Internal coast to coast or external overflow?

[805reef]

I am looking into getting a new tank and am trying to decide between an internal coast to coast or an external overflow.

Are there any advantages of one over the other besides the external gives you a little more room on the inside of the tank?

Also do you guys prefer toothed overflows or smooth?

 

[N2SWIMN]

I would do internal. It was a few months back that I had to deal with a leak on my external overflow box. It took almost 2-3 weeks to finally get it sealed again. Lost half of my fish. Maybe even quieter with internal.

 

[Azasb]

I like external better because: Lets say that the typical trapezoid cross section area is 57 inches squared. That's the shape I see for most tank's overflow box. That 12" long side, 7" short side, and the height is 6". If your tank's height is about 20 inches then 57*20 = 1140 inches cubed. You can have ~4.92 more gallons of water. Plus, the amount of water that fits on the external over flow, maybe 1/2 gallon. So all together about 5-5.5 more gallons in your system for an external than internal overflow. This is just an example of why I like external better. Of course number are gonna vary depending on size of internal/external overflow box.

 

[xmas_one]

External coast to coast.

 

[Fly5150]

Agree with Dan, external. I have an internal c2c on my tank now. I'm getting ready to break it down and switch to external. It cuts out too much room inside the tank. It turned my 72x24x24 into 72x18x24.


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[SchnitzelReef]

External overflow is where it's at!!

Just make sure u do the plumbing legit and don't go cheap on the gate valve. External overflow can be super bitchen if it's done right.

 

[pgr11]

External here as well. If I ever have another tank made again I'll be doing another external. Having all that room in my tank is awesome. You can make the tank completely silent

 

[805reef]

Thanks for the input guys... I was leaning towards external but when I got the quotes back external was $350 more than an internal.

The tank I am planning to get made will be 80Lx36Dx24H and the overflow will be on one of the sides (peninsula style). It will be coast to coast wether it ends up being internal or external. If internal it will be a few inches tall and not the whole height of the tank.

Do the standpipes have to be in the center of the overflow or can they be put to one side?

Here is a pic of my current tank. The new tank will be put in the same location and the overflow will be on the right side of the tank/pic.

[MENTION=4608]SchnitzelReef[/MENTION] That is some nice plumbing you did, I'm thinking of doing my returns similar.

 

[Justkeepswimming]

Thanks for the input guys... I was leaning towards external but when I got the quotes back external was $350 more than an internal.

The tank I am planning to get made will be 80Lx36Dx24H and the overflow will be on one of the sides (peninsula style). It will be coast to coast wether it ends up being internal or external. If internal it will be a few inches tall and not the whole height of the tank.

Do the standpipes have to be in the center of the overflow or can they be put to one side?

Here is a pic of my current tank. The new tank will be put in the same location and the overflow will be on the right side of the tank/pic.

[MENTION=4608]SchnitzelReef[/MENTION] That is some nice plumbing you did, I'm thinking of doing my returns similar.

Dont spend all that money on a new tank build and skimp on the overflow because you want to save 350. Things like that come back to bite you because you will be thinking, "Man i wish i went with the external overflow" down the line. I decided to take my cadlights tank and not wait for them to fix their mistake of not doing the recessed eurobracing, i am kicking my self in the butt because i splash water everywhere when i am trying to clean my rimless tank!

 

[cowboycove]

If I could redo mine I would go external. Wasn't thinking when I drilled my tank. Or I would've done that. So now I have an internal box but I still have plumbing going out the back. Which is retarded of me.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

external and slotted teeth. Dont skimp on the tank like others have said.

 

[805reef]

Dont spend all that money on a new tank build and skimp on the overflow because you want to save 350. Things like that come back to bite you because you will be thinking, "Man i wish i went with the external overflow" down the line. I decided to take my cadlights tank and not wait for them to fix their mistake of not doing the recessed eurobracing, i am kicking my self in the butt because i splash water everywhere when i am trying to clean my rimless tank!

Great point! I was still leaning towards the external but the additional cost was enough to make me at least ask about it. I really like the look of tank with an external, so clean. Just gotta hope it doesn't end up leaking...

 

[805reef]

external and slotted teeth. Dont skimp on the tank like others have said.

I think I want teeth like [MENTION=654]lowbudget[/MENTION]

 

[gumbii]

lol...

 

[JOSE CASAS]

I think I want teeth like [MENTION=654]lowbudget[/MENTION]

That's what i have also.

 

[805reef]

That's what i have also.

You got a pic? You have too many posts to search through looking for one. lol

 

[CoralNerd]

Then on the other hand you might want a clean no plumbing look on the back side. Here's one of the last LeeMar tanks they built.

It would however be nice if the back was all glass so you can scrap the coralline.

 

[805reef]

[MENTION=8580]CoralNerd[/MENTION] I kept looking at the pic like wtf is the plumbing! tricky! That's nice but I hate how the detritus collects on the bottom of my current full height overflow and then I get these stupid little fish that swim in there once in a while and its a b to catch them. Also my tank will be viewable from all 4 sides, the overflow side will be a little obstructed with the overflow box up top and some piping... but that side is pretty close to a wall anyways

 

[CoralNerd]

No fish can get in there as I added some gutter guard. The closed loop sucks water down low from the overflow so the detritus does not settle. I know what you mean though before the gutter guard was added, I did have a fish go over and I was able to get him out as he was in the sump filter sock. I have a ton of flow using two Waveline DC 10000 pumps.

 

[CoralNerd]

[MENTION=1164]805reef[/MENTION] Sounds sweet look forward to seeing some pics. Peninsula tank style is my favorite, I just need a new bigger house to fit one, lol.