opinions wanted regarding overflow for 150 gallon
 

I have purchased a new 150 gallon (60"x24"x24") tank that will be put in between two walls and will be viewed from both 60" sides.

I would like some opinions on what overflow setup I should use. Right off the bat, I will mention I will be putting in just one overflow and the overflow will be at one end of the tank, either through the bottom or the side. (That much I am sure about)

Regarding a return pump, I will be using a mag 18 (which I already own) so I will be circulating approx 1300 GPH.

Should I drill the bottom and put in a durso? and box it in on one end of the tank?

Or possibly just drill a hole in the end of the tank and place a strainer on a bulkhead? What would the noise be like? Also, I know the flow capacity isn't as good.

I was leaning towards a durso boxed in and would then either make some agrocrete mould to fit around the overflow box or cut some live rock and use polyurethane foam to attach them around the overflow box (sort of like working with cultured stone).

I saw the use of polyurethane foam for attaching live rock in the book REEF SECRETS by Fossa and Nilsen. I will have to do some research on how long it takes for polyurethane foam to become inert.

Also, depending on which way I go, what size bulkhead?

TIA
Bill

any thoughts anyone?

Bill, I think you should ask Steve as he went thru the same questions on his viewed from three sides tank. After a year or 2, he might have some things to say about what he should or shouldn't have done.

Re: opinions wanted regarding overflow for 150 gallon
 

Yes do this.. if you don;t mine losing 6" off your tank silicone a 24X23 sheet of plexy with teeth on the top to make a overflow box in the end.. then put two 1.5" bulkheads on the bottom so you can go with two durso's. even if you only need 1 you can plug the other while you are not using it. or leave it a little taller for a "emergency spill" if the main one fails.

When I move the tank this fall everything will be going into a waiding pool and I will be putting a overflow box in mine.. I wish I would have done that in the first place instead of spending to much time reading on alternatives :rolleyes:

Steve

Bill

If you will have access to and enough room behind (beside?) the tank at the end you could drill the sides and put the durso stand pipes on the outside of the tank. Then you could build smaller overflow boxes on the inside of the tank,saving space and also have surface skimming. Hope that made sense. I'm still trying to picture how to do it myself as I type this. :eek: :mrgreen:

If you want to drill the bottom and don't want to put an overflow all the way across the end of the tank (then you would have to hide the part you could see into the overflow from the side) you could make a u shaped (3 sided) overflow box and put it in the middle of the end. I can bend the acrylic for you if you want. Or you could get fancy and put a 4 sided overflow in the middle of the tank. :mrgreen:

I would use big bulkheads. It's easier to restrict the flow if the bulkhead is too big, than it is to increase flow if it is too small.

I like the idea mentioned of drilling a hole for an extra bulkhead you can always plug it if it is not needed or use it to plumb a return from the sump.

This is exactly what I did but I lost 7" because I had euro bracing to get my drain pipes through the overflow and edge of bracing. I like my three sided tank but wish it was longer. I really miss the 7". I would do it on a 6' 180gal or your size tank but not a 4' 120gal... gives you only 41"

PS. Can someone tell me how to get it so that it says who I'm quoting from? I've never done it that way!

Just use the quote button....

http://www.islandreef.ca/post/quote.jpg

Dale, this is what I did but I never put the overflow in.. the problem I have found with putting the bulkheads in the side is that will add two 90 degree bends into your flow right off the bat and lower the amount of water you can put throught the pipe. Mine ended up with 4, 90 degree bends and can only handle about 1000 gph. if you want to use a large return pump the best way is a big hole in the bottom (ie. 1.5" bulkhead) as this will allow the water to fall strait down to the sump.

Steve

Thanks guys for your input. From everything I've read from you all, it seems to me my original idea of drilling the bottom near the end of the tank and building an overflow box around the area (7" deep x whatever) big enough to install a durso would be the way to go. (three sided box like what Dale was talking about)

Would putting in one 2" bulkhead be a bad idea? instead of 2 - 1.5". I appreciate the idea of a backup overflow standpipe, but would rather not take up so much room for the plumbing.

Also, I would rather not partition off the whole end of the tank. I would rather make a three sided box approx 7" deep x 10" or 12" wide. If I did one 1.5"durso and had an emergency drain pipe as well what would you estimate to be my minimum size box to build around it?

Steve, what if I put two 1.5" bulheads on the side of the tank and built a small overflow box for the two drains, would that suffice for flow and how would the noise be?