External or internal overflow for a peninsula tank?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

So I'm still deciding on which tank to get for my upgrade. It'll be a 6' peninsula. I'm pretty decided on it being a 72"x30"x24" tank. I'm planning to go with eurobracing.

...but this brings me to my next question for you guys... which do you prefer: internal overflows or external overflows and why? I'm currently leaning toward an external overflow.

 

[blaxsun]

I'd say it depends on how visible the plumbing will be and where the sump is going, ie: under the tank or in a separate room. There's pros and cons with each.

 

[jsker]

Coast to coast baby, external.

I have been look at and upgrade and really like the coast to coast option. I thinking is the coast to coast maintain clean.

 

[Tonycass12]

External, keep the tank clean and open.

 

[Nick Steele]

External for any tank! Unless doing a big cube with middle overflow but that’s different story.

I feel external is easier to keep clean and more accessible.

 

[dzolot]

I’m in the midst of setting up a 235g (6’x27”H x 28” W) and even though it’s only visible from two sides I’m plumbing like a peninsula with and external overflow. The overflow will be covered with cabinet and sump is down below. I’m really excited about the setup bc i have the entire tank to work with and don’t have to give up any real estate inside the tank.
Here’s a pic…

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

If you want to go on vacation and not worry about a loss of Syphon, overflowing the tank, and coming home to a burned up pump, with a dead aquarium. then get a through the tank overflow.

 

[maroun.c]

External, easier to maintain and saving space from inside the tank. Hiding it takes a bit more work in case of a peninsula though.

 

[Sean Clark]

External all the way; unless you prefer inferior internal overflow tanks. No bait here... Nope. Only universal facts.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

An option would be an External Overflow box, if you don’t want the internal overflow.

 

[dzolot]

If you want to go on vacation and not worry about a loss of Syphon, overflowing the tank, and coming home to a burned up pump, with a dead aquarium. then get a through the tank overflow.

Take a look at my setup. The overflow is actually built as part of the tank, so no syphon.

 

[dzolot]

Take a look at my setup. The overflow is actually built as part of the tank, so no syphon.

I can take a better picture close up tomorrow.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

Whoa. Ouch! Super buzz-kill. I've already invested in my first external overflow after years of being jealous of those beautiful, clean setups. Now I'm scared....

 

[60CubeReefer]

External... And get it 36" wide if you can! Check out some of the SCMAS club tanks. That extra half a foot makes a huge difference.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

I'm with jskr and the coast to coast external. But now SteveMM62Reef has me a little nervous.

 

[J1a]

I vote for external, for ease of maintenance.

In my previous setup, I had an achilies tang (among other fishes) jumped into the internal overflow. Have to breakdown the whole plumbing to get it out.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

The External that killed my tank had the “U” Tubes over the top. I had someone supposedly checking the Aquarium daily. But they apparently lost interest. The ones BRS have look interesting, if you can easily get to them, behind the tank. Can you put the end of your Peninsula in a wall? I recently saw a Peninsula with a tall cabinet behind it. Very nice set up with all the gear inside the cabinet.

 

[Andrew D]

I have an external coast to coast on my 350G and I just love it. Had the tank custom built in my basement, pictures of the build and the overflow below, along with some of the tank 5 years later. The overflow is hard to access to clean or remove any livestock that went over, but I didn't have much room to work with as the tank is installed in the basement under a bulkhead and between 2 cinder block posts that support the rest of the house. I guess I could have built a smaller tank... yeah right.

 

[Andrew D]

Oh, I should add that I inserted standpipes into the 3 drains at the bottom of the overflow which allow me to control the water height and therefore the waterfall noise.

 

[mfinn]

So I'm still deciding on which tank to get for my upgrade. It'll be a 6' peninsula. I'm pretty decided on it being a 72"x30"x24" tank. I'm planning to go with eurobracing.

...but this brings me to my next question for you guys... which do you prefer: internal overflows or external overflows and why? I'm currently leaning toward an external overflow.

I love my 240 with the external overflow box. The tank builder made a long cut about 1-1/2" deep on the back wall to allow the water to drain into the external box. No bulkhead fittings to deal with.
The only thing I don't like on mine is the inside the tank part of the weir with the acrylic teeth is not removeable.