How to get water from tank to sump?

[michaelp]

What's the normal method for doing this?

Internal overflow box?

On a tank that will be visible from both sides (120g) any recommendations?

 

[jackson6745]

Built-in internal overflow box with holes drilled for dain and return, or external hang-on overflow box. Internal is a better way to go.

 

[herman]

Is your tank glass or acryllic? How far off the wall do you plan to have the tank?

The reason why I ask is the following:

1. Acryllic is easier to drill, cut etc
2. Do you mind drilling the bootom of a tank for an internal overflow?
3. If you want the tank flush to the wall an interlan overflow is your only option whereas if you dont mind a slight offset of a couple of inches you can just have an external overflow.

 

[herman]

If you want both sides to be visible you can add an internal overflow on one side.

Glasscages.com pic:

 

[michaelp]

Glasscages looks nice and the stuff is reasonably priced.

Why would I want to go with an internal overflow vs. an external overflow?

The tank will be visible front back, but the sides will be obscured (hard to explain but its going into a wall which will be primarily viewed from the front so just the outline of the tank will be seen)

I was thinking an external overflow would be better because it will be hidden from view when looking through the tank...

any thoughts?

 

[herman]

If you have a choice you should always go with an internal overflow. God knows how many accidents I have had with the external suckers. There are so many advantages to internal overflows and there are many ways to hide it. These will be good for your setup.

HTH,
Herman

 

[michaelp]

dumb question, but does the return piping come up through the internal overflow and dump into the tank (like a u shaped piece of pipe)

 

[Deanos]

dumb question, but does the return piping come up through the internal overflow and dump into the tank (like a u shaped piece of pipe)

Not a dumb question, but a scary one coming from someone setting up 120g inwall. Here's a start:

Reef Plumbing

 

[michaelp]

You're right. There's no way I can do this by myself. I know enough to be dangerous but I need an expert to guide me here. Can you recommend someone as a consultant or a shop that would be able to help me?

 

[samster]

its not dangerous. I setup my own tank custom drillin inlet, overflow, and custom cabinet the whole setup works fine but i regret not taking my time to read more and learn then i could of had the perfect setup up. but i think this hobby thing is a Trial and Error hobby. so when i upgrade then i know what to attack at =D like my mistakes / using wet/dry filter instead of makin an acyrlic or glasss sump now i can't put a tank larger then a 20gal long for a sump into my cabinet suck huh? lol bu if u was orginally in the hobby i don't see how how u would be dangerous -=) and if not u should do more researchin then me better safe then sory n no rush -=) i figgured i fix things later aslong as i setup fill with water i could have startedmy cycle -=T wrong one shoulda took my time and found the best filtration method owells

 

[Tonyscoots84]

on a 29 gallon i would do an external overflow. on a 120 gallon i would go all out and do the internal overflow with the durso standpipes. more flow the better.

 

[kimoyo]

Why do you guys feel that internal overflows are better?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

much much safer. external uses the siphon method. not really a good way for a 120g tank.

 

[kimoyo]

So you guys were talking about the add-on external overflows that you hang on the tank wall. We should specify when we are talking about hang-on units because external overflows (wiers) which are built on the tank are really nice and have a lot of positives compared to internal overflows and are perfectly safe, IMO safier than internals because you don't drill the bottom.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

the wiers are different from what i was talking about. i was talking about as u said the external siphon one.

 

[drunktank]

Well theres an external overflow built onto the tank- which isn't practical if the tank is flush up against the walls of its width, or even the siphon one as well. Internal is the way to go. And if u can't drill the bottom on ur tank, it works just as well as to drill the bottom of the sides (takes up a little less space then an built in extrenal overflow)

it really comes down to ur application, the space u have avaliable, and $

 

[kimoyo]

Drunktank - How close do you want your tank to the wall? My external overflow is 5" wide (it could have been smaller) and my tank could be 6" away from the wall but I have it further away. I didn't want my tank any closer to the wall than that, with the possibility of splashing or if anything falls behind the tank. The majority of setups I have seen have been at least 6" away from the wall especially if there is some plumbing.

So I don't get why you are saying internals the way to go.

Weirs don't tank up any room in the tank and they pull more off the surface.



IMO, my tank is tight (click on the image).

BTW, the external can be installed on the sides also.

 

[drunktank]

Well its 50/50 A lot of people who have larger reef tanks, put them into walls, and some don't. Personally, My 150 is flush up against my wall on all three sides. Had it built to fit a room. I also believe that Built on external over flows are basically the same as internal. Same method and build- Water flows over teeth, collects and travels down a pipe or dorso pipe into a sump. hang on packs have one drawback and thats the siphon, not practical when theres a power outage.
of course pipes can crack and come loose, leaks can develop. EVerythings has its ups and downs

so to say which is the best method- IMO Externally built/internal overflows are much much better then hang on siphon methods.