DonW
R.I.P.
Will this work Entire back wall as overflow. Three slots the full length of the tank flowiing into a full length box. Three 1.5" drain tubes.
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Will this work
- Thread starter DonW
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wanareef
reefer addict
Just wondering, why 3 slots and not just one about 1/4" wide? I would think that you might have some structural questions if this slot went all the way across the back of the tank.
Maybe, just two spaced from the end and maybe about a foot wide. This will set the height of the water in the tank, so it would need to be high up. Someone else will chime with more knowledge of this.
Maybe, just two spaced from the end and maybe about a foot wide. This will set the height of the water in the tank, so it would need to be high up. Someone else will chime with more knowledge of this.
ReefShack
sps junkie
I thought about doing something very similar. Check out this site.
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/MICHELSONAquarium.html
His "spillway" is on the outside and he has drilled holes to let the water in but, it's on the shorter "side" section from front to back. I was considering, as you are, about doing this across the longer back section of the tank. However, because acrylic will bow, I was affraid that one of the seams might crack when the water was added. Thus, I opted for a coast-to-coast overflow on the inside. It's definitely a compromise in that you are losing some of the volume on the inside but, I think it's a more safe bet. Just some things to think about. Let us know what you decide!
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/MICHELSONAquarium.html
His "spillway" is on the outside and he has drilled holes to let the water in but, it's on the shorter "side" section from front to back. I was considering, as you are, about doing this across the longer back section of the tank. However, because acrylic will bow, I was affraid that one of the seams might crack when the water was added. Thus, I opted for a coast-to-coast overflow on the inside. It's definitely a compromise in that you are losing some of the volume on the inside but, I think it's a more safe bet. Just some things to think about. Let us know what you decide!
Thefishcouple
Well-known member
We have never liked the idea of overflow boxes on the outside of the tank because if they leak than well you know where the water goes. Acrylic or glass for that matter will bow when under pressure. Our thinking on that is pressure pushing against your overflow box inside the tank O K pressure pushing against the back of the aquarium may cause an external box to separate from the back. I also think by cutting those long slots in the back of your tank will make that area for the tank more likely to bow as you will be taking away material leaving small strips of acrylic between the slots. I have seen aquariums with external boxes that never leaked, I have also had to repair external boxes that have pulled away. We discourage this design and do not warranty it if we build them.
John
John
DonW
R.I.P.
Ok I revamped the design and made a somewhat? better picture.
