Okay, this is going to seem a bit crazy, but stay with me. So the design is a 125 or 180 gallon tank with no overflows. The plan is to use a coast-to-coast overflow box. However, I don't really want the box taking up 4 inches of tank space to fit the downturn elbows for a BeanAnimal style siphon. The thought is run 1 peice of glass slanted along the back wall of the tank, and have 3 or 4 holes in the back which flow into an external overflow box, where the standpipes will be.
I have two ideas, and any others are welcome:
1. Acrylic - I would make an acrylic box, probably 3 feet wide by 5 inches deep by 5 inches wide. I would make holes in this box that match up with the 3 or 4 holes in the backwall of the aquarium and run a bulkhead through both holes.
2. Glass - I would in this case make the same size box as above, except would only need the bottom, back and sides, as the 'front' of this box would also be the 'back' of the aquarium.
I'm really leaning toward acrylic, because I can test the waterproofness of my box before ever attaching it. I've never worked with acrylic, but my main problem may be lack of tools. Checking the needed 80 tooth sawblade is $50+. Need to borrow my uncle's router and haven't even check the bit needed for that yet. Looks won't matter, but straight cuts for the sides will. from what I'm reading, everything else will overhang and be routed.
The only benefit to the glass is that I'm already getting some glass cut for the coast-to-coast overflow, and I'll be buying silcone, etc.
BTW, the tank will be in the wall, so the plumbing in the back has all the room it needs. It is also in the basement on a concrete floor.