Drilling Tank - Internal Overflow box needed?

[muscle]

I was kicking around the idea of buying HOB overflow boxes, but have decided to drill my tanks. The HOB overflows would cost a ton and wouldn't look as clean as I'd like. In the past my drilled tanks always came with factory installed overflows. I plan on drilling 2 holes for overflow and two for the return. This will give me the nice clean look I'm after.

My question is... Do I need internal overflow boxes? It's not that I don't want them, but they are expensive (looking at http://www.glass-holes.com). I was thinking of just using a pipe with a screen on it.

I know a lot of LFS run their overflows this way, but what are the cons to this setup?

 

[anarekist]

the only con i can think of is the noise

>>))bichirs))K<

 

[JK47]

the overflow box is for controlling water level more than a need for a screen. I have a tank that is drilled with no overflow box but that took a lot of planning to do without it overflowing my sump.

 

[duanes]

Holes can be drilled in the back of the tank.

or holes in the bottom and use a standpipe. The noise can be troublesome as stated above, sounds a bit like a constant toilet flush, I put caps on top to suppress the volume, also had to drill a quarter inch hole in the cap

 

[Sarmo]

you can drill it at any height and use an 90 elbow on the inside of the tank to get the water height you want. it can be loud. check out these http://barraquatic.com/overflows.php i used two of them for my overflows. he will custom make what ever you want....