Horizontal Overflows

Anthony Calfo · #1 06/27/2005, 08:06 PM

we are beginning a collection of links to internal and external horizontal overflows - design, plumbing, photos, etc.

As the list of links grows... do remember to read to/through some of the older entries. Some great matter there, as these entries are sorted merely by date.

The short summary of principal benefits to an internal weir to mask/capture the drilled overflow holes for a display-sump loop:

- it concentrates the quality of surface overflow water by capturing more proteins via an extended weir rather than allowing less concentrated ("thicker" water) to simply plow through a large, unrestricted pipe opening (see Book of Coral Propagation, Volume 1 and the RC archives for a more detailed description)

- a slight, extended floor (lip) to the internal style horizontal overflow offers an easy pace to store frags or settle with invertebrates that grow to cover and hide this filtration aspect

- an external horizontal overflow is quiet and discreet, while taking up no more space behind the tank than any of a number of other common add-ons (HOB skimmer, HOB fuge, powerfilters, etc.)

- a horizontal overflow is generally regarded as less unsightly and less cumbersome than a vertical overflow tower which takes up precious floor space for the display/rockscape... as well as violating the first rule of water holding vessels: never drill a hole in the floor

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