Recent content by Christian Schwalm

For cutting teeth in an overflow, a router with a dovetail guide is the ticket. A table saw would work, but it would look like something out of a horror film!! ; ) I've also seen a DIY'er cut an overflow box WITHOUT teeth so that water just ran over the top. He did, however, cut a piece of...

Sounds like the drain is too big. You don't even need a stand pipe. Just put a ball valve on the drain to create just enough back pressure to stop all that slurping noise. Even if you keep the stand pipe, this will work. What is all this standpipe business anyway? I don't see them as...

I can't imagine putting power cords in close proximity to all that. It just sounds like a lame design and a waste of space to me. I would just use a razorblade to cut it out. You should be able to remove the whole thing and just be left with 2 holes in the bottom of the tank, right? Then just...

Yeah, by the time you buy the clear PVC (if you go this route) and do all the work, it would have been worth just buying one. Christian Schwalm SkyLab www.wetdryfilter.com

Just find a design (browse the internet) that you like AND UNDERSTAND, and copy it. You don't have to use clear PVC, which is expensive, but logistically it makes it easier. For the size pump, take a look at the skimmers you see advertised and see what pumps they are matched up with. In other...

CaribSea does package different sizes of aragonite. Perhaps you could use some combination of sand/aragonite to liven things up a bit! ; ) Christian Schwalm SkyLab Industries www.wetdryfilter.com Home of the corner overflow!!

The overflow box would probably serve better as a prefilter by putting a sponge in it that the water must pass thru. This prevents unwanted debris from reaching your wet/dry or sump. Christian Schwalm SkyLab Industries www.wetdryfilter.com

By the way, if the bottom is tempered you can still use the internal overflows. Just drill out the back wall near the bottom. This will work just as well. If you're going to drill yourself, I suggest you get the bulkheads you want first. With the bulkheads in hand, you'll be able to see how...

I'm not sure what you mean by "In order for me to get a good flow rate out of the outlet heads, I have to shut off the tube leading back to the sump and then my overflow box cannot handle the flow of water going back to the sump again, so the tank over fills." Why would you close the valve on...

You don't need a pipe that is actually threaded (good luck finding this in standard PVC!!), you just need a fitting to connect the pipe to the bulkhead. The fitting will have male threads on one end and be a female slip on the other end. Just posting so you don't knock yourself out looking for...

If one of your main concerns is noise, do NOT skimp on the overflow and just elbow a drain toward the water's surface. This will be loud! The corner overflow is the way to go! :wink: I would use a 1.5" drain, and a 1" return. If the bottom of your tank is tempered, just drill the back wall...

:wink: SkyLab is now manufacturing acrylic corner overflow boxes! For more information, photos, and ordering, please visit http://www.wetdryfilter.com.

Do you already have the bulkhead for your drain? If you use a threaded bulkhead you will need an 'adapter' that screws into the bulkhead, and that the PVC drain pipe will slip into. If you use a slip bulkhead, you won't need an adapter. I have a picture of one (without adapter) at...