Drain Question

[Jizu Puentes]

I have been thinking of ways to maximize the amount of surface water drained as well as reducing the amount of space taken up by an overflow and I was wondering if this would work-

The picture on the left is what i have in my current tank and the one on the right is what i am thinking of doing on my next build to make the space taken up by the overflow smaller. In my mind it seems like the flow should be the same but its just a thought and not a certainty.

 

[TheEngineer]

Yep. That's called an external durso.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Yep. That's called an external durso.

OK I figured. I wasn't sure if the bulkhead being at the top on the side was different then at the bottom on the side

 

[Hawain_Rob]

If you have a 2" or 2.5"drain what size should your return be?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Why not just do one of the external piped overflows....like a Glass-Holes. These have a very small foot print within the tank.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Why not just do one of the external piped overflows....like a Glass-Holes. These have a very small foot print within the tank.

They have good flow capabilities but the small footprint means less surface draining.

If you have a 2" or 2.5"drain what size should your return be?

You'd have to research how much flow that size can handle and make sure your pump moves less than that amount. I get a pump that can have varying outputs or use a valve

 

[Rybren]

If you set up a coast to coast overflow with a ~4"x5" box the length of the tank, you'll get the maximum amount of surface skimming possible. It will also allow you to use a BeanAnimal drain system that is absolutely silent and failsafe.

I recently set up a BA on my new 120G and there's no way that I'd ever use anything else again.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

If you set up a coast to coast overflow with a ~4"x5" box the length of the tank, you'll get the maximum amount of surface skimming possible. It will also allow you to use a BeanAnimal drain system that is absolutely silent and failsafe.

I recently set up a BA on my new 120G and there's no way that I'd ever use anything else again.

I do like the coast to coast but i like having the top to bottom overflows so there is more room for water to fill if by some chance a drain is clogged. This overflow I am planning will be from the back of the tank to the front so it will be about 4" wide and 18" long.