Corner or center overflows

[Mouse]

Ok guys, expirience please......

Here are the requirements for the overflow's capacity.

Outlets to sump:

This will be two durso standpipes (just to be safe). One will feed the skimmer at the begining of the sump, the other will feed the chiller etc thats after the refugeum in the sump.

total flow about 500GPH


Outlets to closed loop:

These will be two bulkheads with strainers in the bottom of the overflow. Each one will be connected to a 1500 GPH pump. and these will both return to two sea swirls each.

Total flow here 3000 GPH

So do you recomend one center overflow, containing all four outlets with a total flow rate of 3500 GPH.

Or two corner overflows, each containing one closed loop output and one durso output to skimmer/chiller dependant on which side of the tank it is.

also one thing im a little concerned about is this.

Im thinking of having the skimmer directly connected to the durso overflow output. The skimmers as far as i know are quite dependant on recieving a regular flow rate to aid fraxination. Would the closed loops demand on the overflow mean that they could cause fluctuation in the supply to the skimmer?

If i was to restrict the flow to the skimmer would this help by regulating flow better?

Im not to concerned about how the tank looks, i want which ever will be more beneficial.

Thanks in advance for any replys.

Heres a little pickie of my current set up, its 25G. The system above will not be for this tank as it would probably result in many skinless inhabitants and some very wet walls. The above suggestions are for a 200G system.

[ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>

 

[Mouse]

Bump,

Someone must have a preference or view of which is better, please.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Opinions? I can do that

I prefer center overflow. You will be able to get a better view on both sides. Easier to clean too. Two little boxes are more difficult to clean than one larger one.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Would the closed loops demand on the overflow mean that they could cause fluctuation in the supply to the skimmer?

Closed loop should not have much fluctuation on the water level, once it got into equilibrium.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

If i was to restrict the flow to the skimmer would this help by regulating flow better?

I doubt that it will make much difference, but on the safe side, let me ask you this: What kind of skimmer?

 

[jimmy n]

Mouse,

Will there be room behind your tank? If so, I recommned going with back center overflows, built off the back of your tank.

I did this through a custom tank builder and it really frees up quite a bit of room in the tank. I was able to make the overflow as large as I wanted without taking away from space in the tank, and even adding a little bit of water.

This pic shows what I'm talking about. I stole the idea from Jeff Hood. All you need is the space behind the tank.

Jim

 

[liquid]

Here's another thing to think about when dealing w/ overflows: the whole point of an overflow is to skim off the very surface of the water that contains proteins and whatnot. The more total length of the overflow teeth, the thinner and thinner the layer you will skim off of the surface. You want to pull off as much surface water as possible to maximize your protein removal.

hth

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
What LS says is very true, but being a devil advocate, I just want to say that *theoretically*, if the surface circulation is good, the length of the overflow does not matter.

You guys on the other side of Alantic do have some weird equipements... anyway, I don't see any advantage to restrict the feed to the skimmer in improving the the flow...

 

[Mouse]

Nice one Liquid, thanks for that.

Im going to have about 3000 GPH running on the 200G system so i think there should be enough turbulence on the surface for it to be quite compact. And thats not including the 500 GPH sump return that im thinking about putting through a spray bar for water agitation.

Im a little confused about one thing. If my tank were bigger than 25 inches wide, would i have to take windows out to get it in or something. Im thiking of staying within 25 inches so that even if i move i can still get it through any door. Wise move, or dumb restriction.

Damn doors, if only the nation were twice as fat.

 

[Mouse]

Jimmy if your still there.

What are those tubes going through into the overflow box for. If there for a closed loop why didn't you just have the water feeding the loops going over the comb like the durso's.

This is why im a bit confused, noone i have seen has the closed loop with just bulkheads in the bottom of the overflow to feed them.

 

[jimmy n]

Still here..

The pipes in the middle are the durso standpipes leading to the red ball valves empyting into the sump.

The other plumbing you see are 4 separate closed loops plumbed to fit my tunze submersible pumps. Having this overflow allowed me to get my tunzes out of the tank and preserve the excellent flow and wave action produced by these pumps.

Here it is full from the front.

Jim

[ April 23, 2002: Message edited by: jimmy n ]

[ April 23, 2002: Message edited by: jimmy n ]</p>

 

[SPC]

Jimmy, I notice your one durso has the reducing fitting (the bell shaped fitting) on the top, this is what mine have. I am having trouble with protein build up on the top of the water in my over flows, have you had this problem.
Steve

 

[jimmy n]

No, not really having that problem. I also plan on plumbing my skimmer into the overflow box, so if that problem develops I'll have it licked.

Jim

 

[hquintanilla]

Jimmy,
Is your tank 18 deep including the owergflow box?
and if so, what are the dimension of the overflow box?

Guys....?
I have a 60x18x24 all glass, bottom tempered glass. And I´m planning to include a DIY made 1/4" acrylic center overflow. two 1" dursos goin down and bending with 90 elbows to exit the tank by a side, because I can´t drill the bottom, remember the temered galss

and two 3/4" lines entering the bottom of the overflow and bending to go up to two 3/4" seaswirls.
Any advise is appreciated...
I have some doubts:
1.- are the diameters for drains and returns adecuate...
2.- As I´m not drilling the bottom of the tank, at what height is adecuate to drill the drains and returns?
3.- What dimesion for the size of the overflow box? I was planning to make it 4", having left 12" between the front of the tank and the overflow box, is 12" to small for aquascaping?

 

[Mouse]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> I doubt that it will make much difference, but on the safe side, let me ask you this: What kind of skimmer?
<hr></blockquote>

Either:

Deltec APF 850 (Saltwater Aquariums only)

For Aquariums up to:
Heavy Stocking 1000 Ltrs (222gals)
Normal Stocking 1500 Ltrs (333 gals)
(16mm/20mm flexible connection)

Water Throughput:
1000 Ltr./ h (222 gall/h)

Dimensions:
L: 390mm W: 310mm H: 800mm

OR:

Deltec AP 702 (Saltwater Aquariums only)

For Aquariums up to:
Heavy Stocking 1500 Ltrs (333 gals)
Normal Stocking 2000 Ltrs (444 gals)

Water Throughput:
2300 Ltr./ h (511 gall/h)

Dimensions:
L: 480mm W: 480mm H: 610mm

The image above is the 702, the 850 has two mixing pumps instead of one and a smaller fraxination chamber, so a smaller space requirement.

I think ill go for the bigger one just to be sure.

Nice idea Jimmy N, but i was sticking to a maximum width of 25 inches as this would allow me to get it through most doors. But thinking about it that would provide the best solution.

So a center overflow it is then. Thanks guys