built in overflow VS syphon overflow.

If the siphon breaks on a HOB when power returns water will not go into the overflow.

I disagree with some comments above. Internal overflow is the only way to go. When power returns the water can only go into the overflow box. Where as a HOB there is the possibility if something goes wrong it could end up on the carpet and you may not be home when it happens.

Another thing with internals I will only have one with overflow on the side like mine. That way I can see in there, fish get trapped in there, I clean out snails ect.

 

If you dont use a sump is an overflow necessary?

 

nope.

 

no the only reason for using one is for a sump or refuge.

 

An overflow is just designed to get the water from the display, to the lower tank ... in order to be filtered, or skimmed, etc etc ... and then pumped back into the main tank. A lot of people do it without sumps, iin which case you don't need an overflow.

 

whoops, sorry horton, replied at the same time.

 

If you get one of glass-holes overflows they don't take up anywhere near as much room in the tank as the reef ready overflows.

 

A properly designed overflow will not break siphon during a power outage. The only potential issue is with bubbles building up in the siphon tube causing reduced flow and a rise of tank level in the tank. All of my bubble issues went away when I switched to better pump with higher flow to wash the bubbles out.

Now, if I had my choice between built in and external, i'd go built in so I didn't have to clean the siphon tube and restart a siphon.

 

That is why I built mine onto the OUTSIDE of my new 200g tank

My old tank is a AGA 90g with the megaflow, and while it works, it takes up a lot of space. For those of you with normal glass tanks, the ones from glass-holes.com work great, and all you need to do is drill the tank side.

 

Alright so does anyone have plans for building an internal overflow? I'm really looking at the spacing between teeth, number of teeth... the nitpicky stuff. Does anyone have issues with taking a non drilled tank, drilling it, and then adding an internal overflow? Or where to get black acrylic, HD?