bean animal overflow on 90g

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Hello all!
Yeah, so I'm going to switch out that 110g that I got for free for a 90g I am hopefully going to get for free. I don't like the 110g tall's dimensions and would much rather a 90g. THEREFORE:
I am thinking about how to design the overflow on the 90g, and I want to be able to get it as quiet as possible. I'm going with the beananimal design. Three questions:
1. I am going to use a Mag 9.5 pump with the option of using a Mag 12. What SIZE bulkheads should I use for the overflow? 1"? 1 1/2"?
2. The glass encasement that has to be used for the overflow box - does it have to be ALL the way across the back of the tank, or can it be a small box in the center - enough to cover the bulkheads and have enough space for water to overflow into it. could someone recommend the amount of inches of overflow I need?
3. Anyone ever painted the inside of the glass box with black krylon paint? I know that paint is non-toxic to reefs if dried completely, How well does it last inside the tank with all the saltwater??
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Seth you'd be fine with 1" bulkheads.....I don't think you'd see any real gain going with 1 1/2" bulkheads......Honestly with your pump choices you'd have a heck of a time IMHO tuning it with the 1 1/2" because of the flow the pumps push, so 1" would be better suited and cheaper on the wallet as well.
The overflow box doesn't have to be the full length of the tank.....It just has to be big enough to fit the (3) bulkheads inside the overflow box. As far as what is required isn't a cut and dry answer buddy......First you have to decide what flow rate your trying to achieve and then we can determine how many linear inches of overflow you actually need.
As far as painting the inside of the overflow box itself, what's the purpose.......The Krylon Paint will be perfectly fine with no ill affects. I do recommend letting the paint sit to dry for 7 days.....Trust me I've learned the hard way, and I think I own stock in Krylon over my last 2 builds with all the black paint I've used, but if you don't let it sit 7 days it will easily scrape off.....After 7 days you can abuse it.......Why not use black window tint on the outside of the box, or are your trying to hide the stand pipes from being visible from the front of the tank.......
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Ok, So, three one inch bulkheads at the top and cover it with glass in the middle, paint with black krylon and wait seven days. Got yah.
I'm also thinking about the closed loop drain and returns. I'm thinking of the drain halfway up the tank on either the right or left side. The returns will be two in the front and two behind the rockwork on the back wall. The sump return holes will be drilled in the top right and the top left of the tank. Swiss cheese. :) Would you say four return holes for the CL is excessive? I've only went up to two before. I would like the option of the oceans motions four way in the future.
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/391427/bean-animal-overflow-on-90g#post_3471221
Ok, So, three one inch bulkheads at the top and cover it with glass in the middle, paint with black krylon and wait seven days. Got yah.
I'm also thinking about the closed loop drain and returns. I'm thinking of the drain halfway up the tank on either the right or left side. The returns will be two in the front and two behind the rockwork on the back wall. The sump return holes will be drilled in the top right and the top left of the tank. Swiss cheese. :) Would you say four return holes for the CL is excessive? I've only went up to two before. I would like the option of the oceans motions four way in the future.
Seth kind of lost; confused with the highlighted area.......but yes on the Krylon paint.......This is how been did his 75 gallon tank.


Optimum CL drains technically from my flow expert would be in the bottom of the tank......Again this isn't optimum for most and I straddled the fence months trying to decide about drilling the bottom of my tank. I opted not to. Technically speaking from the "expert" you really only need (1) CL drain, but what you would do is build a manifold, which is basically a "T" and then extension pipes coming up with strainers on top of them....Personally I didn't want any of that hanging off the back wall of my tank. I opted to drill (2) 2" bulkhead holes. The chances of both clogging at the same time is possible, but think my chances are better that way........
As far as drilling for the CL.....4 returns isn't by any means excessive or "crazy"....Honestly you could drill (8) and use the 4Way and split each output of the 4Way into (2) with the end result feeding all (8) bulkheads. If you really wanted crazy, you could drill (8) holes and use dual 4Ways, but they wouldn't run constantly at the same time....During certain periods of the day they would both be running, but you would actually take 1 off line, while the other remains running, and then possibly after 8 hours bring the other OM on line, and shut the other one down.....Another thing Paul and I had talked about as well, was during the night time period instead of shutting them both down or 1 down, you could ultimately plumb a small Mag drive pump into the system.....This in turn would still keep the water moving inside the CL, but definitely change the whole flow pattern and scheme.....There are so many things that can be done.....I'd have to talk to you over the phone, but I'll hint if you look at VFD pumps you can get with Paul and he does a little special magic with the OM, and the OM basically communicates with the VFD pump really changing up flow patterns in the system....Totally intense conversation and how it works, but rather simple and neat......
As far as the return placement.....Remember the key thing I was trying to stress over in my build thread.....Proper flow....You technically don't need huge; power hungry pumps to achieve good; proper flow, but proper placement, and efficient use age of the flow you have. Use the flow efficiently to make the overflow and the CL do the job they are designed to do. Most think it's just about getting the corals to sway pretty in the water........Far from it buddy......What is the purpose........
 
Top