Is an overflow better than a drilled tank?

[blackwater]

Hi all,

I have been doing a fair bit of research into the plumbing/sump design for the new tank i'm about to purchase (48x18x20in - 75gal).

I have read that an overflow with a large linear length for the water to flow into will mean that a thin layer of water is removed and this helps keep the water surface clean and clear.

Most people have been saying that it's much better to have your tank drilled (in a couple of places in the back wall) than have an overflow box. The syphon in the overflow might stop working and you end up with a flood.

Here's my question..
Is it possible to achieve the same surface skimming with a couple of drilled holes and bulkheads or is an overflow the best option for this? What are other advantages of having drilled outlet holes over an overflow?

I hope I have made sense! Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Kabong]

The problems with just running the pipes are
#1 Lack of surface area (as you were reading about a large overflow skimm's the surface better)
#2 Noise level will be high (youll have to constantly keep messing with it to keep the noise down)
#3 An overflow box will also help keep things (fish, cucumbers, lettuce) from getting sucked in. If the pipe gets blocked the water voloum of your sump will end up on the floor.

They only advantage of just running the pipe that i can think of is that you wont loose the space in the tank the box whould take up.

 

[OrionGirl]

I guess I'd like to sort out exactly what you mean. A drilled tank can be fitted with in tank overflows which skim from the surface, similar to the overflow boxes you can purchase. They work in similar ways, but most of the built-in options also take water from a variety of levels rather than just the surface. You can just use a PVC pipe rigged with a cup that sits close to the surface, but even these are typically cut into slits, rather than left intact. All will function in a similar fashion--the amount of water moving through them will depend on the return pump, and the total volume of the plumbing.

 

[blackwater]

Thanks for the useful info Kabong/OrionGirl!
I think I will go with the drilled holes and if I find that I need the surface to be skimmed more then I will look into getting an overflow or some other solution.

I guess that if enough water is being drained then I should be ok.

Thanks again guys - appreciate it.
Cheers,
Chris