over flow design

Lavin · 08/27/2012, 09:38 PM

My experience in the hobby has been limited to a 55g ******* (wet/dry incorporated internally within the tank) for the past 19 years. Those of you that have been in for that long know just how much the hobby has matured. The tank's been thru all of the usual phases, twice, the latest being a reef setup. With the advances in both technology and understanding, I have gained very satisfying success in this last phase- 5 years. This, and the devilish new reality shows that leave you wondering how/if you'll be able to survive another day without the bazillion dollar system that has just been created before your eyes over the last 60 minutes, has delivered me to this precipice.

I'm designing an in wall acrylic 140L"x24H"x20W"

The space above, below, behind and either side of the tank is available to accommodate pretty much any design for lighting, plumbing, sump/fuge, external pumps, top-off reservoir, etc.

Fatigued fingers, mouse induced cramps and strained eyes have, at times, seemed to lead to as many new questions as answers.

This being my first posting I'll try to tackle just a couple of the obstacles I've run up against.

Over flow/flows?
I've seen them in every shape and location imaginable, but I've read that the more linear surface inches the better. Suggestions?
The tank will be mounted flush with the wall and thus only viewed from the front. My thought was to design a long box across the top at the back with a couple of returns drilled in the back of the tank- as opposed to one return at the back in the center (from top to bottom), or 2 returns- one in each rear corner(top to bottom). This would leave more space on the bottom of the tank.
I guess what I'm asking is...given total freedom to design any over flow box you want, what would you do?

I plan on running 2 external pumps. One for the sump and one as a closed loop. With the tank being just under 300g and a planned sump of 120g (70g with room for another 50 to drain from DT) how do I determine how powerful the pump must be for a 10x/hr turnover. And, would that number be only 3,000gph (300g) or do I include the volume of the water in the sump (370)?

Wow, that stretched out long than I'd planned

thanks in advance for any replies

cherubfish pair · 08/27/2012, 10:57 PM

140"L? That's over ten feet. You'll need more than 2 overflows.

Welcome to RC btw!

08/27/2012, 09:38 PM	#1
Lavin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 3	over flow design My experience in the hobby has been limited to a 55g ******* (wet/dry incorporated internally within the tank) for the past 19 years. Those of you that have been in for that long know just how much the hobby has matured. The tank's been thru all of the usual phases, twice, the latest being a reef setup. With the advances in both technology and understanding, I have gained very satisfying success in this last phase- 5 years. This, and the devilish new reality shows that leave you wondering how/if you'll be able to survive another day without the bazillion dollar system that has just been created before your eyes over the last 60 minutes, has delivered me to this precipice. I'm designing an in wall acrylic 140L"x24H"x20W" The space above, below, behind and either side of the tank is available to accommodate pretty much any design for lighting, plumbing, sump/fuge, external pumps, top-off reservoir, etc. Fatigued fingers, mouse induced cramps and strained eyes have, at times, seemed to lead to as many new questions as answers. This being my first posting I'll try to tackle just a couple of the obstacles I've run up against. Over flow/flows? I've seen them in every shape and location imaginable, but I've read that the more linear surface inches the better. Suggestions? The tank will be mounted flush with the wall and thus only viewed from the front. My thought was to design a long box across the top at the back with a couple of returns drilled in the back of the tank- as opposed to one return at the back in the center (from top to bottom), or 2 returns- one in each rear corner(top to bottom). This would leave more space on the bottom of the tank. I guess what I'm asking is...given total freedom to design any over flow box you want, what would you do? I plan on running 2 external pumps. One for the sump and one as a closed loop. With the tank being just under 300g and a planned sump of 120g (70g with room for another 50 to drain from DT) how do I determine how powerful the pump must be for a 10x/hr turnover. And, would that number be only 3,000gph (300g) or do I include the volume of the water in the sump (370)? Wow, that stretched out long than I'd planned thanks in advance for any replies

08/27/2012, 10:57 PM	#2
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	140"L? That's over ten feet. You'll need more than 2 overflows. Welcome to RC btw! __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless