how does this work...

[mmm33732]

so on my next tank, i plan to route off a small portion of the top of the back wall in order to make an overflow. common design. now of course theres the box behind the tank where the stand pipes go. thats where my question is though... where that box attaches to the rear wall of the tank, obviously there will have to be silicone there. now where the box meets the tank at those points (3 lines total) how do you paint the back of the tank so you don't see that? i know you cant silicone over paint, so im not sure if you just cant paint those 3 lines where it connects or if there another method... heres a pic to help illistrate what im talking about.

 

[bonebrake]

If you plan on having an acyrlic tank then just make the back solid black.
If it is going to be glass I think you will have a hard time hiding where you glued it even if you glue it over paint it may still show through.

 

[teen]

why not just drill it and install 2 bulkheads?

 

[mmm33732]

Originally Posted by teen
why not just drill it and install 2 bulkheads?

2 reasons. first, i don't like the look of those. however, they can easily be hidden and that may be the route i end up taking. and second, i want a large linear surface for skimming. my tank now would build a film every now and then if its not skimming as much surface as possible. i don't want that to happen on the next tank. i was originally thinking of doing a coast to coast calflo style overflow to maximize this. now if i go that route, i could just drill it, but then i would have pretty much the same issue with no paint where the silicon is except it would be on the inside instead of the outside. also, you would see a large box on panel in there with a calflo, whereas the external overflow doesn't have anything inside the tank for you to see. heres a pic of how i would do my calflo if i do..

 

[teen]

your probably getting a film on the surface because you dont have enough flow/ surface agitation.

 

[mmm33732]

could be. i haven't had film in over a month now since i added some magnets (see the aquaequilizer post) but either way, ideally its best to have the largest linear area skimmed, correct? say i add two 1.5" bulkheads. thats equal to about 9"s. if i do a coast to coast, thats equal to 72"

 

[teen]

yea, but that 72" still has to be drained somewhere, right? via U-tube or bulkead.

 

[mmm33732]

yeah, via bulkhead. but is still skims more surface than if it were only 2 drains on the inside of the tank. yes they can flow the same amount of water total, but the one with a larger linear length skims more surface.

 

[mmm33732]

i think the only real way to hind a calflo completely is with foam rock. prob the route ill take. any other ideas on how to hide the seam where the glass pieces are siliconed together?

 

[teen]

so the reason you want 72" to be skimmed is becasue you think theres going to be a flim on the waters surface?

 

[threed240]

There are instances where exsessive flow in one direction can cause the surface film to become trapped, sorta speak, in the corners. Although, this can be fixed easily with changing the direction of the flow a bit.

 

[mmm33732]

Originally Posted by teen
so the reason you want 72" to be skimmed is becasue you think theres going to be a flim on the waters surface?
no. i just feel 72"... even 20" for that matter is a lot better than the equalivant of 9". plus its safer. a lot less chance for something to plug up.

 

[teen]

72" or 20" isnt neccessary. but hey, its your tank.

 

[swalchemist]

Kick up your flow and get it chaotic as possible your film will disipate.

 

[tinmanny]

what if you buy from the glass man a 1/8 pc of black plex for the comb pc on the overflow but let it go right to the bottom of the overflow or put it inside of the tank and then it will look just like the rest of the tank
good Luck
Manny

 

[mmm33732]

Originally Posted by tinmanny
what if you buy from the glass man a 1/8 pc of black plex for the comb pc on the overflow but let it go right to the bottom of the overflow or put it inside of the tank and then it will look just like the rest of the tank
good Luck
Manny

thought of that too, but it would have to be a 72x22" piece and i cant think of any way to get that inside the tank past the 2 support braces.
i'm leaning more toward making it about 24" long and just using foam over it to make a fake rock ledge and pillar to hide it all.