What you also could do is buy a pump with speed selector. put a stripe on your sump and tank then select a speed athat does not overflow your sump or tank make sure to use a second pump so when the first one does not turn back on the second takes over. Also use one that has internet connection so if something does happen you get an alarm on your phone and to keep things good. You could turn the pump off so it wont over flow your tank.

I don’t want to use the overflow filter any longer instead using a canister filter that I can easily manage. What do you recommend as to how to close those two holes off? It’s a 150 tank in a nursing home and it gets dirty faster than usual. The overflow filter just doesn’t do the job keeping the tank clean ( besides someone throwing food in too often) what’s your recommendation? Thank you

Thank you so much! You saved the day, this totally worked!

Nice

Do you make frames or can you send me what I need to build one or what I need to build one. My tank is a 220 gallon 84 inches long 24 inches deep 24 inches tall. 1/2 is the thickness of the glass. I will need cross supports also. My top rim is in good shape I need to replace the bottom but I also want to reseal the outside glass. I will be adding corner trim and seal it as well and I will be Is reinforcing and resealing the inside too. Thanks

If you dont have a table saw,a grinder with a cutting disk works or dremel.

Where did the comments go for that leaking repair on acrylic aquarium.

What thickness and width of aluminum? Also, you say bend at one point and weld in a couple others. Is it just 1 shaped piece or is it welded? Thanks!

Is flexseal safe to use if you want to totally cover the glass plates that you’ve used to fill in the hole?

I like soft plumbing for my sump. I don't like using pvc barbed connections. Because they reduce the water volume and flow rate. Any suggestions? Thanks

Very helpful information Thanks a zillion

This video covers so much. Thank you!

I'm starting to collect materials and figure out how to lift/flip and move around an old 220 gallon aquarium with broken top and bottom plastic frames and build aluminum replacement frames. My idea is to cut the pieces of flat and angle aluminum, but the angle pieces into corner welding braces and braze weld them at the corners before doing the same with the flat aluminum for cross supports. (Then do it again the same way for the bottom frame.) What do you think of that plan? I hate to have to do this, but no one will sell me replacement plastic frames in 2024 for a 220 gallon tank because of "liability issues."

thank you I'm always paranoid with my tanks.

0:23 hi chri I can’t work out how to send photos 😢

if anyone has problems with sucking the air out of the tube, for example when I tried this method I couldn't get the air out and saltwater filled my mouth on multiple occasions lol. I used Saran (plastic) wrap, covered one end and filled the U tube with water as much as I could then I covered the other end. made sure there was enough water inside both boxes and them dumped the tube into box. once the two ends were submerged I then removed the plastic wrap and a strong siphon started. if there is still a small air bubble just keep shaking the tube but make sure the ends do not come out of the water. this might take a couple of minutes, usually no more than 5. the air will work its way out and you'll hear an even stronger suction.

Thanks so much!! Brace on my tank was broke during unloading it from the truck.

Thank you

Hey I have that same overflow box where did u get your overflow box tubing

This has been the easiest diy scrubber yet! Easy to follow. Thank you.

This was so helpful! Thank you!

My 55 brace just cracked yesterday. It didn't crack all the way through, but i dont trust it now. The tank is properly leveled. it's just crap quality. I was going to do exactly what you showed in the video. The problem is that the aluminum brace won't allow me to open the lids if i were to do this. I will give my fish an upgrade this weekend to minimum a 75 possibly a 90.

Great information thanks.

I immediately recognized that tank behind you! I went to discount my first time the other day. Lol what a wild coincidence

Is the a video on how to hook this up to canister filters for freshwater tank? Thank you.

Oh good. Just balance your pump and "overflow" box exactly, completely, perfectly, or your tank will overflow. The exact thing you're trying to avoid!?

Where could I find a slip in plug?

where do you find that black strainer with riser? i'm searching for parts to run a sump and two closed loop systems on a 300 gallon acrylic tank I just picked up.

Could you use a one way airline valve into the hole that you drill in the return with the arrow pointing into the pipe so water can't get out but air can get in and break the siphon?

With these types of overflows, how would you keep babies out in case you have fish start breeding?

I am reverse engineering a tank that had this exact system. However many plumbing parts were missing. Also was not sure if it went if the intake from tank should go filter first or pump first. This video was amazing helping me make sense of it all! Setting it up with a new DC pump. Wish me luck! Great Vid👍

Easier than cutting acrylic and gluing it on. Nice!

Fantastic overview, thanks!

Would love to see a video on removing a frame/bracing from a tank without breaking it so it can be reinstalled. I have a piece of driftwood that will not fit due to the center braces on my 6ft tank.

Any updates on your diy reactor ?

Forcing a bent front glass back will put more pressure on the new top brace to front glass joint, but decrease pressure on the side glass to front glass joins. This + added long run stability is at least what I weigh into the equation when choosing to glue a center brace that have been missing for a while. Not super fond of forcing the front glass back but the pros seem to be more than the cons I reason. Would love to hear you elaborate on this factor more also Chris, thanks for the video 👍

Thank you very much ! This is extremely helpful . The centre brace of my 40 gallon tank broke and I have been looking for a solution. I got an aluminum flat bar from HD but I don’t have a vise . Can I just clamp the bar to the workbench and bend it instead?

Chris, when installing the quick water change system you show here, how does the water get to the pipe once the level drops below the over flow height? Or do the overflow panels need to be removed for this to work?

Best video and Explanation When you could do PVC Yourself why buy kits for over a $100 thanks for the video😅

Got a chance at a 175 gallon bow front for 150 bucks and it has 4 of these holes this reassures my purchase thank you!

This video answered all of my questions i ever had ...I wish I would have seen this years ago.Not kidding...I had so many questions for years and I have been in this hobby for 15 years ...I have never used a overflow box but will be using one soon. Thanks for going into details...Much needed.

My custom tank is 48"-20"-20" 10mm glass and I'll give 3 top width braces with 3" 8mm glass. Two times the middle brace glass is sleeping with silicon glue.. What can I do? Do i need euro brece on top only or bottom both??

I have a 125 no brace i got acrylic i was gonna take a strip and use bj glass n plastic weld to hold in on across the tank because my actually plastic trim is also cracked u think that would b better than silicon?

Does any body know how thick or what grade aluminum should be?

Does it matter what glass thickness we use to cover the hole?

What grade of aluminum do you use for the braces?

FINALLY!!! A comprehensive video that can be easily followed and understood with a simple, easy to understand layout! Thank you!!

Thanks for sharing this with us. Great Presentation, easy to understand. Understand. Not talking all about yourself and everything. Thanks again very informative

Soooo say my overflow clogs. An the return pump is still going.. is there a failsafe for that senario?

Bought a dirty aquarium come to see cleaning it says critter tank dont use water its 18*33 *15 what do you think? She had fish in it has a too frame will it bow?