Questions about overflow

danb73 · 01/01/2009, 09:07 AM

I had a 40G breeder drilled recently with two 1" holes about 4.5 inches from the top in the back side. I am having trouble deciding the best way to skim the water prior to entering the plumbing. I have seen setups where they just use a small piece of pvc with a 45 degree elbow with a screen at the end of each pipe or a skimmer box built around the two openings. I just wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions or pics on which setup might be better prior to making any mistakes. Also, the guy at the LFS said not to use any grease on the gaskets to the bulkhead, but I have seen people use it regularly on different sites...what is the right way to do this. Any help with setup would be greatly appreciated.

danb73 · 01/01/2009, 11:43 AM

Would really appreciate some help

D_Hood87 · 01/01/2009, 12:01 PM

i would go with the box around the two openings i just went through the same thing with a 30gal breeder i was building for my brother..the PVC on a 45 degree was real noisy for some reason and the overflow box around the opening with a screen made things much quieter..thats what i would do and you can get more flow through it this way b/c there is now less turns the drain makes

danb73 · 01/01/2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the reply...any other suggestions would be appreciated.

This leads me to another question...can you join acrylic to glass for the skimmer box?

PhilTheEel · 01/01/2009, 07:16 PM

Ihave never used silicone or silicone grease on a bulkhead. Always 1/4 turn past hand tight has been fine with me.

01/01/2009, 09:07 AM	#1
danb73 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 64	Questions about overflow I had a 40G breeder drilled recently with two 1" holes about 4.5 inches from the top in the back side. I am having trouble deciding the best way to skim the water prior to entering the plumbing. I have seen setups where they just use a small piece of pvc with a 45 degree elbow with a screen at the end of each pipe or a skimmer box built around the two openings. I just wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions or pics on which setup might be better prior to making any mistakes. Also, the guy at the LFS said not to use any grease on the gaskets to the bulkhead, but I have seen people use it regularly on different sites...what is the right way to do this. Any help with setup would be greatly appreciated.

01/01/2009, 11:43 AM	#2
danb73 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 64	BUMP Would really appreciate some help

01/01/2009, 12:01 PM	#3
D_Hood87 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 323	i would go with the box around the two openings i just went through the same thing with a 30gal breeder i was building for my brother..the PVC on a 45 degree was real noisy for some reason and the overflow box around the opening with a screen made things much quieter..thats what i would do and you can get more flow through it this way b/c there is now less turns the drain makes __________________ DONALD Current Tank Info: 160gal REBUILD....GOING SPS ALL THE WAY!!!

01/01/2009, 06:32 PM	#4
danb73 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 64	Thanks for the reply...any other suggestions would be appreciated. This leads me to another question...can you join acrylic to glass for the skimmer box?

01/01/2009, 07:16 PM	#5
PhilTheEel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mississippi Posts: 158	Ihave never used silicone or silicone grease on a bulkhead. Always 1/4 turn past hand tight has been fine with me.