overflow has teeth... I still had to fashion a eggcrate cover for it to keep the pesky snails from getting to the U-Tube. BTW... very important, snail in u-tube usually = flood hth __________________ Dave :~)

01/08/2007, 09:56 PM	#3
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	I was planning on drilling two holes on the back left corner of the 75 tank. One would be the main overflow and the other would be a "back up" incase of such an event. My return would be just over the back of the tank. I have never used an internal overflow, where should I keep the level of it?

01/08/2007, 09:56 PM	#4
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	I used a stand pipe with a 2" opening. At first I left the smooth edge, but my one clown fish kept getting sucked in. Smooth edge is better at skimming. Then I cut teeth in it, which needed cleaned all the time, but my clownfish at least stays in the tank. Now I have eggcrate over the opening just sitting on top. It needs cleaned but works well to keep anything out. In your setup, i could imagine fish flowing over the edge to end up trapped, pin up against the eggcrate by the water fall. However, I think the smooth edge is better than teeth

01/08/2007, 09:58 PM	#5
tactical Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 17	That would definitely work. I remember seeing a picture on here somewhere of someone doing just that. I have teeth on mine and still use gutter guard after having a flame angel try a Nemo on me.

01/08/2007, 09:58 PM	#6
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	I have seen them without teeth but they stop animals from getting in. Melve has a good diy without teeth I do believe but cant remember the correct spelling of it, I'm sure some body else on here will.

01/08/2007, 09:59 PM	#7
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	Do you think that it is possible to place the eggcrate on top of the smooth edge of the overflow to still allow water flow, but to stop any large object, or clown =) from entering it. That sounds like a better idea to me than possibly letting something wash over the top and then get pinned on hte eggcrate as you said.

01/08/2007, 10:02 PM	#8
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	hey tactical, how did you place your gutter gaurd on your overflow? Did you place it on top, or inside the overflow flush with the top

01/08/2007, 10:06 PM	#9
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	Here's what i did and where i drilled. The water level is about 1/2" higher than the level of the edge. Your level will depend on how big an edge you have and the flow. The elbow is removable so I can change its height if needed.

01/08/2007, 10:14 PM	#10
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	wow, i have never seen an overflow like that, is it not "boxed" in like the standard ones you see in a "reef ready" tank. Or am I just not seeing the whole picture maybe. How do you keep the open drain like that from making a loud gurgling sound?

01/08/2007, 10:27 PM	#11
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	air line tubing stops gurgling. and in the second pic you can see it tee'd off outside the tank(like a reverse durso), which helps cuts noise down as well and I use that opening to drip kalk. At some future date i could simply make a box and use that instead of elbow, which is what i planned, but this works fine now. I didn't want to take up valuable tank space, so I decided on a side hole. Looks clean and works great. I have an iwaki 40(~900? gph) pumping into this tank. But I have a backup siphon going into another tank as well, in case this clogs.

01/08/2007, 10:30 PM	#12
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600

01/08/2007, 10:35 PM	#13
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	ah i gottcha. Looks like it works good and saves space. What size pvc is that? and is that iwaki 40 and those pictures of your 75?

01/08/2007, 10:46 PM	#14
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	That's my 120G, the bulkhead is 1" but should be bigger, I'm at my limit for flow. The elbow is 1" to 1 3/4" adaptor. My 75 is drilled on the bottom and i removed the corner boxes and put in a free standing pvc pipe for drainage, which I consider dangerous. Could lead to breakage if I put to much side pressure on the pipe. Whatever you decide, snails are your biggest worry, guaranteed to get stuck in the most inaccesible place in your plumbing.

01/08/2007, 10:48 PM	#15
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	those blasted snails! haha! Well thanks for the help, I will have to post some experience from it so others will know too