Return(s) over the top?

Saltwaterwill · Jul 27, 2016

How many of you have returns over the top and into your tanks? Is it safe?
I have a sca 75g rimless that I'm thinking of doing a bean animal overflow system. The overflow box is setup with three holes for 1" bulkheads. If I use all three holes for a bean animal , I will be left with None for a return and Im definitely not interested in drilling out the back panel of a rimless tank. Any thoughts,pics, insights would be greatly appreciated.

Marc.The.Shark · Jul 27, 2016

I always do over the top returns. I generally use CPVC & then convert it to regular pvc with an adapter. If you have them close enuf to the top of the tank & your sump can handle the extra water, then nothing else you need to do. If they're lower, then just drill a 1/8" or 1/16" hole an inch or so under the waterline to break the siphon. Just clean out the hole periodically to make sure it doesn't get plugged, but I normally only do that once a year because water is always flowing out of it.

TheEngineer · Jul 27, 2016

I have a 50g SCA cube and I run an over-the-top return too. Mine comes with two drilled holes and I converted it to a herbie overflow.

mfinn · Jul 27, 2016

I've done a lot of tanks that had the over the top return.
My 50 is a over the top return.

Pepcrylic · Jul 27, 2016

I have over the top returns. I run 2, 1'' seaswirls.

FL_Reefer · Jul 27, 2016

They are great cause you can break the syphon at any level you choose. It really just comes down to your choice on how you want to do things

Saltwaterwill · Jul 28, 2016

Thank you everyone so far, feel free to post any pics of your return over the top plumbing.

fragit · Jul 28, 2016

I just finished my plumbing. Tank is a 120 peninsula, drilled for synergy overflow. It's 24" wide so not wide enough to drill for the returns. I've got a 1" sea swirl through the wall and over the top.

Saltwaterwill · Jul 28, 2016

fragit said:
I just finished my plumbing. Tank is a 120 peninsula, drilled for synergy overflow. It's 24" wide so not wide enough to drill for the returns. I've got a 1" sea swirl through the wall and over the top.

Very nice, sea swirls sounds like a great idea...so many options...

tcarter1936 · Jul 28, 2016

Here's my 180,

ReeferBob · Jul 29, 2016

justingraham · Jul 29, 2016

I did over the top with two 3/4 sea swirls although big they are pretty awesome also look at melevs reef he has over the top with penductors I beleive they are called. So to answer ur question yes it can be done

Saltwaterwill · Jul 29, 2016

Thanks everyone ,Keep them pics coming! I'm concerning over the support of the over how I may /may not support the pvc

justingraham · Jul 29, 2016

And I would post a pic but my tank is being destroyed by hair algea as its been forgotten about for the last week as I have been battling a sickness with my fish and been paying more attention to the qt tank but I really like the seaswirls and I think with the way they connect to the glass u would not have a problem with ur tank being rimless what is ur return pump?

4rings · Jul 29, 2016

we have a return on the top in our 60 gallon, all good. I actually prefer that over the tall whole column over flow

Saltwaterwill · Jul 29, 2016

justingraham said:
And I would post a pic but my tank is being destroyed by hair algea as its been forgotten about for the last week as I have been battling a sickness with my fish and been paying more attention to the qt tank but I really like the seaswirls and I think with the way they connect to the glass u would not have a problem with ur tank being rimless what is ur return pump?

That's unfortunate about your algae, good luck with your fish. I just purchased a Waveline 10000 DC return pump, 2853 gph

justingraham · Jul 29, 2016

Saltwaterwill said:
That's unfortunate about your algae, good luck with your fish. I just purchased a Waveline 10000 DC return pump, 2853 gph

Well I am running two 3/4 sea swirls on a closed loop using a M1 which is at 2000 gph. Before I did that I had one 3/4 sea swirl connected to a little giant 4mdq as a return and the sea swirl was pretty much at its max without blowing water out of the o rings. So if ur going to go the sea swirl route which I think are great I would step up to a 1 inch instead of a 3/4 with all that Gph. If not and u want a lot of flow go the punductor route and I would have to look into ur pump but if ur pump can do say 800 gph at 21 feet u can put two penductors on facing each other and that can work as well. That's my plan for the little giant return pump. He's a pic of my cabinet which shows both pumps that have powered the sea swirls and the only thing worth looking at now that my tank looks like this

My pumps

Breadman03 · Jul 30, 2016

Over the top is absolutely fine. I went through the glass on my build only because I wanted to simplify building a tight-fitting canopy in case I decided to go that route at some point in the future.

willthethrill · Jul 30, 2016

120g dual over top returns. Bean animal as well

willthethrill · Jul 30, 2016

On a side note, do u guys know why every time I post a pic it comes out blurry? These are hd quality iPhone pics and I select "best quality" when adding picture but any time I post a pic on here it looks like crap. As you guys can see lol