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IridescentLily
08/27/2009, 10:34 AM
I'm interested in the coast to coast overflow for any future tank.
can those of you who use CtC overflow explain why you chose
this type of overflow. Was the choice for your CtC strictly
for more room in tank, or are there are other positives for a CtC overflow?
Are you happy with the way it works?
Also, those who had a tank custom made with a CtC, was this type known by
your tank vendor, or was it something custom tank vendors
are familiar with making?
Is a CtC alot more expensive, or only a bit more costly than a corner overflow?

Thanks for any comments or pictures of yours.

troylee
08/27/2009, 11:07 AM
Ctc. Is the way to go...it provides the best surface skimming period!!!which means your skimmer is gonna work a lot better because all the organics are not bound up in a oil slick on top of your tank....I can't post pics rite now, but I run this on my tank which I built myself...page 7 or 8 "red house" you can see it....also check beananimals thread in the diy. Forum there is a ton of ctc. Overflows in there....the ctc. With beans dead silent overflow is prolly the best out there set and forget and dead silent like the title says...I'm pushing almost 3000gph threw it and its silent as can be....

IridescentLily
08/27/2009, 05:16 PM
Wow, cool thanks. So flow is flow a plus in having ctc?
I'll check out the dig section for beans animals thread.
I'm assuming it's an entire thread about them.
I'd still love to see any pics. I am unsure that I'd be
able to build one myself though since I plan to purchase
a tank instead of building my own.
Thanks.

IridescentLily
08/28/2009, 05:33 PM
Anyone?
I can't seem to locate the thread.

Kaos
08/28/2009, 05:41 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15611520#post15611520 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Anyone?
I can't seem to locate the thread.

Here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=473152&highlight=calfo) ya go!

pmrossetti
08/28/2009, 05:43 PM
Don't know of threads, but it's the best and safest to go if you can get someone to understand how to make it for for you. Drains at the top of the tank rather holes in the bottom are much safer and the returns going over the top back are best for siphon breaks. A lot of people have their tanks up against a wall though which makes servicing difficult if not impossible. So think of that before deciding. Internal overflows are good if you use a standpipe to raise water level. Otherwise a flaw in overflow chamber seem can be disastrous. :)

IridescentLily
08/28/2009, 05:50 PM
Kaos, thank you! :-)
pmmorretti! Thank you, that makes sense to
me.

Imzadi
08/28/2009, 06:01 PM
I got one, in my red house, page 4...

I love mine. Problem free...

pmrossetti
08/28/2009, 06:29 PM
IL, You're awesome. :)

sikpupy
08/28/2009, 07:15 PM
You don’t check CL, lol? I have mine up for adoption. Link is for picture purposes, not a plug. So happy with mine, kinda don’t care if it sells.

Have to admit that while it does filter the top like a champ, lots of stuff never makes it to the top that I can tell and just floats around and around and around and around. I almost wish I had a canister filter on the tank instead, but, that does not address the surface scum. I built it myself cause I did not want to hear anything, and, true to its word, you hear absolutely nothing, you should check it out to see it, you would be amazed. I can show you how to build it, set it and forget it, lol. Then you could buy the tank you want and have it done exactly the way you want. If someone else does it its gonna be $$, hopefully not. I am thinking about going 60"

My plug........er.......link http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/for/1347780903.html

IridescentLily
08/28/2009, 08:17 PM
Oh wow Sikpupy! That is one sweet tank with that overflow.
so it's silent. Yet another big positive of a CtC that I didn't know.

sikpupy
08/29/2009, 09:08 AM
Hello, thank you, yes, absolutly silent. Once setup (I.E. adjusting water flow outlets to the sump), you hear 100% -0- , nada, ziltch. No gurggling, no bubbling, no trickling.....etc. The only thing you hear is the pumps, which then turns out to be the devil beause then you want them to be quiet, lol.

I got lucky with this one on eblay from a guy in Montclair, just outside of manassas. I got it for $300 with a ro unit, killer light setup, stand and a bunch of extras. By the time I sold the stand and light, it well paid for itself, so, drilling wasnt that scary. Now there is a guy with a 60" tank in Winchester, but the trim is in woodgrain color, a big no no for me. Price is crazy good but I have to go look at it for scratches. Being that I am in Dulles area, not sure I want to drive an hour one way just to look at scratches, lol. Other than that, as long as one knows the tanks back is not tempered, drilling is a peice of cake. Glass shops in the area can cut glas to shape for around $40, some silicone and whala, your good to go.

One last thing though.... you have to clean it often or it becomes a eye sore if you go with clear glass. I was gonna go with smoked at first but I wanted light to beam all the way in the back. I figured, if I wanted to change my mind, I could just let the coraline grow on the front of the overflow to hide the pipes in the back.

IridescentLily
08/29/2009, 04:52 PM
Awesome Sikpupy. Thanks for the tip on the clear vs dark glass on the overflow.
Those overflows rock, gonna go read beananimals thread some more too.
Is it bad to get excited about an overflow, lol?

IridescentLily
08/29/2009, 04:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15611788#post15611788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmrossetti
IL, You're awesome. :)
Aw, thank you pm. I was just getting ready to bump your flood thread for you. :-)

Imzadi
08/29/2009, 05:06 PM
Oh, and I got a video of the over -flow starting up... with the nail biting 1.9 seconds that it takes the siphon to catch....

I LOVE watching it go... I did 2 of the 3 drains o fthe bean method, and I RARELY even touch the second drain, let alone trip the second drain safety, or have a need for the third 'Holy crap' drain... I sometimes wish I had made mine out of tinted glass. But now, you don't even see it there anyway. The live rock goes higher than the bottom edge of the overflow, so it is pretty much invisible. It does take up quite a lot of take space... but it is pretty flawless.

Good luck!

IridescentLily
08/29/2009, 07:00 PM
Imzadi, that,s so cool. They look like there's more room, do you find that to be the case, moreso than a corner overflow for instance?
Thanks again for posting about yours! :-)

Imzadi
08/30/2009, 06:41 AM
I would think the increase of substrate area would be some advantage. To me, the surface skimming is way better, and with a corner over-flow, the water has to go a lot further down, so I could see it 'maybe' being a little bit of noise. With the corner OF I think it breaks up the to much, maybe. Visually, I mean... and I guess for flow too... I think the main attraction for me to the C2C would be the lower risk of blockage. A couple of feet worth to foul up instead of a few inches. I really should get a FTS of the tank now (and show off my hair algea... yuk) but because from teh front, you don't know there is an overflow there at all. (visually)

Imzadi
08/30/2009, 06:45 AM
I have seen C2Cs done with one piece of glass, as a wedge looking thing. I was thinking about doing that, but it would have brought the front top edge out quite a bit further, and made a very accute angle at the bottom. Another plus, I guess, is the C2C is shallow. I reach in and grab the adventurous snail in the overflow, before they take the waterpark ride down to the sump. I wouldn't think it would be as easy reaching to the bottom of a 24 or 30" corner overflow...

luther1200
08/30/2009, 02:07 PM
I am absolutely going to go with a C2C on my next tank. I have a standard Megaflow overflow and it works well, but I can't stand it. It takes up so much room in the tank and is a major PITA to clean the front of it. Mine is always covered in something and is really ugly IMO. I guess its function over form, but I think a C2C is the best of both worlds. Either that or an external overflow if I can get that done somehow. But even if I id get an external overflow I would want it to be fairly long as long as I could have it be.

James77
08/30/2009, 03:07 PM
Mine is not a full C2c, but it is a horizontal overflow that covers over half the length of my tank. I would not do it any other way, the footprint the typical overflow takes up is so intrusive compared to C2C.

Mine is 2 feet long, 4.5" high, and only 2.5" deep. I was unable to find dark glass, so I skimmed a coat of black silicone over the front on the inside.

I also use BeanAnmals siphon overflow which is totally silent, as is the overflow itself. I used no teeth, but I do have gutter guard on the top for snails.

pmrossetti
08/30/2009, 07:27 PM
bump

IridescentLily
08/30/2009, 10:06 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15618403#post15618403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imzadi
I would think the increase of substrate area would be some advantage. To me, the surface skimming is way better, and with a corner over-flow, the water has to go a lot further down, so I could see it 'maybe' being a little bit of noise. With the corner OF I think it breaks up the to much, maybe. Visually, I mean... and I guess for flow too... I think the main attraction for me to the C2C would be the lower risk of blockage. A couple of feet worth to foul up instead of a few inches. I really should get a FTS of the tank now (and show off my hair algea... yuk) but because from teh front, you don't know there is an overflow there at all. (visually)
Yes, you're right, the increase in substrate area is what got me about this overflow originally. I was only coming at it from an aesthetics point of view and turns out there are so many more advantages of this type.
Lower risk of blockage. Absolutely. :thumbsup:
If it's no trouble you should post a pic of your tank. :)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15618414#post15618414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imzadi
I have seen C2Cs done with one piece of glass, as a wedge looking thing. I was thinking about doing that, but it would have brought the front top edge out quite a bit further, and made a very accute angle at the bottom. Another plus, I guess, is the C2C is shallow. I reach in and grab the adventurous snail in the overflow, before they take the waterpark ride down to the sump. I wouldn't think it would be as easy reaching to the bottom of a 24 or 30" corner overflow...
Hmm, i've not seen that made with one piece, interesting. Yeah bringing out the top edge more, dunno if i'd like that. It'd still be better looks wise than the typical types of o.f. i guess. And reaching for a wayward snail, i never thought about that Imzadi. Being not a man, and not over 5'5", i need all the height help i can get in maintaining my tank. :D

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15620190#post15620190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
I am absolutely going to go with a C2C on my next tank. I have a standard Megaflow overflow and it works well, but I can't stand it. It takes up so much room in the tank and is a major PITA to clean the front of it. Mine is always covered in something and is really ugly IMO. I guess its function over form, but I think a C2C is the best of both worlds. Either that or an external overflow if I can get that done somehow. But even if I id get an external overflow I would want it to be fairly long as long as I could have it be.
Yes! The cleaning of the corner overflow is not appealing. Oh id' do it if i had a corner or middle type, but it's the ease of cleaning that the CtC seems to provide which also sold me on it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15620508#post15620508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James77
Mine is not a full C2c, but it is a horizontal overflow that covers over half the length of my tank. I would not do it any other way, the footprint the typical overflow takes up is so intrusive compared to C2C.

Mine is 2 feet long, 4.5" high, and only 2.5" deep. I was unable to find dark glass, so I skimmed a coat of black silicone over the front on the inside.

I also use BeanAnmals siphon overflow which is totally silent, as is the overflow itself. I used no teeth, but I do have gutter guard on the top for snails.
Yes indeed, i've seen a couple of those types. I feel the same way about the ones that don't go all the way the length of the tank. Great looking.
Interesting no teeth used on yours. That i've not seen. Thanks.

IridescentLily
08/30/2009, 10:08 PM
Darn it, dupe post, sorry.

Tswifty
08/30/2009, 10:27 PM
I had one on my 90g tank. In combination with "Bean's Method" they are about the best overflow system out there IMO. Very easy to fabricate and install as well.

They don't need to go "coast to coast" in order to get the benefits either. What size tank were you thinking of installing one on? I like to use glass, then attach a piece of acrylic to the front to hide the overflow.

Here are some pics of the one I made for my 90g tank.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/new901.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/gutter2.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/FTSClowns1.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/cover1.jpg

Finished product:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/FTSY2.jpg

luther1200
08/30/2009, 10:52 PM
Nice. I was wondering how people hid it. Because you can't really paint the glass right? What about tint or something like that?

IridescentLily
08/31/2009, 12:14 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15623100#post15623100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty
I had one on my 90g tank. In combination with "Bean's Method" they are about the best overflow system out there IMO. Very easy to fabricate and install as well.

They don't need to go "coast to coast" in order to get the benefits either. What size tank were you thinking of installing one on? I like to use glass, then attach a piece of acrylic to the front to hide the overflow.

Here are some pics of the one I made for my 90g tank.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/new901.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/gutter2.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/FTSClowns1.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/cover1.jpg

Finished product:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/FTSY2.jpg
Now, what is wrong with me that i didn't know you emplyed one on your tank? :)
I'll be using a 36Lx24Wx20H.
I love the cover you made. No animals are going in that puppy. Very nice.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15623193#post15623193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Nice. I was wondering how people hid it. Because you can't really paint the glass right? What about tint or something like that?
Yeah, i know what you mean, i didn't get it at first about the not being able to paint it. But as Tswifty has employed above, a dark acrylic attached to the front panel of the overflow looks like the way to go.

Tswifty
08/31/2009, 01:05 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15623416#post15623416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Now, what is wrong with me that i didn't know you emplyed one on your tank? :)
I'll be using a 36Lx24Wx20H.
I love the cover you made. No animals are going in that puppy. Very nice.

Thanks. Those are some nice dimensions. With that size tank I would probably employ something similar to this. It will save space in the tank, still give you the benefits of surface skimming, and run silent. I installed this on my ex-girlfriend's 20g cube. It's basically a modified Bean's Method, and only uses 2 of the 3 standpipes. The siphon and open channel standpipe. Also, the way the flow is oriented... it's constantly pushing water towards the overflow, so any deritus/excess food/particles are filtered off.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/LAK%20Nano/Overflow2.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/LAK%20Nano/Overflow1.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/LAK%20Nano/FTS_070108.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/LAK%20Nano/Sump3.jpg

jimroth
08/31/2009, 09:09 AM
Here's some pictures of my CTC overflow. I chose it for the following reasons:
1) I Hate overflow boxes (although the CTC casts a pretty big shadow)
2) Maximize surface skimming (only the top 1/4" goes over the weir, takes all the film off the water)

This is before there was even salt in the tank:
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/ScrapCurmudgeon/JimAquaStuff/ReefPlumbing006.jpg

This shows the drain setup. I probably should have done a third drain...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/ScrapCurmudgeon/JimAquaStuff/Oct2007fidktsnk003.jpg

This is more or less how the tank looks today:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/ScrapCurmudgeon/JimAquaStuff/July09ReefPix015.jpg

The minuses of the CTC have been that:

1) I didn't figure out a way to make it smaller (my tank builder doesn't do external overflows). I had to be able to install the bulkheads, so it's like 5X5" in cross section.
2) It's hard to clean. You have to reach into the tank with a scraper to clean the front of it(well, you could shut down the return pump but I don't do that). Stuff grows everywhere, even the outside bottom!
3) It makes it much harder to clean the rear glass. I use a magfloat modified with a ReefGadget(R) razorblade holder, and then I have to use my grabber thingy to slide it along the back of the tank.

The plusses have been:
1) More floorspace.
2) Great surface skimming!
3) Very quiet.
4) Surprise, the big overflow has proven to be a good "raceway," an ideal place to grow frags. There is so much flow and light, they encrust on the plug in a hurry.

Many more pix in my build thread, just click on the red house.

GlassReef
08/31/2009, 09:36 AM
Here's a few pics of mine. The tank is 96" wide.

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t358/selbold/Aquarium%20Build/Plumbing/Overflow/Overflow-18.jpg

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t358/selbold/Aquarium%20Build/Plumbing/Overflow/Overflow-11.jpg

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t358/selbold/Aquarium%20Build/Plumbing/Overflow/Overflow-16.jpg

kudora
08/31/2009, 10:07 AM
here are some pics of my 40 breeder


http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn121/kudorasphoto/P1010020Medium.jpg

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn121/kudorasphoto/P1010022Medium.jpg

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn121/kudorasphoto/P1010002_edited.jpg

IridescentLily
08/31/2009, 07:10 PM
Tswifty, i absolutely love that, it's even less space than a full CtC.

Jimroth, thanks you so much for listing the positives and the negatives. Ease in cleaning is a goal of mine so perhaps i need to think more about the size of my OF.

Glassreef, that is extraordinary. :-o

Kudora, thank you. I like the dark acrylic. It looks like your CtC overflow is coralline free also. When you do maintenance, do you find cleaning a CtC overflow to be a challenging task, or is it as challenging to keep clean as any other type of overflow?

Thanks again to all for this help.

James77
08/31/2009, 07:19 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15623193#post15623193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Nice. I was wondering how people hid it. Because you can't really paint the glass right? What about tint or something like that?

They do sell black glass, it has several different tints and it is a part of the glass. I had tried painting one of mine with Krylon paint and it peeled within a month or so. My current one, since i could find no dark glass, I smeared a thin coat of black silicone on the visible panels.

luther1200
08/31/2009, 07:26 PM
Is the black glass hard to come by?

Tswifty
08/31/2009, 07:31 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15627980#post15627980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James77
They do sell black glass, it has several different tints and it is a part of the glass. I had tried painting one of mine with Krylon paint and it peeled within a month or so. My current one, since i could find no dark glass, I smeared a thin coat of black silicone on the visible panels.
I think I paid like $12 shipped to my door for the black 1/4" acrylic piece I used (or something along those lines).

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/acrylic1.jpg

A little silicone and a few clamps. Nice, clean, no mess install. I've seen overflows constructed out of "tinted" glass, and never liked how you can still see the pipes through the overflow box. Not the case with acrylic. The piece I used was completely opaque. Also, 1/4" was unnecessary. On my rimless tank, I have an external coast to coast-ish overflow. So in order to hide everything a 1/8" or 1/32" (I forget) sheet of black acrylic was affixed on the inside of the tank on the back wall... once again... no light passes through it.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank4.jpg

You can see the thin sheet on the inside of the back wall:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank5.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank2.jpg

luther1200
08/31/2009, 07:37 PM
Where did you get it?

James77
08/31/2009, 07:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628026#post15628026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Is the black glass hard to come by?

Im sure you can find online stores that carry it, maybe even your local glass shop. None of my local shops had it, and Im not overly patient, so I got plain glass.

kudora
08/31/2009, 08:32 PM
no one locally carried what i was looking for this is what i used

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&category_name=21314&product_id=9792&variant_id=44464



my tank is only a month or so old lilly but i do have an acrylic scraper to do the overflow.

Tswifty
08/31/2009, 09:20 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628109#post15628109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Where did you get it?
From the person who built my tank. Any plastic shop should have drops that you can purchase at a discount price though. If you can't find anything local, then you can also order them online from US Plastics.

Acrylic Sheets (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&category_name=21314&Page=1)

Tswifty
08/31/2009, 09:21 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628505#post15628505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
no one locally carried what i was looking for this is what i used

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&category_name=21314&product_id=9792&variant_id=44464
:lol:

Just noticed you posted almost the same link. :rollface:

IridescentLily
09/01/2009, 09:46 AM
Got algae?
lol
I just saw your avvie.

Tswifty
09/01/2009, 11:35 AM
Haha... Yeah it had been a while since I changed it. :lol:

kudora
09/01/2009, 11:39 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628857#post15628857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty
:lol:

Just noticed you posted almost the same link. :rollface:


rofl nice



the worst thing about the CtC is that you have to have a quiet return, i have a mag 7 and will have to switch to a 1260 soon since its all i can hear. with no water sound comming out of the overflow its really noticable

stratos21ss
09/01/2009, 01:38 PM
I have one that's a little different from the norm..since it's acrylic I could design the tank sides and overflow sides as one piece and incorporate the external CTC into them instead of tacking the thing on as a separate piece onto the back like the usual way they are done. I call them stratosides lol:


Doesn't take up that much space out from the wall
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa11/aegia/img1zzzxxwwn___TQ213/stand2.jpg

Having a very good gate valve is very important in tuning the water height that you get in the overflow itself. The 2nd gate valve I leave completely open and is only used as an unrestricted backup drain. Its drain opening in the overflow sits higher than the active drain thus will only be used if the water rises to it from the other drain getting accidentally clogged or something.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa11/aegia/img1zzzxxwwn___TQ213/pic2-8.jpg

The return is plumbed up and over the overflow and comes out via a wavy sea for extra water movement
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa11/aegia/img1zzzxxwwn___TQ213/pic5-2.jpg

The endless edge is cool..
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa11/aegia/img1zzzxxwwn___TQ213/pic4-2.jpg

Space is freed up within the tank which is one reason to use an external type overflow
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa11/aegia/img1zzzxxwwn___TQ213/pic2-11.jpg


other tank info:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1340489

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1676249


Strat

luther1200
09/01/2009, 02:34 PM
Sweet tank!

stratos21ss
09/01/2009, 06:27 PM
Thanks Luther!

IridescentLily
09/01/2009, 11:46 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628063#post15628063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty
I think I paid like $12 shipped to my door for the black 1/4" acrylic piece I used (or something along those lines).

A little silicone and a few clamps. Nice, clean, no mess install. I've seen overflows constructed out of "tinted" glass, and never liked how you can still see the pipes through the overflow box. Not the case with acrylic. The piece I used was completely opaque. Also, 1/4" was unnecessary. On my rimless tank, I have an external coast to coast-ish overflow. So in order to hide everything a 1/8" or 1/32" (I forget) sheet of black acrylic was affixed on the inside of the tank on the back wall... once again... no light passes through it.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank4.jpg

You can see the thin sheet on the inside of the back wall:


http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank2.jpg

I absolutely love the look of this overflow Tswifty. And it looks easy to maintain. My only challenge is going to find a vendor to build one this way.
For anyone here, aas it difficult finding a reputable vendor who also had experience building these types of overflows?

IridescentLily
09/07/2009, 10:42 PM
I read today on a build thread here that glass cages does horizontal overflows now.
:-o
I'm like really?

IridescentLily
09/09/2009, 02:22 PM
Anyone heard of glass cages making horizontal overflows now?

elegance coral
09/09/2009, 02:59 PM
Here's my DIY CTC on a little 40 breeder.
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2113/sn854595.jpg

Tswifty
09/09/2009, 10:24 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15675066#post15675066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Anyone heard of glass cages making horizontal overflows now?
I would NEVER order a tank from Glass Cages. Their prices are cheap for a reason IMO.

This is just one of the many threads:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1663967

IridescentLily
09/19/2009, 04:46 PM
Does anyone know of any tank makers besides glass cages that would do this kind of overflow? Who deliver?
Thanks so much you all.
:-)

Jgoal55
09/22/2009, 12:56 AM
Im not sure where you are located but I know glassreef used a company in Canada that did a great job. I almost used them for my tank but then found a great local builder.

here are some shots of my tank (very much inspired (ie - almost copied) from Glass Reef):
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1687207&perpage=25&pagenumber=3

check out p. 3 to get a good luck at the ext. Can't speak from experience yet though as you can see. lol.

gmneil
09/22/2009, 01:19 AM
google miracles aquariums, they are the best tank builders i have seen, and they can ship

drtrash
09/22/2009, 08:56 AM
Tswifty,
what are the dimensions of the oveflow box?

jimroth
09/22/2009, 10:01 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677659#post15677659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty
I would NEVER order a tank from Glass Cages. Their prices are cheap for a reason IMO.

This is just one of the many threads:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1663967

Boo! I love my GlassCages tank! It was budget friendly and has performed suberbly. :D

IridescentLily
09/22/2009, 09:32 PM
Miracles, I sure do hear their name quite a bit here, forum members seem to like them quite a bit. I need to call them for a quote. I'll explain the CtC overflow to them, it sounds like they'll know what it is and how to create a tank with that type of overflow.
Just out of curiosity I may ask Glass Cages about that type, just to see if they do that.

Thanks for all the great information, explanations, experiential opinions, and photos you all! This type of overflow would have so many benefits for me.
I'll let you know what I find out okay?

Thanks again, take care.

albano
09/22/2009, 10:08 PM
sorry I may have missed it, but what size tank are you doing...I'm in the process of setting up an 8' 450g glass cages tank, that I considered a C2C on, but opted instead for two 2'X6"X6" overflows, giving me a total of 5' of overflow. I figured that it gave me alot of surface removal, and avoided 1 possible problem: that being if a fish went into the overflow, I'd have to chase it back and forth 8' at a time. NO THANKS

IridescentLily
09/22/2009, 11:34 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15745901#post15745901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by albano
sorry I may have missed it, but what size tank are you doing...I'm in the process of setting up an 8' 450g glass cages tank, that I considered a C2C on, but opted instead for two 2'X6"X6" overflows, giving me a total of 5' of overflow. I figured that it gave me alot of surface removal, and avoided 1 possible problem: that being if a fish went into the overflow, I'd have to chase it back and forth 8' at a time. NO THANKS
Hi Albano,
More than likely something along the lines of 36x24x18. I was thinking I would like try somewhere in the range of 65-90 gallons for my first reef.
Actually, because of the space I would put it 40"x28x18 would be perfect. Regardless of the length and width I have to get 18" because I'm 5'5 and I want it to be easier to clean. But the off size of 40x28 may be cost prohibitive. So the closest standard glass dimension to that is 36x24.
I understand from studying TSwifty's CtC photo above that he has a good looking cover/screen over his CtC so that no animals get into that.
An 8 ft tank, wow that is going to be grand. You're right though 8ft of chasing a fish sounds like a looong afternoon of work.
I can't wait to see your tank when you get it, it sounds awesome!

IridescentLily
09/23/2009, 01:07 AM
I can't believe I didn't think of this but, do you all know if these tank vendors make stands as well?
Thanks again for the info.

jimroth
09/23/2009, 12:39 PM
GlassCages makes stands pretty reasonable (mine was $500) but you do have to finish them yourself, and of course you need to be specific about what kind of door action you want on it.

I like how mine came out, but there was staining, sanding, and four coats of Minwax Wipe-on Poly, with sanding between coats. Then of course you have to put the big tank onto the stand.

I thought I would have problems with fish going over the weir, but so far, the only fish who's done it (twice!) is my yellow longnose butterfly. I don't know how long he was swimming on that watery treadmill, but he was fine each time. It's pretty easy to take a square plastic box (like Rubbermaid) and flip him back into the tank, don't really have to catch him.

IridescentLily
09/23/2009, 06:58 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15748493#post15748493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimroth
GlassCages makes stands pretty reasonable (mine was $500) but you do have to finish them yourself, and of course you need to be specific about what kind of door action you want on it.

I like how mine came out, but there was staining, sanding, and four coats of Minwax Wipe-on Poly, with sanding between coats. Then of course you have to put the big tank onto the stand.

I thought I would have problems with fish going over the weir, but so far, the only fish who's done it (twice!) is my yellow longnose butterfly. I don't know how long he was swimming on that watery treadmill, but he was fine each time. It's pretty easy to take a square plastic box (like Rubbermaid) and flip him back into the tank, don't really have to catch him.
Oh thanks JimRoth! Okay I think I'm up to finishing a stand if I chose that route.
The lifting of the tank, I'm going to have to be really nice to the neighbors, maybe I'll bake them some cookies and have some beer ready. :-)
thanks for the info on the stand.
Take care.

IridescentLily
03/07/2012, 10:07 PM
Ha! :) I found this and wanted to bump it up to see if any other folks have experience with these.

csmfish
03/07/2012, 10:45 PM
What???? And I thought there would be pictures of your tank a year later??? Aga!!! :o

Just do it girl, lol!!! :beer:

I was robbed! Someone call the police!

Reefahholic
03/08/2012, 03:29 AM
Reef savvy does them.

Just to let you know, I did a coast to coast and had a difficult time getting the overflow glass in the tank without scratching the sides. It's hard to explain unless ur doing it, but if you have euro bracing it's pretty difficult. Rimless would be easy because you could just set it right down in the without tweaking it. I cut a couple inches off and got it in finally, but trying to get it glued was a pain because it fell too short on both sides.

Also, if you paint ur back glass black, you can order your front panel of your overflow glass dark grey almost black. It will match the back of ur tank. Looks sweet. You can't really see it from the front. Look, check mine out. I cut it short on sides after all the BS I went through trying to get it in and glue it. If you cut it short, you can make a box, lay your tank on it's side and it's sooo much easier to glue. "stands on it's on."

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f236/JaredJHarms/ff4273e2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f236/JaredJHarms/ba915e39.jpg


One other thing, make sure you leave enough room to work in the overflow box. I put my fist in there sideways and made sure I had room.

kimdawg
03/08/2012, 08:04 AM
I love my c2c. It is in the tank which makes aquascaping a little challenging, but I take advantage of it getting light from the tank and grow caulerpa in it. My fish love getting tang salad everyday.

csmfish
03/08/2012, 12:03 PM
I had a 90 and while I loved the skimming and dead quiet operation, I didnt like it in the end. Here is why and your mileage may differ.

I had a 6" sand bed and the over flow stuck out into the tank about 3" and dropped down around 4", so, starting off with a 25" tank gave me 15" of top to bottom play 2/3rds the way back. Now I like a rock wall/slope and built up to about 1"-2" from the bottom of the overflow. I also kept the rock away from the back about 2" from the wall. This gave the fish front to back room to swim but didnt do much for mid to upperlevel room. There was some, but.... I have seen other tanks with out coast to coast and the tops have no oils, so, while a great novel idea and fun to have, I decided my next tank with have basic surface skimming and spray bars to keep things circulating. I would rather have the in tank room as opposed to the c2c.