Overflow position

[Jc1119]

Getting ready to finalize my 300 ( 96x31x24) and was wondering about overflow placement....

Where are yours and do you like the placement? If you could move them where would you move them to and why?

With a custom order, I can pretty much put them anywhere. I really like the idea behind the coast to coast design, but room behind the tank is not really feasible seeing as the tank will be in a hallway. I'll be able to view three sides.

Lots of pros and cons to each placement. I lean towards dual ( Herbie) back corners but I'd be able to see in them. Center back wall would be the least seen and would have less plumbing to the sump but I wanted to keep the center of the tank more open and scape each end with loads of wood.....Hmmm

What would you do? Thanks

 

[Larz]

I have a 240 plywood tank with the overflows in the front corners, hidden behind an extra wide front plywood panel that the glass is attached to. I have a 120 with the overflows in the back corners, made of black plexi to match the black rear panel of the tank. Where ever you put them make sure you have powerheads or pump returns pushing the water toward them.

 

[Jc1119]

Why would I need powerheads to push water towards them? It's gravity fed right? Don't see how it matters where the water is, in the tank, as long as it's in the tank....

Maybe I'm missing something....

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Most people place them at corners as they are an eyesore

Why would I need powerheads to push water towards them? It's gravity fed right? Don't see how it matters where the water is, in the tank, as long as it's in the tank....

Maybe I'm missing something....

The force of gravity is not strong enough to move the poop in the water column into the overflows. That is why a lot of people with sumps have powerheads/wavemakers in their tank. So that the poop can stay suspended in the water column long enough to flow into the overflow and down to your filtration system, which is your sump.

Without powerheads, the poop would just sink into the gravel.

 

[Jc1119]

Ahh... I see your point. I failed to mention I'll be running two fx5 s in addition. I'd planned on placing the intake strainers down low next to the overflows. Returns would flow to the opposite sides of the tank.

The returns from the sump(75 gallon/ reeflo super dart) would fire down directly towards the bottom of the tank along the back wall.... Probably through 4 1" returns...There will he plenty of circulation at the tank bottom.

 

[swk]

I have corner overflows in my 180. I would probably go central on a tank 8' or longer for a couple reasons. For one, the tank needs to be balls on accurate level to get equal amounts of water flowing through each overflow. Finally, it's easier to plumb from the center to the sump than direct the water from each corner on a tank that long. All in all, no big deal either way.

 

[Jc1119]

If I did the corner overflows, I was planning on running each drain to each respective back corner of the sump, into a sock. The return would draw through a 2" pipe running lengthwise the entire length of the bottom of the sump, full of 1/4" holes...... like a giant spraybar in reverse.

Media would be packed in bags bags and laid out over the pipe from side to side..... But if I did go with center drains I could use the same sump setup.... just a little difference in sock placement.....

But, I only planned on lighting the center of this tank with 1 dual t5. Corner overflows would be in the shadows behind woodpiles......

I planned on keeping several pretty territorial loricariids, so big areas of cover split by an open area in the middle would be better suited. Might go with corners for this reason alone. I'd also see the overflows less because of the lack of lighting...