800 gallon build

[Stevecal]

Seeking advice on size and location for over boxes on a 120Lx 48w x 32h. They will be internal. Thinking two but how wide and in the corners or leave space on the corners for the returns. The set up is freshwater.
Thanks

 

[Egon]

I like corner overflows, they are easy to cover with a flexible background if you want to go with a “display” tank. I like to plumb the returns to the top, center, closer to the back wall of the tank. I’ll take some pictures of mine with measurements is just a minute or so, stand by

 

[Egon]

My corner overflows are 16” on the short legs and the longer overflow part is 24” with 1” cut outs for the water.

 

[Egon]

For the returns I plumbed them to the top of the tank. I like this for a few reasons. It’s easy lol. It’s just easier to work on the plumbing at the top of the tank VS the bottom. Another thing I like is there no syphon when the pumps fail or there’s a power loss so you won’t overflow your sump. Lastly I maximize the water flow from the pump to my tank. This tank uses 2” pumps and I take that diameter all the way to the tank. No reduction going through the overflow or Y pieces to create multiple returns and so on.

Note: the smaller lines are air for air stones and a trickle flowing a couple gallons an hour for a consistent water change.

 

[Egon]

Nice thing about a corner overflow is you can get a one piece background that’s only 3/8th thick and it will bend around the corners of the overflow to make a seamless look.
The returns are 2” black pipes the go just below the water level to push the water straight down to the bottom of the tank. This creates great water flow, no dead spots in the tank. All the clean filtered water from the sump goes down and the dirty water in the tank gets pushed up to the overflows.

I love plumbing, if you make this easy to maintain your tank you will enjoy the hobby.