Internal Overflow Box

So... I looked and looked for inexpensive internal overflow boxes and did not succeed. After reading a lot and looking online for a solution, I just bit the bullet and decided to create a DIY Internal Overflow.

Started with a sheet of 18" x 24" Plexiglas. Cut it in half and made the sheet 12" x 18". I have two pieces if someone else would like one.


Heated the center with a torch.


Bent the plexy on a 90* angle and made a 6" x 6" x 18" overflow




I have to either cut groves or drill holes for fish safety, but at this point I'm pretty pleased. Anyone have any thoughts on turning this thing black? Can I use a special paint? Can I use some kind of opaque stick on?

Let me know what you all think!

 

Awesome. I would paint the inside if anything. that way you can still scrape off coraline or whatever grows on the outside without taking the paint with it.

 

He will also take the plastic with it.

I would use Krylon Fusion to paint the inside. As for fish safety, go with grooves over holes. The holes will clog easily and be hard to clean.

 

looks like a nice job so far, but they sell black plexi. did you look for that? i would not paint anything that the water will be flowing threw.


http://cgi.ebay.com/black-acrylic-p...aultDomain_0&hash=item2eb1e55d59#ht_636wt_905 they have all different thickness'es and sizes

maybe you can get the thinest an cut it to fit inside yours? not sure what the cost of yours was. might be better just redo it in black since now you know you can do it.

 

I tried krylon fusion paint for my aquaclear intubes and the paint just peels off a little bit at a time, I will never paint anything that is going in the tank again.

 

I think I may just order some of the black plexi from the ebay link posted earlier. I've looked for black plexi locally and haven't found any. Guess I'll just have to wait on shipping...

kinda stinks but I can still probably use this in my DIY sump...

 

I wouldn't paint anything going into the tank. If you did, epoxy paint is probably the safest, but also tough to find as it is pretty dangerous until it has dried. However, I like clear overflows. It's easier to see if any fish or snails get into them. And they tend to blend in with the background regardless of what color you paint it. If it's black it will stick out like a sore thumb if you decide to re-paint the background blue. If it's clear, it will mostly look blue, minus some algae growing on it.

 

Kind of off topic...but related. What Weld-On # is best to use for a project like this?

 

My problem with keeping it clear is you would see the pvc piping for the overflow... thats kinda of the reason I want a corner overflow in the first place so I don't have pvc pipes visible in the tank. Otherwise I'd just run a black piece of pvc and call it a day. :-/

 

I did something similar with a turtle tank - after a while the algae covered it up and I could not see the pipe.