Overflow for 240g

lost66 · Feb 4, 2020

Hi
I am planning to purchase 204g (96x24x25) tank and it will be room divider so peninsula style. I don't know which overflow option should I pick. I talked with manufacturer and he can build one for me so it can be custom. My current setup is 75g with herbie overflow in a corner box and I love the silence. My new tank will be in the living room so I would also have it dead silent. Safety factor is also a huge thing. So far, what I am thinking of:
1) Divider - and the whole width of the cant will be a box inside. Quite nice but I am loosing so much space. Holes on the bottom.
2) inside box- something like corner box but in the middle of the side glass. Holes on the bottom. Old fashioned, good solution?
3) Inside box - "Small" box on top around 18"x6". Holes on the side. This one is tempting, I will not loose much space on the bottom and it is safe.
4) outside box - the same as 3 but outside. This one is tempting, I will not loose any space but what about safety factor?
5) All these options can be build by manufacturer for around $250. Maybe just ask for drilling holes and go with something branded, plug and play solution? Something like "shadow Overflow"?

How many line should I plan? I would like to have it as a lps/sps reef tank with sump with refugium, skimmer, dosing, uv and ato. The main flow will be provided by powerheads. 2 drains, 2 returns, 2 for safety?

Please advise, I don't have experience with such a big tanks. This decision is crucial for the setup.

lpsouth1978 · Feb 4, 2020

I just got an Exotic Marine Systems overflow and love the look of it. They make a 20" version and you can ask him to install 1.5" drains if you feel the 1"drains are not big enough. Really this is all personal preference. Any one of the systems you mentioned would work, though I would recommend something with 3 drains so you can set up a bean animal overflow. This will give you most redundant system with the highest level of security.

lost66 · Feb 5, 2020

@lpsouth1978 thanks for your input. I wonder what do you mean by 3 drains. 2 main + 1 backup and 1 or 2 returns?

lavoisier · Feb 5, 2020

I love the space saved from my external overflow. 3 drains--main, overflow with air tube, and emergency.

lpsouth1978 · Feb 5, 2020

lost66 said:
@lpsouth1978 thanks for your input. I wonder what do you mean by 3 drains. 2 main + 1 backup and 1 or 2 returns?

Do a Google search for "bean animal overflow". There is a TON of info out there about it. Basically, you will have 3 x drains. the first, shortest, drain is a full siphon and does 99% of the work. The second, taller, drain is the secondary and has a trickle of water going down it. The third, tallest, drain is the emergency. this should only have water going down it if the first 2 drains get clogged or fail in some way. this is dead silent when done right and is the safest way to run a tank.

For a 240g tank, I would absolutely use 2 returns.

S.Pepper · Feb 5, 2020

lost66 said:
@lpsouth1978 thanks for your input. I wonder what do you mean by 3 drains. 2 main + 1 backup and 1 or 2 returns?

lost66 · Feb 5, 2020

I have a bad experience with durso. Does it make any sense to have 2 herbie style (standpipe + valve) and then emergency? So basically the same as in picture above but make primary and secondary as primary?

S.Pepper · Feb 5, 2020

lost66 said:
I have a bad experience with durso. Does it make any sense to have 2 herbie style (standpipe + valve) and then emergency? So basically the same as in picture above but make primary and secondary as primary?

I'm not experienced with the bean style, but I am looking at a tank with this system. I was wondering the same thing. Do you have to have the durso style as your secondary drain or could you have it just like the emergency drain?

lpsouth1978 · Feb 5, 2020

lost66 said:
I have a bad experience with durso. Does it make any sense to have 2 herbie style (standpipe + valve) and then emergency? So basically the same as in picture above but make primary and secondary as primary?

You can leave it without the elbows, but it will be quieter with the durso style for the secondary. Drill a hole in the top of the elbow to keep it from flushing constantly. If the Primary drain gets blocked, the water will rise until it covers that hole and then a full siphon will be created without causing a vortex of water drawing air in and making a lot of noise.

Many people use just standpipes (herbie) for all drains, mostly because they don't have the space to do a true bean animal. Figure out what works for you and go with it. The great thing about all this is the setup will be different from tank to tank.