Internal Coast To Coast overflow anyone?

[bitterman]

I'm seriously thinking of doing a CTC overflow for the 50 SW I'm setting up as Patrick has mentioned they have excellent surface skimming capabilities.

Anyone have pictures of this type of overflow they have built? How did they like it?

I'm not going with an external CTC as cutting a slot in the glass tank scares the heck out of me.

Bruce

[groupie02]

I was considering doing a coast to coast but gave up on it as I'm just too lazy to go look for the glass ;-)  You have a couple of options.

You can make a square box type, so two pieces of glass that go from one end to the other, forming an L between themselves and resting against the back pane. If you want, you can make it shorter and close the ends.  Just be sure to leave enough room for access to your bulkheads and fittings inside the overflow.

The second option is to build your overflow with a single piece of glass forming a V with the back pane.

Both of these have pros and cons.

Sorry, no pictures as I'm not going with this type of overflow. I've decided to try out a coast to coast pipe overflow. 

[matt]

I can't comment on a glass internal ctc overflow as I have not gone that route.

But for the coast to coast pipe overflow that groupie02 has mentioned I can chime in. This is what I went with to empty into my sump. I didn't want the hassle of dealing with glass and silicone. Plus with this method you get double the surface skimming you get from a glass overflow as water is allowed to drain from both sides of the pipe.

I just cut a slit into a loenght of abs pipe with a dremel and used 90 degree elbows to attach it to the bulkheads.

I'm absolutely amazed at it's efficiency and it's quiet. Make sure the slit is large enough to handle your return pump, if not you will get a sucking sound.

[groan]

WAAA! I want one!!!
Next tank, drilled, no Q's asked!

[groupie02]

That's the one. I will be putting a 3/4" pipe inside my 1.5" overflow to try to reduce the noise. I'll post some pictures once I have something to show.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Bruce.

[bitterman]

I was thinking the single piece of glass creating the v shaped overflow as the tank has a 36"x16" footprint and the pipe overflow would take too much space / block too much light from the tank.

But the pipe version is interesting.... I could easily cut the slot on my table saw.

Bruce

[groupie02]

I believe that's the kind of overflow (the v type) that our friend redbelly installs these days. You may want to get in touch with him.

[bitterman]

I finally got around to getting the overflow done, silicon is still wet.

I installed the top of the ctc just slightly above the bottom of the black trim so the water level will alway be above bottom the trim and not be seen.



Bruce

[groupie02]

I installed the top of the ctc just slightly above the black trim so the water level will alway be above the trim.

Nice work. Good thing you posted a picture because the first time I read the part about the water level being above trim I almost expected you to have done something stupid... not that you would... you know better.

Cheers

[bitterman]

Nice work. Good thing you posted a picture because the first time I read the part about the water level being above trim I almost expected you to have done something stupid... not that you would... you know better.

Cheers

LMAO, nice to see you around. a picture is always worth a 1000 words 

Now that I have the background black I wish I would have used black silicon to make it blend in better. Live and learn.  Roll Eyes

Bruce

[C-Dog]

you can always go over the the dried silicone with a thin layer of the black stuff?!!!!