Overflow box for plywood tank

[Homer Siped]

Ah, so that's what you have going on with the lighting in that tank! That upper clear panel is to allow observation of the turtle while basking; the two strips on the left are just for illumination, and the large opening on the right will be some sort of basking fixture? Very nicely done.

I think this will make a terrific display. Snappers are one of those common-as-dirt species that many people overlook for that reason alone, but they are unique and interesting and impressive as hell, especially when as large as yours.

Good luck going forward with him, I hope you post some pics of the completed setup!

Soooo i dont think i am going to do the 10 gallon set up, after reading other people's stories. From what every forum i read said they will crack super easy and cant have any weight on the bulkheads, and i am wanting to use 2" drains. So back to the drawing board. I thought about something like this. The long part would be against the back of the tank, would go straight through side of tank which would basically be my secondary drain, the other would come off lower and be my full siphon. What is your opinion on that?

 

[Flaring Afro]

Your plan of returns shooting across the bottom scares me. It sounds like the outlet will be near the bottom of the tank and shooting across it, which would mean it would siphon the entire tank's water if the power goes out. Maybe you could have the return piping have an air gap but that would have to go quite high, I believe.

My plan for my turtle indoor pond is to make the corners have return pumps hidden behind angled pieces that match the interior. They'd suck water near the bottom up through a sponge filter and then the water goes past the heater and to the top, but I also don't plan on using a sump. It is a way that doesn't add any extra risk of leaks and I won't have room for a sump anyways since the tank water will go to the floor. Maybe you could do something like that for the flow in the tank.

 

[Homer Siped]

Your plan of returns shooting across the bottom scares me. It sounds like the outlet will be near the bottom of the tank and shooting across it, which would mean it would siphon the entire tank's water if the power goes out. Maybe you could have the return piping have an air gap but that would have to go quite high, I believe.

My plan for my turtle indoor pond is to make the corners have return pumps hidden behind angled pieces that match the interior. They'd suck water near the bottom up through a sponge filter and then the water goes past the heater and to the top, but I also don't plan on using a sump. It is a way that doesn't add any extra risk of leaks and I won't have room for a sump anyways since the tank water will go to the floor. Maybe you could do something like that for the flow in the tank.

Ohhh nooo not across the bottom lol. It be against back on top. Similar to this one. I dont want any holes in the tank for him to be able to access. He like to climb into them and get stuck and if he cant climb into them, he rips them apart. Im shooting to move somewhere between 3-4k gph through this.

 

[jjohnwm]

Soooo i dont think i am going to do the 10 gallon set up, after reading other people's stories. From what every forum i read said they will crack super easy and cant have any weight on the bulkheads, and i am wanting to use 2" drains. So back to the drawing board. I thought about something like this. The long part would be against the back of the tank, would go straight through side of tank which would basically be my secondary drain, the other would come off lower and be my full siphon. What is your opinion on that?

Yeah, I don't use anything even approaching that complexity. No primary/secondary drain, no full siphon, etc. I am talking about one or more holes drilled at water level, equipped with bulkheads, that dump water into the small external tank...which is usually just a bucket on a shelf. From there, direct drain into the sump through a bulkhead in the bottom, sometimes with a short vertical piece screwed in to create a small overflow chamber in case a small fish or something slips in from the tank.

My bad, I think that all the assorted overflow/drain systems with names like Bean Animal, Durso, etc. are designed to minimize noise? I literally don't give that a thought, I just have water pouring out of my tanks into my filters. Being deaf as a post and keeping my fish in the basement allows this to work for me.

If you want a "proper" overflow/drain system that operates silently and requires multiple standpipes...I've got nothing. Any turtle is like a bull in a china shop when it comes to tank furnishings. Your monster is likely more like a brontosaurus...

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[Homer Siped]

Yeah, I don't use anything even approaching that complexity. No primary/secondary drain, no full siphon, etc. I am talking about one or more holes drilled at water level, equipped with bulkheads, that dump water into the small external tank...which is usually just a bucket on a shelf. From there, direct drain into the sump through a bulkhead in the bottom, sometimes with a short vertical piece screwed in to create a small overflow chamber in case a small fish or something slips in from the tank.

My bad, I think that all the assorted overflow/drain systems with names like Bean Animal, Durso, etc. are designed to minimize noise? I literally don't give that a thought, I just have water pouring out of my tanks into my filters. Being deaf as a post and keeping my fish in the basement allows this to work for me.

If you want a "proper" overflow/drain system that operates silently and requires multiple standpipes...I've got nothing. Any turtle is like a bull in a china shop when it comes to tank furnishings. Your monster is likely more like a brontosaurus...

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Hahaha there are wayyyy too many different types of drains. So what i am HOPING for is a combination of everything lol. A full siphon kind of a durso style, not really sure what it is but water without air moving down a pipe makes a siphon then the other one will take the leftover water. Pinch in the siphon a touch so both are taking water. Not sure if its gonna work or not, will post pics later. Just ordered bulkhead fittings so they will be here shortly as well. Trying to get the plumbing squared away before i put the glass in and have easy access to get in and out of the tank lol

 

[Homer Siped]

So this is what im gonna try. Dunno if it will work or not. The lower should be a full siphon and with a valve i can adjust the water flow to come out the upper one. I havent gotten to cutting slots yet in the 3 inch. Gotta make another trip to store to get hangers.

 

[M1A1]

Is that pipe going to survive a turtle doing turtle things? I have only kept small snappers but they liked to rearrange everything and wedge themselves absolutely everywhere.

 

[Homer Siped]

Is that pipe going to survive a turtle doing turtle things? I have only kept small snappers but they liked to rearrange everything and wedge themselves absolutely everywhere.

Will see. He generally does OKAY at best with stuff in his tank. Its outside his tank that he wedges himself in. His last tank i built this and he didnt really try wrecking it, i dont have access to a ton of driftwood like i did when i built that one so trying to think of something i can build to occupy the space. But the overflow in that tank he figured out how to open the lid and climb in which he is lucky it didnt kill him as he got his head sucked into the siphon. Had to change that up so this tank i dont want a regular type overflow so he cant get sucked up or stuck on anything. Should have plenty of waterflow into it with hardly any suction being so much surface area for water to flow into it. Not really sure how its gonna work honestly lol. I just dont see even 2 canister filters keeping up with it. Worst case it doesnt work and back to the drawing board.