#2 for me. All you have to do is have your everflow notch for the returns and use lock line. that's what I did. My returns are drilled in the bottom and they come up, then bend into the tank under water. I even have acrylic on top to finish off the look.

Here's a pic.

http://www.mattdean.com/build/durso.jpg

http://www.mattdean.com/build/acrylic1.jpg

Design 1 is stronger guys, this is the problem with design 2
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...lps/tank-2.jpg

The notched side in design 1 is not only supported by the overflow but it's signficantly shorter in length than the front... You know whole Mc/I deal, M being FxL....

Pretty much yeah, if you stick with a notch you'll need at least 2 inches on each side so it can be cut properly. If you want to extend the box the full length then skip the notch and lower the height of the entire side pane but keep the overflow box separate and not part of the front pane. Alternatively you could also just extend the length of the tank and go with an internal overflow box on the side.

Also when I say front and sides, I calling the pane with overflow the side and 5x2 pane the front.

Matt has the right idea there, essentially an internal overflow on the side if you're looking for a full width overflow.

Design #1 all the way. Not a fan of the up and over look. Doing the notch for design 1 is a pain if you do it yourself and a little more pricey if that glass shop does it. Design 2, if you do the long sides plus the overflow as one piece you are still having to put a notch into the glass. If you don't do it as one piece, you'll have some funky silicone work at the top edge that will be ugly and weak (gap between panels should be 1 mm). I would worry about stress points on the back glass if you do the notch so long as your glass is the right thickness. We over engineer the glass thickness as it is. Just doing a back of the napkin calculation on stress around the notches you're still at a safety factor of 4. I did a notch on my tank, couldn't be happier.

Exactly. just make the whole tank longer and put the overflow inside, top to bottom. I painted the sides black and it looks slick and works flawlessly. Also gives you more water volume. All holes drilled in the bottom and nothing going over the sides or sticking out. It's as clean as it gets. AND, no worries about weak spots. It's as strong as it gets.

interesting. How do you clean the tall overflow box?

sorry didn't see that the sides were all one piece, I assumed it would be the normal of a box add on. I would recomend number 2 still with the modification that the over flow be added to the tank. just get the end of a normal designed tank made 1/2" shorter than the other end and sides, then build a box oneto the end to make your over flow box.

Steve

You're supposed to clean the overflow box? Really? WTF?!?!?! LOL!
I just siphon it out every blue moon. I can get my hand in there easily. Actually, I have rock in the overflow box. :biggrin:

I honestly can't imagine having an external box and pips coming up. It just seems crude and unattractive to me.

yes, if you have detritus in your overflow (which you do), it's a good idea to siphon it every once in a while.

As for "crude and unattractive"..first that's your opinion which (second) is based on the assumption that it will be visible :D

This type of overflow is much easier to maintain and troubleshoot if anything goes wrong.


Steve, Yes, I'm sure the box will be an add-on if this id the final design. I just didn't feel like messing with the rendering to reflect that. Yeah, I'm lazy.