Looking for a link or ...

[::pete::]

Im trying to find info on the Calfo style overflow and am not having any luck ... any ideas?

[GaryP]

I think there is a diagram in his book. I'd look for you but I think Larry has my copy. What type of info are you looking for?

Gary

[::pete::]

The diagram ...

[SaltyJim]

I asked once before, but I didn't get any answers. I'd like to know more about it too. Maybe someone that actually uses this type of overflow can shed some light?

[NaCl_H2O]

I'm sure I saw some threads on it on RC - but I get frustrated with their search engine ... since I'm not a paying RC member :x

I also think Calfo has some books that might show his overflow concept - try AMazon?

[GaryP]

Joshua has a tank with a Calfo. Also check with Dan. I'd be willing to bet he has made one. Basically its just a small box at the rear of the tank. The theory is to get a very thin layer of water overflowing because that is where the highest concentration of waste products will be. Imagine an overflow box turned horizontally along the back top part of the tank. Joshua's has a neat frag shelf extending outwards from the bottom of the overflow.

Gary

[dow]

Here's a thread that I ran a few months ago. Talks about it, and has a diagram that I was working on at the time. I have a couple of additional drawings that I'll try to dig up for you later, but this should get you started.

http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5148

BTW, I still haven't implemented this, but plan to sometime in the next year or so.

Basically, what you want is an overflow that is very long, perhaps the fulll length of the tank, that will skim the thinnest possible layer of water out of the tank. This is supposed to vastly increase waste and nutrient export from the main tank. Additionally, the bulkheads are placed high on the back, so you have a shallow box.

[dow]

Another diagram. This one is for the tank I hope to have next year. It's a brick-style 120, with a calfo overflow and four drains. The latest info I read from Anthony is that he's now recommending 20X turnover per hour, and this will allow that. When combined with a Calfo style return manifold, it should allow this amount of flow and sufficient turbulence in the tank without the addition of any in-tank powerheads. Four bulkheads also allows for straight shots to the sump (no T's or ells) and I can direct a part of the water to a refugium and the rest to the skimmer area easier.

[dan]

yes i do have one in my tank. my tank is four feet long and my calfo is 36''long. almost the lenght of the tank. only five inches tall and three or four inches wide. mine has two 1 1/2'' bulkheads holding it high in the tank. when you look at the tank you almost miss seeing the overflows being 5'' below the water level. ya'll are more than welcome to come and take a look. the down side is that you have to drill the back of the tank and you would need a little more room between tank and wall for the plumming.

[dow]

Glueing in the front glass sounds like a great idea, Joshua. How deep did you make your box, and how far down from the top are your bulkheads? Also, what size are they, how many, and what is your flowrate and tank size?

I'm always looking for ways to improve my design. I almost bit the bullet a few months ago, but Aquatrends doesn't make a 120 as a standard size tank, and was going to charge me for a custom job, on top of the drilling. Additionally, I almost never got the overflow box design explained so they'd get it.

Maybe I should give glasscages.com (http://www.glasscages.com/) a shot. Has anybody ordered from them?

[dan]

jeffco and don n sa ordered their tanks from glasscages and they look good. don's is a 240gal. and jeffco's i think is a 375gal.WOW. i just ordered my new tank from tropical fish haven in corpus. they make acrylic tanks. mine will be a 350gal. YAA BABY!!!!! will be ready in 6 to 8 weeks

[dow]

Sounds great, but a little big for me. We just built this house, and I'd hate to try to explain to my wife how we "NEED" to build on or knock out a wall to make room for an indoor swimming pool, lol.

Anyway, I just sent off an email to glasscages, and we'll see what he has to say about it.