Need a some thoughts from others more experienced

[bigjonbird]

I just drilled my 40 breeder and put overflow box as you can see in the pictures. I am worried about the overflow box leaking or causing issues. If someone has been down this road before, I need your thoughts on what to do. The way I see it I have three options:

1) Leave it as is
2) remove the rubber gasket between the glass and overflow box then add silicone to bond box to the glass
3) I could drill overflow box holes bigger so the bulkheads do not grab the box and silicone the whole box to the back of the glass and the bulkhead is installed normal, right against glass

Thank you in advanced for all the help. I just recently broke this tank down due to crazy brown algae and restarting with a newly made sump as well. Trying to start this tank off right.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I suggest to test it. It looks fine to me. Fill it with tap water and see what happens.

 

[mfinn]

I think,,,, as long as you have a rubber gasket between the back of the inside box and the glass you will be fine.

Water test.

 

[mfinn]

What's going to be on the outside?

 

[bigjonbird]

I suggest to test it. It looks fine to me. Fill it with tap water and see what happens.

Thanks

 

[bigjonbird]

I think,,,, as long as you have a rubber gasket between the back of the inside box and the glass you will be fine.

Water test.

Thanks, yes there is rubber between box and glass as well.

 

[bigjonbird]

What's going to be on the outside?

I'm just running 90deg elbows connected to vinyl tubing that goes into a sump. I ate up a little more room on the inside of the tank without the external box but I wanted to keep it simple. If it doesn't work I can always redesign it.

 

[Freenow54]

So its not a true overflow that I was educated about . Maybe I am way off base but could you reverse it then drill it on the bottom for a bean style set up?

 

[mfinn]

I'm just running 90deg elbows connected to vinyl tubing that goes into a sump. I ate up a little more room on the inside of the tank without the external box but I wanted to keep it simple. If it doesn't work I can always redesign it.

I think it should be water tight as long as the gaskets are good, and everything is tightened up properly.
BUT, I think this may be a noisy box, with water just draining from the holes down the tubing.
Noise in the box and in the sump.
Looking at the pictures, you might be able to make this into a herbie style drain. But it's going to be hard just because of short distance.
Maybe a up turned pvc 90 ( maybe a threaded street 90) right out of one of the bulkheads with a ball vale on the tubing.
The another upturned 90 with a short straight piece of pvc that goes up near the bottom of the overflow box teeth.
Not sure if there is enough room between the 2.
Maybe a redesign would be a good thing.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Gaskets between the flange and the box and the box and the tank wall is the proper setup. It will be fine and is a standard setup. No need for silicone.

https://beananimal.com/articles/bulkhead-gaskets-seal-the-flange-not-the-wet-side/

 

[Mebbid]

It should be fine. If it were me I'd change the threaded bulkhead with a slip style bulkhead, it'll make it easier to add plumbing to it. Then use 2 elbows, and make one a durso overflow and the other an emergency drain to cut down on noise.

 

[bigjonbird]

It should be fine. If it were me I'd change the threaded bulkhead with a slip style bulkhead, it'll make it easier to add plumbing to it. Then use 2 elbows, and make one a durso overflow and the other an emergency drain to cut down on noise.

Just ordered some slip bulkheads. I thought I made enough room for the 90 deg elbow to thread in but I drilled to close to the bottom of the overflow box.

Hopefully I can get a durso style drain to fit. I do plan on putting a ball valve on the drain to throttle it back some.
Thanks for the reply

 

[bigjonbird]

Now the new bulkheads are smaller than the original ones that I used. I am hoping they don't leak.

 

[Freenow54]

By the way I didn't want to interfere but...... First of all my instructions say to put the bulkhead on then mark close to the nut then use a fine tooth blade to cut off the excess. Second thing fight the urge to use a ball valve or any valve on your drain. If you use a dc return pump on the aquarium just find the correct flow with its controller

 

[swanedog]

By the way I didn't want to interfere but...... First of all my instructions say to put the bulkhead on then mark close to the nut then use a fine tooth blade to cut off the excess. Second thing fight the urge to use a ball valve or any valve on your drain. If you use a dc return pump on the aquarium just find the correct flow with its controller

Off topic from OP, but why do you suggest no ball valve? Im curious because I’m in the process of plumbing a new to me one and was going to put one before a union on the sump to make maintenance easier if needed.

 

[mfinn]

By the way I didn't want to interfere but...... First of all my instructions say to put the bulkhead on then mark close to the nut then use a fine tooth blade to cut off the excess. Second thing fight the urge to use a ball valve or any valve on your drain. If you use a dc return pump on the aquarium just find the correct flow with its controller

I understand the caution on putting a valve on the drain, but with the ability to use the other bulkhead drain as a emergency drain, this could be a modified herbie setup.
But only if there is enough room between the height of both sides.
I think if the op try's this, it will be an experiment, with a 50/50 win/fail.

 

[Freenow54]

Thanks

Off topic from OP, but why do you suggest no ball valve? Im curious because I’m in the process of plumbing a new to me one and was going to put one before a union on the sump to make maintenance easier if needed.

Just another opportunity for blockage. I accidentally blocked my drain ( predrilled tank ) one drain. Luckily I was there so not a huge disaster. Like I said the expense of a DC pump is well worth it to me

 

[Freenow54]

I understand the caution on putting a valve on the drain, but with the ability to use the other bulkhead drain as a emergency drain, this could be a modified herbie setup.
But only if there is enough room between the height of both sides.
I think if the op try's this, it will be an experiment, with a 50/50 win/fail.

Have fun . I am not a gambler. My DC pump lets me sleep

 

[bigjonbird]

Have fun . I am not a gambler. My DC pump lets me sleep

I understand the caution on putting a valve on the drain, but with the ability to use the other bulkhead drain as a emergency drain, this could be a modified herbie setup.
But only if there is enough room between the height of both sides.
I think if the op try's this, it will be an experiment, with a 50/50 win/fail.

I was trying to save some money and get two AC pumps instead of one DC pump because I will have two separate returns. Maybe I will get another DC pump so I can adjust flow as well......

I will post pictures once I get it all plumbed up.

 

[Freenow54]

I was trying to save some money and get two AC pumps instead of one DC pump because I will have two separate returns. Maybe I will get another DC pump so I can adjust flow as well......

I will post pictures once I get it all plumbed up.

Put the valves on the pump outlets rather than the drain