Overflows, Which do you prefer?

joeyhatch11 · Nov 21, 2015

Looking to get some insight from my fellow reefers on this topic. If you had the option when having a tank built to go with a full corner/center overflow box or a rear glass overflow, such as ghost overflow or Glass-Holes, which would you choose?

redfishbluefish · Nov 21, 2015

Hands down, one of the unconventional "rear mounted" for the simple reason that they take up very little space. I could never understand those behemoth overflows going from top to bottom and taking up so much room.....and to boot, ugly.

And FYI, I have a 1500 Glass-Holes overflow on my 90 DT.

TNT32D · Nov 21, 2015

I have a MAME overflow and love it don't know if that counts?

joeyhatch11 · Nov 21, 2015

Mame would be along the lines of the rear glass overflow I guess, being that it has a small foot print.

Jimbo662 · Nov 21, 2015

I had a 75g Planet Aquarium tank that had a rear external glass overflow box. I loved it because it was so easy to access the plumbing.

bknapp · Nov 21, 2015

Installed a Synergy Overflow on my 93 Cube and love it. Very minimal in tank footprint and quiet. Only downside is the space needed behind it which is negligible as I like have room behind the tank to work if needed.

joeyhatch11 · Nov 21, 2015

I feel people only put up with corner overflows due to buying a reef ready tank. Maybe custom builds are too expensive or there is a fear of drilling a tank too.

DanConnor · Nov 21, 2015

Notched tank top and external box. Takes up no tank space and the tank doesn't have to be drilled anywhere.

Ed Hahn · Nov 21, 2015

tagging along. I am looking for overflows for my rack display - 3 eighty gallon tanks.

Ed Hahn · Nov 21, 2015

I like simplicity. Custom Aquariums has a nice design with H20 overflow. I witnessed one. I am not sure what to think. My friend was moving a small amount of water. Maybe more water it would be more quiet? I like quiet and simple.

Breakthecycle2 · Nov 21, 2015

My Glass holes 3000 over flow is dead silent.

Zoomer · Nov 21, 2015

Glass Holes overflows are on both my tanks, and I'm quite happy with them. I had a corner flow on my old 120, and didn't hate it, but I will never buy on of those again as they take up so much space.

Zoomer · Nov 21, 2015

Double post - so I'll add that the down side of the Glass Holes type over flows can be the amount of space they take up behind the tank. Also, be mindful about where you drill in relation to the water line. On one of my tanks the bit walked lower on me a little and I chased it. I ended up with the overflow box placement making my water line almost below my canopy...

ss95003 · Nov 23, 2015

DanConnor said:
Notched tank top and external box. Takes up no tank space and the tank doesn't have to be drilled anywhere.

Above would be my first choice, second would be the smallest internal footprint which would likely be the "ghost".
I still not understand the people ordering custom tanks from Reef Savvy with the ghost, if you are going custom 100% external is a no brainer IMO.

sundog101 · Nov 23, 2015

DanConnor said:
Notched tank top and external box. Takes up no tank space and the tank doesn't have to be drilled anywhere.

Do you mean the siphon type overflows?

NanaReefer · Nov 24, 2015

My Glass Holes 700 is very quiet and when up against the painted black back, hardly noticeable.

DanConnor · Nov 24, 2015

sundog101 said:
Do you mean the siphon type overflows?

No, those are the worst. I mean where where the top edge of the back of the tank is cut a bit lower, and it overflows into an external box where your drain pipes are. People refer to long ones as "coast-to-coast" overflow.

Here's a nice write up, although I would have made his box a bit deeper: http://www.glassreef.com/basics_overflow.php

KingTriton · Nov 24, 2015

Im personally not a fan of glass-holes. Too loud even when using the mesh in my experience.

Terry4505 · Nov 24, 2015

Synergy Reef Overflow on my 180. Dead silent. I mean dead silent. I absolutely love it. Worth every penny. The tank is a room divider between my kitchen and living room and needed to be quiet.

sundog101 · Nov 24, 2015

DanConnor said:
No, those are the worst. I mean where where the top edge of the back of the tank is cut a bit lower, and it overflows into an external box where your drain pipes are. People refer to long ones as "coast-to-coast" overflow.

Here's a nice write up, although I would have made his box a bit deeper: http://www.glassreef.com/basics_overflow.php

That's really cool, I've never seen those before