bulkhead screen as an overflow

[jong11]

Would a bulkhead screen work as a substitute for an overflow? I want to have my tank viewable 360 degrees. The bulkhead screen in the center of the tank would sit at water level and pull water down into the sump. The return would enter the bottom of the tank and have a 90 on the end to direct water flow.
Here is my idea in a drawing.

[bertoni]

It'd work, although it wouldn't provide a surface skimmer effect, and it might clog more easily than a standard overflow.

[bnicholson]

Don't they use something very similar at most multi-tank LFS?

It might not be 100% preferable but I'd think it'd work.

I'd put at least two in tho for redundancy

[bnicholson]

Don't they use something very similar at most multi-tank LFS?

It might not be 100% preferable but I'd think it'd work.

I'd put at least two in tho for redundancy

[Russter]

I would work, but would probably be pretty noisy

[spleify]

Originally Posted by Russter

I would work, but would probably be pretty noisy

+1 on that for sure, it will gurgle like mad. And yes they do use this set up in a lot of fish stores but you usually don't notice the noise as there is so much going in in a fish store but in your living room you will definitely hear it.

Also having a return at the bottom of the tank might not be a great idea either, if there is a power outage or you turn your return pump off, the entire tank will drain out and check valves are not 100% reliable with long term use.

JM2C