adding overflow box to established tank

[dinosaur143]

Hey all, I've had my tank running for about 5 years. Its just a display tank with HOB equipment I occasionally put on. I want to add a sump to the system and so an overflow box to feed the sump.

Is there some way to add an overflow box while the tank is full of water?

I don't want to remove all the livestock, rocks etc and drain it... I guess I'm hoping there's some clever way to do this or something.


Thanks for looking.

[mcgyvr]

If you have already ensured that the glass is not tempered then you can just drain it down some.. drill your holes and go..

[dinosaur143]

I'm more wondering about attaching the overflow box inside the tank. Using silicon, even if I drained it far enough to install it.. I would have to wait a few days before it cures before I could refill it right?

Is there any other product I could use that cures in water and is fish friendly?

[Lsufan]

The simplest way would be to use a ghost type overflow like modular marine. With those style boxes u don’t have to silicone anything because the bulkheads hold the box to the tank. I prefer this type of overflow regardless.

U could also build or buy a 5 sided acrylic overflow box & do it the same way, let the bulkheads hold it in place & the gaskets to keep it from leaking.

Any silicone would have to cure for the appropriate amount of time, which depends on the amount of silicone u use. On a overflow box I wouldn’t let it cure any less then 7 to 10 Days.

[Seeady66]

Look into the Tunze 1074/2 overflow box. No silicon no drilling
Adrian

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by Lsufan

The simplest way would be to use a ghost type overflow like modular marine. With those style boxes u don’t have to silicone anything because the bulkheads hold the box to the tank. I prefer this type of overflow regardless.

U could also build or buy a 5 sided acrylic overflow box & do it the same way, let the bulkheads hold it in place & the gaskets to keep it from leaking.

Any silicone would have to cure for the appropriate amount of time, which depends on the amount of silicone u use. On a overflow box I wouldn’t let it cure any less then 7 to 10 Days.

yep..

[GimpyFin]

The Eshopps PF series hang on overflow boxes are another good option if you don't want to drill the tank. I've ran one on my small cube tank for a few years now with no issues.

[dinosaur143]

Thanks for all the suggestions. More options than I thought I had.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I once added a box to an established, running tank. I repositioned the rockwork so all of it was in the bottom 2/3rds of the tank, then drained the water to that point. I ran a powerhead for flow and placed a small skimmer right in the tank for oxygenation and nutrient removal. Then I drilled it and glued a box in, positioned right in an upper corner with the hole through the back wall. I let the silicone cure and filed it back up.

This was one of those things that worked fine, yet I would have a hard time recommending it. And if faced with this situation again, I would probably either put the livestock in a temporary tank, or use one of those overflow kits with separate inner and outer boxes that are essentially held on by the bulkheads instead of being glued in.

Personally I would stay away from any u tube siphon based overflow.

[krazyk148]

Im doing two large overflow boxes (plastic cereal containers) and 3" waterbridges as the siphon tubes.

[jd371]

Originally Posted by GimpyFin

The Eshopps PF series hang on overflow boxes are another good option if you don't want to drill the tank. I've ran one on my small cube tank for a few years now with no issues.

I have one running on my 75g over 2 years now with no issues as well.