Peculiar Overflow Design

[rnall]

Does anyone have any idea why someone would build an overflow this
way?

I just got a really nice 150g glass tank/stand/canopy. There is one
problem.....the built in overflow. It is in the back/center of the
tank and made entirely of 1/2 inch glass. Perhaps there is a good
reason for the way it was built and I'm just missing it. The entire
thing is 10" long by 5" wide and divided in half (vertically).
Picture two 5" boxes rising to the top of the tank. Only one side of
one box will allow water in. This is obviously the intake because
water can not get in anywhere else. The return is a 5" box of wasted
space running all the way to the top of the tank. I figure that I
would have to use some of that modular piping and come up over that
box and back into the tank. What I do not understand is why this
'box' is there...it would only be filled with air. The inlet to the
intake side is 2 1/4" by 5" and will have to be blocked off by
something to keep critters out.

If I'm correct to think this is a mess, do any of you have any
suggestions for a fix? Here are some of my thoughts.....

1.) Rip out the divider. This sounds simple but it's 1/2 inch glass,
in a tight spot (5" square) and 30 inches tall. Is there a chemical
out there that will safely remove silicone?

2.) Rip the whole thing out and make my own out of acrylic.

I'm hoping someone will respond with a "hey dummy" and let me in on
why this overflow was done this way.....

Thanks for any help,

Ron

 

[aliendomain]

Could the dry side be intended to allow you to run your electrical cords as well as the return? That could be useful if the tank was right up against a wall.

 

[Christian Schwalm]

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 use a real overflow in its place. Scrape out all the old silicone before you try to silicone in the new overflow.

Christian Schwalm
SkyLab
www.wetdryfilter.com

 

[wetworx101]

I would drill it so it becomes part of the system...like an extra chemical chamber...or multi chamber overflow, etc...or a place to keep a couple extra powerheads connected to a wave maker...or, even better yet: drill holes in the top and bottom and put your heater in it with a powerhead...the bottom line is: if you dont want it, cut it out, but you could use it/modify it for something else..