drilling and over flow boxes

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by Coventina

Wow guys I feel way better now. Lol

Are you sure

[Ultimatom]

Hi guys ! Im new to this hobby , got my self a 55g tank and im in the process of building the stand. Im prolly gonna diy the sump and the overflow system too. I wanted to go with a bean animal type of overflow but i dont know where to get the box of the overflow here in red deer. Ive look at the link someone posted up here but those box are way too expensive and from what ive seen they're not bean animal systems. Any suggestions ?

[The Grizz]

You pretty much have to go to Calgary / Edmonton to get any good acrylic or even glass at a good price. Unless you know someone in the area that can drill out the tank & build your OF for ya.

[Ultimatom]

I was gonna drill the aquarium myself , even thou scary for a beginner, i think i can make it. I got the plans for the pipes and everything but i kinda just wanted the box itself.

[Ultimatom]

Sweet! Are the holes for bulkheads at the bottom of the tank? Is this what they call a vertical overflow? where do you get your glass and black acrylic in red deer?

[The Grizz]

Correct this is a vertical overflow with 1 - 1" bulkhead holes in the bottom, one for a Durso drain, the other for a return.

I dont get glass or acrylic here in Red Deer. Glass shops here are way overpriced, I usually have scarp glass in my shop and just cut it myself or get it in Edmonton from a buddy who owns a glass shop. The acrylic I get at Sabic in Calgary, bought a full 4' x 8' sheet of 3/16" black a while ago just to have some extra around after I finish my coast to coast overflow for my 300 gal. I could probably cut you a couple strips out of it cheaper they you going to Calgary to get it.

[Ultimatom]

that would be awesome ! Im a bit on the fence about the teeth thing thou. I see some ppl dont use them (like on the pic i posted) and some do. I'm under the impression that it would create noise. Am i wrong? Id love to see ur set up or at least how you did your ctc overflow. Did you use the bean animal method?

[The Grizz]

You really need teeth on overflows because any small fish that gets to close will be in your overflow or sump constantly. They don't create any noise, the noise comes from the water level in your overflow. I have not built my 300 yet, just haven't had time yet. Not sure what I am going to do yet for my plumbing.

[Ultimatom]

I changed my mind about the whole thing.. im bringing back the tank i got and will buy a predrilled with corner overflow in it . It's cheaper and i really didnt need the lights ,heater and stuff that was coming in that "kit" i got. I'll chip in 20$ and I'll get that 55g with a 30g tank to build my sump. Would you advice me to drill the sump for the return line and get an external pump or just run a pump in the sump?

[The Grizz]

That sounds like a good plan, as for return pumps the submersible pumps are good and are reasonably priced. It depends on how much flow you want in the tank from your return. they do have there down side though, some pump can create alot of heat and depending on if you are going to run any media reactors with smaller submersible pumps they might raise the temp in your tank. Just for an example I have a total of 6 pumps running my 165 gal, 3 of each internal and external and my heater has never been on in almost 2 yrs, I actually have to run a chiller.