side overflow question

martym · #1 09-01-2005, 06:56 PM

I don't have enough room under my tank to do a bottom overflow. How well do side overflows work? I would think it would work fine, but be a bit noisier, and harder to controll the noise.
thanks for your comments

danny zubot · #2 09-01-2005, 07:15 PM

I've had two tanks with side overflows. IMO they are less intrusive but can be noisey. Just make sure that you use a big enough overflow pipe inside the tank, it will help cut down the noise. You can also construct a stand pipe with an air vent, I've heard they are dead silent.

martym · #3 09-01-2005, 07:19 PM

Are you putting the holes on the side at the bottom? I was thinking on the side at the top. There would be no room for a stand pipe.

danny zubot · #4 09-01-2005, 07:26 PM

Mine is on the back side, top left. I don't have a stand pipe but I was debating creating a similar device outside of the tank.

martym · #5 09-01-2005, 09:46 PM

can you explain how you were going to do that

mr_alberta · #6 09-01-2005, 11:24 PM

Are you going to use just a strainer or something like an external durso on your tank? I've found that the strainer is MUCH harder to quiet down than the external Durso.

martym · #7 09-01-2005, 11:29 PM

I was thinking about a 90 deg elbow pointing down to try to quite the noise.

danny zubot · #8 09-02-2005, 02:13 PM

I tried that but without some form of air getting into the tube you'll get a loud gurgle. I used a 1.5 inch 90 degree pointing up, then a 1.5 to 3 inch abs adaptor to create a sort of funnel. I'll try to post a pic if I can find one.