600 Gallon Upgrade Build

[bpkinane]

The center overflow of my tank is 20 1/4 inches tall. Since I will be having two 2 inch drains, I was wondering what should the lengths of the pipes be? Should they both be the same or one longer than the other? Advice is greatly appreciated.

I have a similar overflow setup to BeanAnimal. I have three 2" drains, one is a siphon, one a durso and the last is the emergency drain. Use ball valves at the bottom or middle of all three so the flow can be adjusted as needed. Use the desired water level as a guide for how tall to make the pipe length. My water level is about three quarters of the way up on the horizontal portion of the durso drain. The water level self adjusts to a point with the ball valves, I have my siphon ball valve about half open.

So make your durso leaving the pipe long at the bottom, measure how high you want the water and just cut off the bottom accordingly before you attach it to the bulkhead.

Let me know if that makes sense.

 

[bpkinane]

The center overflow of my tank is 20 1/4 inches tall. Since I will be having two 2 inch drains, I was wondering what should the lengths of the pipes be? Should they both be the same or one longer than the other? Advice is greatly appreciated.

Sorry I forgot to address your other question. Yes both should be at the same level. If you siphon one, and durso the other, the siphon will have take over 90% of the flow while the durso would just be your backup. I get a very small amount of flow from my durso but the more I close off the siphon pipe with the ball valve, the more water flows through the durso drain pipe.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I have a similar overflow setup to BeanAnimal. I have three 2" drains, one is a siphon, one a durso and the last is the emergency drain. Use ball valves at the bottom or middle of all three so the flow can be adjusted as needed. Use the desired water level as a guide for how tall to make the pipe length. My water level is about three quarters of the way up on the horizontal portion of the durso drain. The water level self adjusts to a point with the ball valves, I have my siphon ball valve about half open.

So make your durso leaving the pipe long at the bottom, measure how high you want the water and just cut off the bottom accordingly before you attach it to the bulkhead.

Let me know if that makes sense.

I will be only using 2 drains as 1 will be a dry chamber to run my cords through. Since I will be only using 2 of them I will have to research the Herbie overflow method.

Sorry I forgot to address your other question. Yes both should be at the same level. If you siphon one, and durso the other, the siphon will have take over 90% of the flow while the durso would just be your backup. I get a very small amount of flow from my durso but the more I close off the siphon pipe with the ball valve, the more water flows through the durso drain pipe.

:deadhorse::deadhorse::deadhorse:

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Re drilled the acrylic for the bulkheads and...........voila no leaks. I am going to keep the water in there a couple days for monitoring.

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[bpkinane]

I will be only using 2 drains as 1 will be a dry chamber to run my cords through. Since I will be only using 2 of them I will have to research the Herbie overflow method.



:deadhorse::deadhorse::deadhorse:

Hahaha alright alright! :lolspin:

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Sorry I forgot to address your other question. Yes both should be at the same level. If you siphon one, and durso the other, the siphon will have take over 90% of the flow while the durso would just be your backup. I get a very small amount of flow from my durso but the more I close off the siphon pipe with the ball valve, the more water flows through the durso drain pipe.

Explain please.



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[bpkinane]

Explain please.



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The siphon flow is much faster because it doesn't have to allow for air to flow down the pipe with the water. If you have two inlets; one siphon, one durso then the siphon will "steal" flow from the durso even if the inlets are at the same level. This is because the water in the siphon pipe is always full (inlets and outlets always under water). The durso has to depend on the water level getting higher to increase flow because of the air introduced in the pipe. Let me know if that makes sense. I can send you some pics if you want too.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

The siphon flow is much faster because it doesn't have to allow for air to flow down the pipe with the water. If you have two inlets; one siphon, one durso then the siphon will "steal" flow from the durso even if the inlets are at the same level. This is because the water in the siphon pipe is always full (inlets and outlets always under water). The durso has to depend on the water level getting higher to increase flow because of the air introduced in the pipe. Let me know if that makes sense. I can send you some pics if you want too.

Pics would be awesome. Thanks.

 

[dave.m]

I had trouble understanding this concept too until I got to see it in person on Peter's (nineball's) tank. When they say "siphon" they just mean a plain standpipe with its top below the water surface. This thing doesn't just drain water to the sump, it actively sucks the water down, much faster than a durso, herbie, etc. due to the power of gravity and atmospheric pressure. It is always full of water. The durso or what have you acts as a back-up as bpkinane described in case the water level should rise faster than the siphon pipe's natural drainage abilities.

Dave.M

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I had trouble understanding this concept too until I got to see it in person on Peter's (nineball's) tank. When they say "siphon" they just mean a plain standpipe with its top below the water surface. This thing doesn't just drain water to the sump, it actively sucks the water down, much faster than a durso, herbie, etc. due to the power of gravity and atmospheric pressure. It is always full of water. The durso or what have you acts as a back-up as bpkinane described in case the water level should rise faster than the siphon pipe's natural drainage abilities.

Dave.M

So them having the same height as to them not having the same height means faster flow or one is going to do more work than the other?


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[dave.m]

The standpipe/siphon will always have greater drainage by its nature. Mr. Wilson tells me that the drainage in Peter's tank is 90% siphon, 10% durso. Keeping the durso slightly higher ensures that the siphon is always covered by water so that it makes no gurgling noise.

Dave.M

 

[bpkinane]

The standpipe/siphon will always have greater drainage by its nature. Mr. Wilson tells me that the drainage in Peter's tank is 90% siphon, 10% durso. Keeping the durso slightly higher ensures that the siphon is always covered by water so that it makes no gurgling noise.

Dave.M

Assuming you have 90 degree elbows on the bottoms of both the standpipes, you don't have to have the durso higher, it can be at the same level. The siphon will suck from the bottom of the elbow, while the durso has to have the water level up high enough to flow over the horizontal part of the stand pipe (which is a couple inches higher than the bottom of the elbow if you are using 2" pipe). I will get pics asap.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Assuming you have 90 degree elbows on the bottoms of both the standpipes, you don't have to have the durso higher, it can be at the same level. The siphon will suck from the bottom of the elbow, while the durso has to have the water level up high enough to flow over the horizontal part of the stand pipe (which is a couple inches higher than the bottom of the elbow if you are using 2" pipe). I will get pics asap.

 

[dave.m]

Actually, schematics would be more useful, though a lot more effort on the part of the sender.

Dave.M

 

[Dustin1300]

For me, I first tested the beananimal for the first time on my frag tank and love it. Full control and noise is not present once you have it dialed in properly. I'm definitely doing it once my 600 gallon tank is setup and will likely have two full siphons, one open channel, and one emergency just because I'm anal retentive. Wayne, if you've never looked at the site, take a look at Beananimals full writeup.

http://beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

I'd think you'd be fine with one full siphon and one open channel but just need to ensure you build something so you don't have a catastrophe happen (i.e. snail climb over wall and block your full siphon!).

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

For me, I first tested the beananimal for the first time on my frag tank and love it. Full control and noise is not present once you have it dialed in properly. I'm definitely doing it once my 600 gallon tank is setup and will likely have two full siphons, one open channel, and one emergency just because I'm anal retentive. Wayne, if you've never looked at the site, take a look at Beananimals full writeup.

http://beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

I'd think you'd be fine with one full siphon and one open channel but just need to ensure you build something so you don't have a catastrophe happen (i.e. snail climb over wall and block your full siphon!).

I have read that. The only way a Beananimal can be applied is if I do not utilize the dry chamber which means I have to invent a way to get mad flow in my tank without power heads. And that only option is either a FOWLR or a shark/ray tank.

 

[milonedp]

What if you put a strainer on the siphon that way it can't be blocked, does that provide enough insurance that you don't need the third? Then its more like a Herbie right? Or am I missing something about that.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Overflow - herbie with Dry Chamber

Overflow - herbie with Dry Chamber

What if you put a strainer on the siphon that way it can't be blocked, does that provide enough insurance that you don't need the third? Then its more like a Herbie right? Or am I missing something about that.

Never thought about putting a strainer on the siphon. As I stated earlier I wont have a third chamber. I might add a check valve on the main as I have read and place two 90 degree elbows on the drain. This a pic of what I mean.

Only difference is that my tank has a center overflow but you get the idea. Thanks for the input.

 

[Dustin1300]

I have read that. The only way a Beananimal can be applied is if I do not utilize the dry chamber which means I have to invent a way to get mad flow in my tank without power heads. And that only option is either a FOWLR or a shark/ray tank.

You can use a beananimal version like explained....Just won't have emergency overflow, just need to ensure you keep critters out of overflow!

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[Newbie Aquarist]

You can use a beananimal version like explained....Just won't have emergency overflow, just need to ensure you keep critters out of overflow!

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The critter problem is a concern. There is a netting I am looking for to go around the overflow box. It looks like this.