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View Full Version : Help me design the proper over flow in new custom Starphire !


chaaban
06/17/2013, 06:44 PM
Hey everyone, Im in the process of ordering a custom tank from Miracles Aquariums and Im really stuck on the type of over flow to use on this tank and where to drill the holes, as of now I have the stand which measures 32x31.5 and has a hole in the top left corner (would like to use this hole for overflow). So the tank will be 30x33x25, it will be a rimless, with eurobrace, and starphire glass.

It will end up looking something like this (aside from the middle overflow area and the two holes in the front brace):

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff65/autodave/011.jpg

For the over flow, I was thinking of using something similar to "bean animal's" design. while still utilizing the rather large hole already in my stand, my idea is to have the whole back panel of the tank to be the overflow/return area, Im just not sure how big of a gap between the back panel of the tank and the overflow panel. Below I have a couple pictures to help show what Im talking about:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7916&pictureid=53774

And another member has recently posted a picture of his beautiful tank which also has an overflow panel going across the whole back of the tank. Heres his tank for reference of what Im talking about:

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/pmrg/Island%20Reef/FTS_Side_1_zpsdd566d5a.png

chaaban
06/17/2013, 09:42 PM
Sorry forgot to actually ask the question....LOL

Im really looking for some feedback and suggestions regarding the way I have things figured out, will it work? Anything I should do instead to improve this?

Thanks!

kb3777
06/18/2013, 09:46 AM
I would go with the entire back as the overflow. I love that look and will be what I do with my next tank. As for flow, I would use one MP40 on one side of the tank and run it about 3/4 power or 1/2 power to reduce the noise. As for holes you have the whole back to work with so drain on one side (Based on sump) and return on the other.

chaaban
06/18/2013, 12:19 PM
Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated! I also love the look of the entire back being an overflow, makes for a clean look....

I just want to figure out If I should have 2 holes for the drain, one being the "primary" drain, and the other being an "emergency" drain. If so will both 1" drains be able to fit in the 4" diameter hole located in my stand?

Also will having the overflow panel 4" away from the back panel of the tank give me enough room to have the holes drilled or should I give my self more room?

Thanks again!

chaaban
06/19/2013, 03:27 PM
Heres a photo to help describe how I want the overflow to be....please let me know if this will work and if you think I should do anything different.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7916&pictureid=53829

Timber77
06/19/2013, 03:39 PM
will 2 one inch pipes fit in a 4 inch hole...yes

but why not just drill one hole say an inch and a half or 2 inches, if its a new tank just drill it with the minimum amount of holes. cleaner look

coast to coast overflow looks good to me, not sure its necessary on a small tank but thats really more about style than function.

Reefer94
06/19/2013, 03:44 PM
On my custom tank I went with an external overflow. The back of the tank has a full weir and the entire tank is open real estate. I didn't go coast to coast, I kind of wish I did. It has three holes in the base for BeanAnimal-style drains, and two returns as high up as I could get them. I can produce pics if you are interested, it was done on a 60g cube. Maybe overkill, but I love it.

Of course, my tank is acrylic so making the rear weir ledge was much easier cost-wise, although I have seen some glass tanks with nice externals on them.

chaaban
06/19/2013, 04:13 PM
Thanks guys, I forgot to mention, please disregard the "hole placements" in the second picture in the first post, instead the holes will be drilled just like the diagram in the previously added photo....

also heres 2 more diagrams to show the top view and side view of the tank with the eeuro-brace and overflow:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7916&pictureid=53830

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7916&pictureid=53831