Teeth or no teeth

Kewlworm · 06/11/2008, 01:34 AM

I have the black acrylic ready waiting for me and I am debating if I should put teeth on my external overflow or not. I know it will reduce surface skimming with the teeth, but I don't want any fish to suck into my overflow. And the teeth do look cooler. What do you all think?

Also, after I finshing cutting the weir, then I realize I should of cut 2 smaller slots than 1 big one. Should I silicone the piece that I cut out to the back of the tank (insider the overflow against the tank side)? That way I don't have to worry about bowing or cracking on the back glass.

O, you can't see in the pics but I had put 2 triangle pieces on top of the corners of the overflow to secure the back and side glass.

strittmatter · 06/11/2008, 08:39 AM

I would say teeth with out it snails or fish could clog the drain and cause a flood and return pump burn up.

calvin415 · 06/11/2008, 09:44 AM

Fish or no fish? Without teeth anything will go over, it's just a matter of time.

coralnut99 · 06/11/2008, 10:29 AM

In cases where guys have cut slots into glass tanks for external overflow, some have used eggcrate with nylon screening over it, and pressed it into the overflow to stop snails from exiting. Even though this is an acrylic tank, it's the same issue, and you could deal with it similarly. Just throw the nylon screenig away. I use the netting that bagged onions come in.

I did my glass prop tanks with externals as I just described. My displays have over-the-top siphon overflows that obviously come with teeth right of the box. Keeping those teeth clean is one of me least favorite chores

Kewlworm · 06/11/2008, 10:38 AM

Coralnut, you just reminded me about cleaning those teeth. You are right, I hate cleaning them and they can never be clean! Well, I am probably gonna get some type of mesh or eggcrate to put over the slot. BTW, this is glass too.

Thanks!

Pbrown3701 · 06/11/2008, 10:47 AM

Kewlworm - can you outline your proceedure for cutting the overflow in the glass? I presume you used a rotozip from the look of the cut?

I've thought about doing this for my next tank but I'm a little concerned about (A) how difficult is it to do without breaking the tank; and (B) what the longevity of the tank would be (i.e. is it more prone to cracking from the rotozipped edge...)

Kewlworm · 06/11/2008, 11:22 AM

Well, it's not really hard at all doing the weir, just takes a little time and lots of water. And I had sand down those uneven edges, but I don't think it would matter since those are round.

The one thing I kinda worry is the possiblity of bowing on top since there are no support (should of left the middle attach to the frame), but I am thinking about silicone the piece I was cut out to the back of it for added support. Don't know if that will help much, but it will help me sleep better at night.

coralnut99 · 06/11/2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pbrown3701
Kewlworm - can you outline your proceedure for cutting the overflow in the glass? I presume you used a rotozip from the look of the cut?

I've thought about doing this for my next tank but I'm a little concerned about (A) how difficult is it to do without breaking the tank; and (B) what the longevity of the tank would be (i.e. is it more prone to cracking from the rotozipped edge...)

The safety and integrity issues you're concerned about are valid.

I cut the slots in 1/4" glass for 3 prop tanks that are 2' X 3' and only 12 inches tall with a diamond cutoff wheel on a dremel tool. They've been running for almost 3 years now. As Kewlworm said, lots of water and a steady hand are all you really need.

By contrast, I tried the same method on an old 125 made from 1/2" glass and it was a disaster. I created a small chip in the corner of one of the slots that became a weak point in the pane. The water pressure quickly blew open a crack that ran from the chip all the way down to the opposing corner. I should've drilled holes in the corners of the slots instead of trying to make perfect 90's.

Just try the Search early in the morning for external overflows and wou'll gets lots of info.

heyfredyourhat · 06/11/2008, 01:24 PM

I say no teeth. More uniform sheet of water flowing over the top and easier to clean

mr pink floyd · 06/11/2008, 03:15 PM

did you round off the corners on the inside of the cut? from the pics it looks like a 90* angle, which will crack very easily. The inside corners should be round, there should be no corners.

sorry if they are rounded, just figure id double check!

06/11/2008, 01:34 AM	#1
Kewlworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 754	Teeth or no teeth I have the black acrylic ready waiting for me and I am debating if I should put teeth on my external overflow or not. I know it will reduce surface skimming with the teeth, but I don't want any fish to suck into my overflow. And the teeth do look cooler. What do you all think? Also, after I finshing cutting the weir, then I realize I should of cut 2 smaller slots than 1 big one. Should I silicone the piece that I cut out to the back of the tank (insider the overflow against the tank side)? That way I don't have to worry about bowing or cracking on the back glass. O, you can't see in the pics but I had put 2 triangle pieces on top of the corners of the overflow to secure the back and side glass.

06/11/2008, 09:44 AM	#3
calvin415 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: C. Springs, CO Posts: 4,530	Fish or no fish? Without teeth anything will go over, it's just a matter of time. __________________ -February 2007 nTOTM "The problem with America is stupidity. Why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself" Current Tank Info: ADA 60-P

06/11/2008, 10:29 AM	#4
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	In cases where guys have cut slots into glass tanks for external overflow, some have used eggcrate with nylon screening over it, and pressed it into the overflow to stop snails from exiting. Even though this is an acrylic tank, it's the same issue, and you could deal with it similarly. Just throw the nylon screenig away. I use the netting that bagged onions come in. I did my glass prop tanks with externals as I just described. My displays have over-the-top siphon overflows that obviously come with teeth right of the box. Keeping those teeth clean is one of me least favorite chores __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

06/11/2008, 08:39 AM	#2
strittmatter Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	I would say teeth with out it snails or fish could clog the drain and cause a flood and return pump burn up.

06/11/2008, 10:38 AM	#5
Kewlworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 754	Coralnut, you just reminded me about cleaning those teeth. You are right, I hate cleaning them and they can never be clean! Well, I am probably gonna get some type of mesh or eggcrate to put over the slot. BTW, this is glass too. Thanks!

06/11/2008, 10:47 AM	#6
Pbrown3701 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stillwater, OK Posts: 1,407	Kewlworm - can you outline your proceedure for cutting the overflow in the glass? I presume you used a rotozip from the look of the cut? I've thought about doing this for my next tank but I'm a little concerned about (A) how difficult is it to do without breaking the tank; and (B) what the longevity of the tank would be (i.e. is it more prone to cracking from the rotozipped edge...)

06/11/2008, 11:22 AM	#7
Kewlworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 754	Well, it's not really hard at all doing the weir, just takes a little time and lots of water. And I had sand down those uneven edges, but I don't think it would matter since those are round. The one thing I kinda worry is the possiblity of bowing on top since there are no support (should of left the middle attach to the frame), but I am thinking about silicone the piece I was cut out to the back of it for added support. Don't know if that will help much, but it will help me sleep better at night.

06/11/2008, 01:24 PM	#9
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	I say no teeth. More uniform sheet of water flowing over the top and easier to clean

06/11/2008, 03:15 PM	#10
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	did you round off the corners on the inside of the cut? from the pics it looks like a 90* angle, which will crack very easily. The inside corners should be round, there should be no corners. sorry if they are rounded, just figure id double check!