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Would this be possible?
- Thread starter SteveReef
- Start date
Hob's always run the chance of getting air in them and making a mess... but their was a guy who drilled his 2 year old reef tank, just drained a 4th of the water so he could drill it. But IMO if it cracked you'd be screwed...
SteveReef said:
I would avoid a U-tube style overflow. Weir style is nice because it's harder for critters to clog it, plus some allow you to attach an airline to a powerhead to keep suction on the overflow. CPR makes a good one.
The big con is the same as any other overflow. Blockage will/can cause the tank to overflow.
i went a little cheaper route!
I don't have a drilled tank either and just built my own sump and fuge out of a 10 gallon tank. and I had used an old tetratec pf500 HOB filter box and drilled the bottom of the filter box and put a bulkhead and a 90 so there is no slurping noise (so that's my overflow box and a valve and piped it to my sump, then I pvc piped a dual return that hangs on the back of the tank (in the shape of a U and have 4 return outlets 2 on each side of the tank. I can post pics later if You would like to see some pics. I had my tank established and there was no way that I has gonna tear it down nor take the chance of drilling it while there was livestock in there!
I don't have a drilled tank either and just built my own sump and fuge out of a 10 gallon tank. and I had used an old tetratec pf500 HOB filter box and drilled the bottom of the filter box and put a bulkhead and a 90 so there is no slurping noise (so that's my overflow box and a valve and piped it to my sump, then I pvc piped a dual return that hangs on the back of the tank (in the shape of a U and have 4 return outlets 2 on each side of the tank. I can post pics later if You would like to see some pics. I had my tank established and there was no way that I has gonna tear it down nor take the chance of drilling it while there was livestock in there!
Due to having a tempered glass tank, I'm just about forced to use a HOB overflow. (Oh for the day I get rich, and can afford to replace the tank with a larger reef ready one. 
)
The first overflow I used was a CPR overflow. I found that it had many problems. First, the long narrow U siphon would tend to fill up with air and stop working. This was because the small fitting you connect airline tubing to, would clog with coralline algae and any other small glop. This tends to cause floods. Next the thing is that it's impossible to clean. Lastly, the bulkhead fittings on the unit snapped off, easily, when I was cleaning it. I was lucky. I had replacement fittings, and at least it wasn't on the tank at the time. Needless to say, I don't recommend CPR overflows.
I replaced it with a Lifereef overflow. This was a much better unit. It uses regular round U tubes, so they were able to be cleaned and they were replaceable. There is no need for a Aqualifter pump. The round U tubes are more or less self purging. Since it's more or less two boxes, it's cleanable. The downsides are that it does take up more room in the main tank, and that because it's a quality product, it costs a lot more. See livereef here (offsite link) - http://www.lifereef.com/frame.html I have no problems recommending this product.
)The first overflow I used was a CPR overflow. I found that it had many problems. First, the long narrow U siphon would tend to fill up with air and stop working. This was because the small fitting you connect airline tubing to, would clog with coralline algae and any other small glop. This tends to cause floods. Next the thing is that it's impossible to clean. Lastly, the bulkhead fittings on the unit snapped off, easily, when I was cleaning it. I was lucky. I had replacement fittings, and at least it wasn't on the tank at the time. Needless to say, I don't recommend CPR overflows.
I replaced it with a Lifereef overflow. This was a much better unit. It uses regular round U tubes, so they were able to be cleaned and they were replaceable. There is no need for a Aqualifter pump. The round U tubes are more or less self purging. Since it's more or less two boxes, it's cleanable. The downsides are that it does take up more room in the main tank, and that because it's a quality product, it costs a lot more. See livereef here (offsite link) - http://www.lifereef.com/frame.html I have no problems recommending this product.
I would think drilling a tank while not empty woule be very risky. I use a SOS overflow that comes with the tidepool II and never had any issues with overflowing. I use a prefilter so that nothing could get stuck in the u-tube.
I would be scared of a accident while drilling and a broken tank with no place to put livestock . I would take the advice posted earlier and save for a predrilled tank . By the time you add up all the costs to get your existing system the way you want it you will probably spend more. You can usually find used tanks at great prices if you search around.
fwiw, I have four u-tube overflows in my fishroom on a pair of 125's that have never failed over several years now. The real drawback is the noise, but in my basement fishroom, that's a non-factor. What will cause a flood is failing to drill anti-siphon holes in your return lines and keeping them clear. Americle overflows have been absolutley foolproof for me. I also agree that if you don't have much experience with drilling glass to begin with, drilling a full tank is really asking for trouble.