Need help on removing overflow, covering holes.

[Guerillah]

So... I just picked up a new aquarium off of craigslist. It's a wide and tall footprint tank measuring 42"Lx32"Wx40"H (233 gal) with 1" acrylic all around. It has a large 10"x10" overflow right in the middle of the tank. Inside of the overflow it has 4 holes, 3 for a sump I guess, and one that was made for a electrical runway so it could be viewed 360. I don't have room to put it in the middle anywhere so its going against a wall.

I am having a metal stand built for it next weekend and a sump large enough for this tank wouldn't fit well underneath of it so I am probably going to fork out some cash and buy a eheim 2262 or maybe a pro3 and FX5 combo. I want to remove the overflow box but it is bonded to the acrylic bottom.

What should I use to cut the overflow out without damaging the acrylic bottom? Also, what thickness of acrylic should I use to cover the 4 holes within it. The largest one is right around 2.8" in diameter. Would 1/2" acrylic work, 1/4"?

Here are two pictures. Help me out!

 

[cchhcc]

Short answer: You should just sell it to me!

 

[fishdance]

Seal off the holes with an acrylic patch and turn the overflow chamber into an internal filter. Drop a powerhead into the chamber and add some mechanical and biological media. This can be a wet/dry or submerged filter depending on your wishes.

The patch just needs to be watertight. Any thickness will do since the holes are so narrow.

 

[mikeandannie]

the 4 holes in there i would assume is 2 for sump 2 for return..why not just get some bulk heads and cap them? that is a beautiful tank i would hate to see something go wrong...thats a very unique design..

 

[cchhcc]

(You should still just sell it to me!)

 

[Guerillah]

Seal off the holes with an acrylic patch and turn the overflow chamber into an internal filter. Drop a powerhead into the chamber and add some mechanical and biological media. This can be a wet/dry or submerged filter depending on your wishes.

The patch just needs to be watertight. Any thickness will do since the holes are so narrow.

I'll think about doing that, only thing bad about that is it would be a pain in the ass to clean out the middle being that its so tall. How would this work? Would I have to put a pump in the bottom (with the holes sealed on the bottom), and drill a hole for the outlet of the pump to return water to outside the overflow? I can probably use my canister filter and plumb through the overflow holes but where would I put the inlets? The outlet? I guess I could cut into the overflow in order to put a bulkhead for the outlet, and then put the inlet at the bottom of the overflow with a strainer. I could then fill the middle with bioballs or pot scrubbies for added bio. Sound good?

Short answer: You should just sell it to me!

Nah, i'll keep it

the 4 holes in there i would assume is 2 for sump 2 for return..why not just get some bulk heads and cap them? that is a beautiful tank i would hate to see something go wrong...thats a very unique design..

It's got 3 holes for a sump, and one hole for a electrical runway, they gave me the pipe with it. It's a pipe that runs all the way to the top to route all electrical wires through and keep them water prooof so the tank could be viewed 360 without wires being everywhere.

 

[Guerillah]

Update, removed the overflow and picked up a new monster for it

still got some minor trimming to do on the the bottom..

 

[cdienzo]

Sure that tank will be alright while she's a juvie, but as she grows, she's going to need more space and likely will be highly intolerant of tankmates- especially other females. This species is highly territorial and has been known to drive other tank mates out permanently. Not to mention, they're extremely high maintenance. You might be able to get by with having a few goofy, non-threatening males around, but then she'll soon grow weary of them, get pissed at you for having them, then eventually force you to choose between the males and her. Sorry bro, looks like this monster is headed for the MFK classifieds.

 

[Guerillah]

haha lol, good post.