Seriously considering drilling new tank...looking for advice

[Curtis]

I'm considering drilling and installing overflows for a 110G tank into a 40g sump with fuge.

The previous owner used U-Tubes, but I want to avoid the issues of breaking siphons, overflow because of build up over the siphon-breaking hole, etc.

I'll have to purchases overflows and I'm looking at a local provider to make them for me.

One question is how many and how to orientate it/them.

I really only need one 1" drop to get good circulation through the tank.

The questions are, should I get 1 or 2?

If 1, should it be center mounted or is a corner good enough?

I'm concerned about the asthetics (sp) of a center overflow. I don't know if I want to sacrifice that central space for an overflow. Corners just make more sense from that perspective.

Or, am I simply over analyzing this and at 600gph through the overflow, it shouldn't really matter if the overflow is in the corner or in the middle?

You input and opinions are welcome

(Oh, and if you have experience drilling and have the equipment to let me borrow and guide me through your successful process, I'll be glad to buy you a nice dinner!)

Curtis
Frisco

 

[psteeleb]

corner will be fine, but two would e better

just make sure you have good circulation on the surface so scum doesn't accumulate on the far end

you may want to consider those surface boxes, drill the side and put you downcomers outside the tank

 

[Wes]

a tank that size i would go with two, the all-glass 125's have two and a 110 isnt that much smaller. really, offset center or corner probably will make no difference if you do 2, but the only issue i have with corner overflows is seeing into that empty space that can look like crap, if you paint over or cover up that space then its still lost space to look at on the end.

 

[Curtis]

@WeMa wrote:

So I think you may have touched on something I hadn't considered is that two seperate boxes will take up more space than even a single center box that is sized to accomodate two seperate downs.

Is that what you were trying to get me to understand?

Curtis

 

[Wes]

not really, and a single one in the middle isnt necessarily gonna be a bad thing either, but surface skimming wise it would get a better coverage being split (sort of). also, if you just do two holes and do small overflows enough for a single hole seperated and dual holes in the center then do your returns over the back then you can save some space.

what i was talking about is view from the side, it appears to take up more space when you use corner overflows since they can be seen and you do not get a full view of the tank from the side.

 

[Servo]

If you are drilling the tank, take some duct tape and create a border around where you are going to place the hole. Bend it in half and fold it over to create lip. Use a small layer of antifreeze to prevent the glass from heating up and cracking.