What Is An Overflow?

[NormaJean]

This may sound like a stupid question but, I'm looking at a 400 gallon aquarium, it's got a built in glass overflow. What exactly is an overflow? Is it a filtration system? If so would my FX5 canister filter be necessary in the tank?

 

[sadguppy]

No idea... But 400gallons?? Wow! How big is that and how do you have that much room in your house?? Jealous!

 

[gforce17]

Do you mean gallons or litres? The fuel tank shown in this link holds 400 gallons!!

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuel-tank-400-gallon-1800-litre-Double-Skinned-Tank-/250537198778?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item3a552e44ba#ht_500wt_947

 

[Termato]

The overflow is the sump of water (in large tanks it IS the filtration system)

Usually if you have a large tank your canister is the overflow/sump. Some people build their own.

In example:

a 400 gallon tank will have a sump of anywhere from 25 to 100 gallons (depending on how you filter it). I haven't ever had anything that big so I don't know what I good sump for it is.

People use the overflow (sump) to filter, heat and do anything with the water. This gives your show aquarium more room while keeping a high level of filtration. Some Overflows are built into the aquarium either in it or under it.


Edit: To be more specific the overflow is just the space to keep the water. It does not include filtration unless specified. I would look at the tank and see.

 

[gforce17]

Is it 400 gallons?

 

[NormaJean]

The tank measures 96"x38.5"x25". I'll be going today after work to take a look at it. We will be putting it in our basement, my boyfriend was kind enough to work on moving his 'man room' or whatever he calls it to make room for the aquarium. I was originally looking for a 250 or 300 gallon but I saw this one and I thought I'd take a look at it.

 

[sadguppy]

8ft long! Wow!

That would literally take up the majority of my living room...

What are your stocking plans for that beast?

 

[Termato]

The tank measures 96"x38.5"x25". I'll be going today after work to take a look at it. We will be putting it in our basement, my boyfriend was kind enough to work on moving his 'man room' or whatever he calls it to make room for the aquarium. I was originally looking for a 250 or 300 gallon but I saw this one and I thought I'd take a look at it.

I only wish I had that tank!

 

[NormaJean]

It's an upgrade for my oscar, tire track eel, 2 severums, 1 firemouth, 4 rope fish and my delhezi bichir. They are currently in a 125 gallon, I figured they would need a larger aquarium in the future so I may as well get one now while I can still afford it.

Not sure what else will be going in there though, any ideas?

 

[gforce17]

That's an amazing tank. I look forward to seeing it develop - hope you'll keep us up to date!

 

[NormaJean]

That's an amazing tank. I look forward to seeing it develop - hope you'll keep us up to date!

I will try. Once I get it up and running I'll see if I can post a few pictures.

 

[OldMan47]

An overflow is easy to understand. Some people use large filtration systems that draw lots of water from a tank through a connection called a bulkhead. An overflow is a good way to bring that water to their filter and skim the tank surface at the same time. The overflow will be a small compartment probably located in a back corner of the tank. It will have a top section that looks much like a coarse comb where surface water can run through to that isolated section. They set up the filter to draw water from that overflow section and return it to the main part of the tank. Overflows are used more often with saltwater tanks but there is no reason not to use one in a freshwater tank.

 

[Termato]

An overflow is easy to understand. Some people use large filtration systems that draw lots of water from a tank through a connection called a bulkhead. An overflow is a good way to bring that water to their filter and skim the tank surface at the same time. The overflow will be a small compartment probably located in a back corner of the tank. It will have a top section that looks much like a coarse comb where surface water can run through to that isolated section. They set up the filter to draw water from that overflow section and return it to the main part of the tank. Overflows are used more often with saltwater tanks but there is no reason not to use one in a freshwater tank.

Thanks! Very well put. When I was searching for it, it just landed me on sump but their obviously different.