Overflows, Wet/Drys, etc....?'s

[thecoolguy]

hello all, so in a matter of 3 weeks, i will finally be getting my 275gal ... and have some final setup questions so i am ready

details: 6 x 2 x 3 tank w/ center overflow built in

questions:

1) water changes in a tank with overflows --- just turn off the return pump in the sump and do a water change as usual?

2) overflow drainage location: overflow pipe inside the overflow chamber, or directly through the hole on the bottom? i plan on doing it through the hole on the bottom and packing the chamber full of pre-filter and bio-media --- and trust me, i will do it in a way that prevents clogage of the bio-media...

3) water level of the tank --- since the water must be basically at full height in the tank in order for the overflow to function - what happens with all the wavemaking chaos of monster fish? do i just accept the fact that when i feed, water will be everywhere, or is there a way for the overflow to function with decreased water level height?

4) "underflow" --- a lot of the tanks here in china have overflow and underflow, where the overflow chamber has a cut out on the bottom also, for water to flow in and i guess the bottom debris to get sucked in also -- does anyone do this here in the US? anyone drilled/cut/etc....an opening in the bottom of their overflow chambers?

thanks for the help.....

 

[shoefreak03]

1) water changes in a tank with overflows --- just turn off the return pump in the sump and do a water change as usual?

yes. you can put in a ball value to stop the flow while you do water change also.

2) overflow drainage location: overflow pipe inside the overflow chamber, or directly through the hole on the bottom? i plan on doing it through the hole on the bottom and packing the chamber full of pre-filter and bio-media --- and trust me, i will do it in a way that prevents clogage of the bio-media...

??? i just have a standpipe to minimize the splashing noise.

3) water level of the tank --- since the water must be basically at full height in the tank in order for the overflow to function - what happens with all the wavemaking chaos of monster fish? do i just accept the fact that when i feed, water will be everywhere, or is there a way for the overflow to function with decreased water level height?

the water must a bit above the overflow teeth or else your sump will be too low. just remember if you feed floating food, it will get sucked into the overflow so i usually just cut off the return when feeding.

4) "underflow" --- a lot of the tanks here in china have overflow and underflow, where the overflow chamber has a cut out on the bottom also, for water to flow in and i guess the bottom debris to get sucked in also -- does anyone do this here in the US? anyone drilled/cut/etc....an opening in the bottom of their overflow chambers?

if you look in AGA website, you will see the underflow design and how it works.