Custom tank overflow, teeth or no teeth?

FoothillCorals · 08/10/2008, 01:20 PM

I have a tank on order from Envision with an external overflow. I am trying to decide between a toothless overflow or a conventional one.

Toothless Pros:
1) Quieter (a sheet of water -vs- 30 individual waterfalls)
2) no chance of seeing a water line w/canopy (higher water level).
3) will never clog.
4) better surface skimming.

Cons:
1) larger opening for critters to enter O.F. (aprox. 5/8"x 12"long)

This method works well in my sump/fuge, seems like it would work well for a overflow. Anyone have a tank with a toothless O.F.?

jtarmitage · 08/10/2008, 01:35 PM

Without overflow teeth, you will need to have some way to prevent snails from entering the drain line, which could cause a clog or even end up inside a pump, breaking impellar blades.
Then there is the fish issue. As long as all of the fish will be larger, it's not a problem, but smaller fish, wrasses, etc. will need to be "fished" from the overflow on occasion. As long as you have a standpipe in the overflow box, you can keep it quiet. Have James build in a removable overflow tooth insert. That's what he did for me, which makes removing it for cleaning very easy, and you can even pull it and run it without if you so desire.

edsimmons · 08/10/2008, 01:37 PM

I would go toothless all the way. If you have a long enough skimming area (length of overflow) the depth of water skimming will be so minimal that the risk of critters getting into the overflow won't be an issue.

My overflow is not toothless, but its the generic AGA megaflows. If and when I build a custom, I will have a coast to coast external, toothless overflow. No doubt about it.

bored4long · 08/10/2008, 01:41 PM

Woah, that was weird. The above post by EdSimmons was actually by me. Ed must have been logged into my laptop.

Underwaterparadise · 08/10/2008, 01:49 PM

I say go for teeth. I have a toothless Calfo style OF box on my cube and have to get fish out every couple of weeks or so. Same goes for my coral tanks, toothless and always having to catch fish out of them.

FoothillCorals · 08/10/2008, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the replies.

jtarmitage: I will ask James about that.

Ed or Mark?: Yea that is what I am leaning towards, the head will only be around an 1/8".

The external box will have three 1" bulkheads. One as the main drain with a screened Durso. A second with a screen feeding my skimmer. and the third will just be a tall standpipe and act solely as a back up in case the first one gets plugged some how.

FoothillCorals · 08/10/2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Underwaterparadise
I say go for teeth. I have a toothless Calfo style OF box on my cube and have to get fish out every couple of weeks or so. Same goes for my coral tanks, toothless and always having to catch fish out of them.

Huh, not what I wanted to hear. May I ask what fish you have the most trouble with, and what size they are?

Right now my TruVu tank has teeth but my Chromis still find there way in there.

They go rite through the teeth. I was hoping that they would be less likely to go over an edge.

jubjub · 08/10/2008, 02:06 PM

i had a toothless overflow....if your keeping large fish thats awesome....but many of days my clownfish ended up in the sump.....

i think having teeth is the way to go

Underwaterparadise · 08/10/2008, 02:28 PM

I only have 2 tangs and the rest are all wrasses from 3-5". All of the wrasses except the mystery have found there way in the box. I even have egg crate over the top of the tank so there is only like 1-2" of clearance.

08/10/2008, 01:20 PM	#1
FoothillCorals Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 522	Custom tank overflow, teeth or no teeth? I have a tank on order from Envision with an external overflow. I am trying to decide between a toothless overflow or a conventional one. Toothless Pros: 1) Quieter (a sheet of water -vs- 30 individual waterfalls) 2) no chance of seeing a water line w/canopy (higher water level). 3) will never clog. 4) better surface skimming. Cons: 1) larger opening for critters to enter O.F. (aprox. 5/8"x 12"long) This method works well in my sump/fuge, seems like it would work well for a overflow. Anyone have a tank with a toothless O.F.?

08/10/2008, 01:35 PM	#2
jtarmitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 3,926	Without overflow teeth, you will need to have some way to prevent snails from entering the drain line, which could cause a clog or even end up inside a pump, breaking impellar blades. Then there is the fish issue. As long as all of the fish will be larger, it's not a problem, but smaller fish, wrasses, etc. will need to be "fished" from the overflow on occasion. As long as you have a standpipe in the overflow box, you can keep it quiet. Have James build in a removable overflow tooth insert. That's what he did for me, which makes removing it for cleaning very easy, and you can even pull it and run it without if you so desire. __________________ Jeremy No dear, not a flood. Just an unintentional water change.... If you view your problem closely enough, you will recognize yourself as part of the problem Current Tank Info: 92g in the works

08/10/2008, 01:37 PM	#3
edsimmons Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Roseville,CA Posts: 2,165	I would go toothless all the way. If you have a long enough skimming area (length of overflow) the depth of water skimming will be so minimal that the risk of critters getting into the overflow won't be an issue. My overflow is not toothless, but its the generic AGA megaflows. If and when I build a custom, I will have a coast to coast external, toothless overflow. No doubt about it. __________________ "First you get good, then you get fast, then grouchiness sets in." "Experience is the best Teacher....You usually get it just after you need it"

08/10/2008, 01:41 PM	#4
bored4long Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 2,690	Woah, that was weird. The above post by EdSimmons was actually by me. Ed must have been logged into my laptop. __________________ - Mark

08/10/2008, 01:49 PM	#5
Underwaterparadise Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern Cali Posts: 2,624	I say go for teeth. I have a toothless Calfo style OF box on my cube and have to get fish out every couple of weeks or so. Same goes for my coral tanks, toothless and always having to catch fish out of them. __________________ Who needs fish in a Fish tank when you have corals! Current Tank Info: Taking a Vacation

08/10/2008, 01:55 PM	#6
FoothillCorals Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 522	Thanks for the replies. jtarmitage: I will ask James about that. Ed or Mark?: Yea that is what I am leaning towards, the head will only be around an 1/8". The external box will have three 1" bulkheads. One as the main drain with a screened Durso. A second with a screen feeding my skimmer. and the third will just be a tall standpipe and act solely as a back up in case the first one gets plugged some how.

08/10/2008, 02:06 PM	#8
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	i had a toothless overflow....if your keeping large fish thats awesome....but many of days my clownfish ended up in the sump..... i think having teeth is the way to go __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

08/10/2008, 02:28 PM	#9
Underwaterparadise Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern Cali Posts: 2,624	I only have 2 tangs and the rest are all wrasses from 3-5". All of the wrasses except the mystery have found there way in the box. I even have egg crate over the top of the tank so there is only like 1-2" of clearance. __________________ Who needs fish in a Fish tank when you have corals! Current Tank Info: Taking a Vacation