Looking for advice/examples for center overflow aquascape

[Jakemac]

Hey everyone. Found a killer deal on a deep blue 75 rimless with a center overflow and couldnt refuse it.

This isnt my first tank but it is my first center overflow so aquascaping is the challenge. I like the minimalist non rock wall look. Currently my 60 gallon tank i have running now mimics this look

The currently running tank is going to moved into the new 75 but the aquascape im not sure on... I like the valley style that I currently have but with the center overflow im not sure what to do. This is what the tank looks like for reference (i didnt take this photo i grabbed it off google):

The main issue is the overflow takes up the center space. I was thinking of maybe encrusting some monti caps on it or letting some GSP go crazy on it. The true answer may be to leave it alone. I also dont know if i want to put a black background on it or not.

Any advice from seeing tanks like this, your ideas on what you would do, and if you have any pictures for examples I'd really appreciate your feedback.

This hobby i swear eats you up, spits you out, you sell all your stuff vowing never to return and here you are a few years later doing this all over again with a new tank and a new challenge lol

Cheers!

 

[hijinks7]

I would paint the back.. Its just nicer to hide things behind it like light/pump wires for example.

 

[mta_morrow]

I have a Red Sea 525 coming this week. I know I want to try and do something with my overflow as well.

Here is what I found last week and I’m going to see how it looks up against the overflow box

I’m planning on a trio of fang type blennies and am hoping they will like to hang out in them.

 

[Jakemac]

Thats a pretty neat idea! Good luck!

 

[saltyhog]

Here's my feeble attempt at a center over flow aquascape. I wanted the channel between the two island to slant to the right to give the look of depth but it was hard to accomplish because I wanted to have SPS under the lights.

FTS from tank level and above.

Right side

 

[Susan Edwards]

Following. Interested in what suggestions you get as

I'm in sort of the same boat--a new 125 with dual mega overflows! Not sure what to do with those. Can't totally encrust them as the overflow boxes have a double weir. Water is taken in from bottom and middle and flows into the main overflow so those vents need to be available.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Well, it was finally time, since I have have been running a 120 mixed reef for the last 10 years, so I figured it was time for an Upgrade! I had a custom tank built for me from SC Aquariums which is an SC150 Rimless with a 20'' Synergy External Overflow Box. I already bought my center show pcs from a company called Aquarock and his info is below. This pcs will sit dead in the middle like it is now in pix 1 which is where all of my Acro Colonies will be glued down too and have plenty room to grow out. There are 7 platforms where I will be gluing my Acro/Mille Colony & Glue my Frag plugs around the pcs since I had my guy drill out holes for the frag plugs all the way around this gorgeous piece.. Also, I will be building two Caverns on each corner of my 150 approx in size - 14''(L) x 20'' (W) x 20'' (H) in each corner of the Tank with some very special one of a kind rocks. I have been waiting probably for 2 years for this company to start back up production b/c they make some of the most insane looking pcs you will ever see in your life, not to mention not one single pcs is made alike, every pcs ifs different.

My other pieces have not come in yet from the MFG. What's cool about this rock it totally will optimize your biofiltration and is an eco-sensitive solution to live rock harvesting. Not to mention, I have around 100lbs of old School Tonga Branch - actually, I have a tonga Branch show pcs as well that weights over 20 lbs. The tank that I have up and running, I need to tear that down but until I get all of my plumbing parts and hand selected Rock I will be ready to start the build. Long story, instead of having 100lbs of rock I am going with minimal Tonga Branch and a few pcs of Fiji to top off the caverns AND MY SHOW MIDDLE CENTERPIECE.

Here is a shot of my current 120 Mixed Reef in Pix # 1 & 2
Pix 3 & 4 & 5 is a shot of my new 150 Rimless with my custom 30'' show pcs I had made and the rest of the pictures are some of the other pieces that I ordered that I will be using to build up the corner caverns.

Feel Free to me follow my profile so can get the latest update on my 150 new tank build thread.

Current tank

New Tank

new tank

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

Eco Friendly rock

 

[Waters]

Unless the overflow sticks WAY out, it shouldn't really effect any aquascape...especially a minimalist aquascape like you are talking about. Here is an older pic of my center overflow tank......

 

[Susan Edwards]

But if you are not a minimilist, it is a challenge, or if you want a more terraced look. I want lots of corals plus lots of crevices and swim throughs so it was a challenge. My overflows stick out 5"'s and there are 2 of them. With only 18" wide, by the time you leave a min. of 2 inches between rock, overflow and front glass, it cuts what you can do for that 10" of overflow. Really leaves just the middle and I wanted separate islands. Here's what I came up with

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Unless the overflow sticks WAY out, it shouldn't really affect any aquascape...especially a minimalist aquascape like you are talking about. Here is an older pic of my center overflow tank......

@Waters - my measure out 4'' w/ my Synergy External Overflow box gives you so much real estate without those Overflow boxes in your tank and they are super loud vs a Bean Animal type system how I will be running mine!

@Susan Edwards, Your post it's a bit confusing, I have been there down that WITH A 150LBS of the old school Tonga Branch that you can longer get. I bought about a 100 pounds if it was back in the early 2000's which at the time my tank had all of the crevices but this new build I want less rock and more SPS Corals, like Acro & Milles so my fish will have a lot more room and my coral reef will have plenty of room to grow.

I bought one pcs of Tonga Brach a very long time ago and it was a show pcs that weighted over 25 pounds which I will be using part of it for the new Build. I prefer, more room in my system so my SPS corals can grow out and the fish have plenty of room to swim for my tangs than having a ton of rock in your tank to create all of those crevices since most of my fish are / Anthia's / Blue Throat Tiggers/ Powder Blue Tang / Yellow Tang & 5 Clow Fish. When I get my new larger tank up and running I will be looking for a nice juv Orangeshoulder Tang and a Chevron TANG since they are my favorites. Anyhow, please feel free to stay connected and follow so we can see each others build. All the best

" Always remember different strokes for different folks "

 

[Pntbll687]

If you can, get some plating montipora and stick them on there. They always look good on an overflow.

In the long run, I don't think you notice the overflow as much as you think. Focus on making your eyes go to the rockwork and scape instead of the overflow. Take your time and make it look good!

As for the back glass. Look into a latex paint, this way you can peel it off if needed later on. Personally I got some heavy duty construction paper and tapped it to the back of my 29g nano. I did this cause the tank was filled already and stocked, and I wasn't taking a chance in painting a loaded tank.

 

[siggy]

I would paint the back.. Its just nicer to hide things behind it like light/pump wires for example.

thats a nice looking setup, paint might reduce it, maybee a single Island, from the looks of your current tank I'm sure it will look awesome

 

[Susan Edwards]

@Waters -
@Susan Edwards, Your post it's a bit confusing, I have been there down that WITH A 150LBS of the old school Tonga Branch that you can longer get. I bought about a 100 pounds if it was back in the early 2000's which at the time my tank had all of the crevices but this new build I want less rock and more SPS Corals, like Acro & Milles so my fish will have a lot more room and my coral reef will have plenty of room to grow.

Guess I was just trying to say that in my tank, I have a very narrow strip for rocks in front of each overflow which makes it hard to avoid the "wall" look. Wishing I'd held out to find a 24" wide tank. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

 

[cilyjr]

I built a foam cover for it.

This is how it looks now.

 

[Pntbll687]

I built a foam cover for it.

This is how it looks now.

Quick question

Why is there no Coraline on the back wall?? The sides are covered, I would have thought the back would be too.

 

[cilyjr]

I clean the back. The tank is built in the wall the room behind it is my utility room where all the equipment is.
The black backing is plastic held on with magnets so I can remove to more easily work on the tank.

 

[Pntbll687]

Oh! That's a pretty neat design with the magnets

 

[FLSharkvictim]

After 2 years f waiting for this website I picked on some killer pcs! I got 2 VidaRock-Waves which are the two pcs on each end and then my Show pcs for the middle of the tank! I will probably use maybe about 50 more lbs of my old school Tonga Branch that i have.
These are monster pcs, that 12'' in (H) X 14 (W) x 23'' (L)..

My new 150 build

 

[Drewbacca]

Hey everyone. Found a killer deal on a deep blue 75 rimless with a center overflow and couldnt refuse it.

This isnt my first tank but it is my first center overflow so aquascaping is the challenge. I like the minimalist non rock wall look. Currently my 60 gallon tank i have running now mimics this look

The currently running tank is going to moved into the new 75 but the aquascape im not sure on... I like the valley style that I currently have but with the center overflow im not sure what to do. This is what the tank looks like for reference (i didnt take this photo i grabbed it off google):

The main issue is the overflow takes up the center space. I was thinking of maybe encrusting some monti caps on it or letting some GSP go crazy on it. The true answer may be to leave it alone. I also dont know if i want to put a black background on it or not.

Any advice from seeing tanks like this, your ideas on what you would do, and if you have any pictures for examples I'd really appreciate your feedback.

This hobby i swear eats you up, spits you out, you sell all your stuff vowing never to return and here you are a few years later doing this all over again with a new tank and a new challenge lol

Cheers!

Always get black acrylic mounted on back for a black background. Looks just as nice but completelty removable if you change your mind.

 

[Pntbll687]

Hey everyone. Found a killer deal on a deep blue 75 rimless with a center overflow and couldnt refuse it.

This isnt my first tank but it is my first center overflow so aquascaping is the challenge. I like the minimalist non rock wall look. Currently my 60 gallon tank i have running now mimics this look

The currently running tank is going to moved into the new 75 but the aquascape im not sure on... I like the valley style that I currently have but with the center overflow im not sure what to do. This is what the tank looks like for reference (i didnt take this photo i grabbed it off google):

The main issue is the overflow takes up the center space. I was thinking of maybe encrusting some monti caps on it or letting some GSP go crazy on it. The true answer may be to leave it alone. I also dont know if i want to put a black background on it or not.

Any advice from seeing tanks like this, your ideas on what you would do, and if you have any pictures for examples I'd really appreciate your feedback.

This hobby i swear eats you up, spits you out, you sell all your stuff vowing never to return and here you are a few years later doing this all over again with a new tank and a new challenge lol

Cheers!

I have painted the back black, and had gsp cover the glass.

I prefer the gsp because it added movement.

But if I were to do it again I would leave it clear, and add an led light kit that can change the colors on the back glass. Like this, but without the branches.