Help me understand this overflow box

[PizzaOven]

I was talking to @Darkxerox and @fishy408 about this idea at CFM. I want to build a system of tanks tied together on a single sump. This way I can dial in flow/light for each individual tank (SPS, LPS/softies, Macroalgae, etc.). I can also keep hostile fish in separate tanks.

Anyways... I'm looking at pre-drilled tanks for this project. Fiji has several with dimensions I like, but the internal overflow boxes seem to have a strange design. There are holes halfway down the overflow box, which would drain a ton of water (~50% of tank volume) into the sump. Is my understanding correct? If so, what's the point of these extra holes?

Thanks in advance.

 

[HankDean V]

Those extra holes pull from the mid water level, there is a baffle panel behind them that brings it up to the surface level,
The style was more popular about 20 years ago,

 

[Darkxerox]

Those extra holes pull from the mid water level, there is a baffle panel behind them that brings it up to the surface level,
The style was more popular about 20 years ago,

Yep my tank has a similar design so it grabs junk from the water column as well as surface skim.

 

[PizzaOven]

I see, thanks guys. They also have external overflow version, but I'm pretty short on space behind where the tanks would go. Seems like this will work for me.

 

[Darkxerox]

Seems like an interesting design, main overflow has a strainer with two high emergency overflows. Does it have a gate valve underneath?

 

[PizzaOven]

Seems like an interesting design, main overflow has a strainer with two high emergency overflows. Does it have a gate valve underneath?

It doesn’t come with any stand or plumbing. I would put a gate valve underneath the main drain to dial in the water level. Is that what you mean?

 

[Darkxerox]

It doesn’t come with any stand or plumbing. I would put a gate valve underneath the main drain to dial in the water level. Is that what you mean?

Gotcha yeah wasn't sure what it came with. You can see in Colin's systems it's just a shared sump with lots of simple drains and valves.

 

[MichaelB]

Biocubes has both lower and upper slots like that as well.

 

[RandyC]

I actually have a few systems with multiple tanks and a single sump

- 3 frag tanks connected to a Synergy Reef TS-34 sump
- 150 with an IM25 Trigger Platinum 39 sump
- 2 IM30 with a Trigger Ruby 30 sump

If you're in the area and want to check what I have set up, feel free to swing by.

 

[MichaelB]

I actually have a few systems with multiple tanks and a single sump

- 3 frag tanks connected to a Synergy Reef TS-34 sump
- 150 with an IM25 Trigger Platinum 39 sump
- 2 IM30 with a Trigger Ruby 30 sump

If you're in the area and want to check what I have set up, feel free to swing by.

Any pics of them in ur journals? Sounds interesting.

 

[RandyC]

Any pics of them in ur journals? Sounds interesting.

Two IM30s
https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/randy’s-flock-o-reef-tanks.32907/post-546609

150 + IM25
https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/randy’s-flock-o-reef-tanks.32907/post-555932

I don't have a pic of the frag tank sump, but here's a pic of the whole setup on the yore Dewalt shelf.

https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/randy’s-flock-o-reef-tanks.32907/post-521190

 

[MichaelB]

They all look super clean. The plumbing job from your journal above has my eyes popping out of my head lol. I would have a swimming pool or a creek in my place if I tried similar with my non existing plumbing know how.

 

[PizzaOven]

I actually have a few systems with multiple tanks and a single sump

- 3 frag tanks connected to a Synergy Reef TS-34 sump
- 150 with an IM25 Trigger Platinum 39 sump
- 2 IM30 with a Trigger Ruby 30 sump

If you're in the area and want to check what I have set up, feel free to swing by.

I'll take you up on that next time I'm heading your way. Appreciate the offer.

 

[PizzaOven]

Gotcha yeah wasn't sure what it came with. You can see in Colin's systems it's just a shared sump with lots of simple drains and valves.

Oh wow, that's crazy! He even has the Fiji cubes I was looking at (external overflow version). I really like his studio, it has an organized chaos vibe to it. Tons of really nice systems... Man, I wish real estate was cheaper in the bay area lol.