90 degree drain vs. overflow box

[magdelan]

Option #1
I am considdering using two 90 degree elbows as my drains (with the open end facing the ceiling) for my new 120. They would be spaced one foot apart on the back wall.

Option #2
Building a standard overflow box to house the two drains.

Is there anything that i should be concerned with by option #1?

Thanks

 

[dreaminmel]

Went with a 90 elbow drain on the 40 breeder. At first I just screened the top like Gary M did on his but it got clogged by dog hair at one point so I removed that and rubberbanded gutter guard around the top. Now any stray dog hair that makes it into the tank just gathers in the filter sock. Other than that, I've had no concerns with it.

 

[Dave VG]

I will be drilling and going the 90 route with my 40B.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I wasgonna go with a double gl*******s on my new one. I've seen people use the 90, like Gary and mark Klier. What do you use on the outside of the tank to vent it and prevent sucking noises. One of the things I like about gl*******s are the air line off of the back side that is higher than the water surface. Keeps it quiet IME.

Got pictures Mel?

 

[cardiffgiant]

whoa whoa, easy on the language there

 

[jaybfresh]

Glass holes are very quiet... I went with a standard tank rather than RR specifically to put on a GH overflow

 

[dreaminmel]

Got pictures Mel?

Here's pics of the 90 elbow drain on the 40. I do not have a hole drilled into the cap on the outside part, but it's not glued on because I wanted to be able to drill a hole later if desired. This drain setup is handling much less flow in comparison but to me it is much quieter than the 1500gph glass-holes overflow I had on the 125g. It seemed no matter how I adjusted flow on that thing I couldn't get it as quiet as I wanted. I'm sure if this elbow was handling more I'd probably have the same level of noise though... The nice thing about the glass-holes is their slim design and that they're more eye friendly than a big elbow w/ screen attached.

 

[magdelan]

And here is a pic that I just drew to show how a duel drain would work...similar setup.

 

[captain7359]

Kinda like this, but with no overflow box or screen and the elbows turned up?

I think it depends on the flow you are pushing and elbow size. I just think of the fish store setups with a little 1" elbow slurping away vs using a bigger elbow and bulkhead which would quiet the flow down.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

fwiw I kept both drain lines separate all the way to the sump

 

[magdelan]

Maybe I could do two 1/2" drains with a downward facing elbow and airline tubing inserted in the top of the elbow for a siphon break/anti slurp?

 

[dreaminmel]

Concerns I'd have with that setup would be that slurping noises take on a whole other level of irritating when concentrated through a straw/airline and also, I'm trying to envision how well the drain would get flowing again if power were to go out and then come back on after a bit. Did you get the idea from something online that you saw?

 

[Namyar]

The slurping sound would be my only concern, but if you do the air line tube you should be good.

Sent from my Droid

 

[magdelan]

Why would it slurp any more that a standpipe or with an overflow box? Essentially, (imo) the only real difference between what I am trying to do an an overflow box is the water lever where the water enters the drain. With a 90 degree elbow, the water is draining straight from the surface of the water. With an overflow box added, the water is first draining into the overflow box and is then going through the overflows.

Help me to understand.

 

[dreaminmel]

With regard to my comment on slurping, it's not that I think it'll slurp any more than the other options. I can't picture how it'd slurp any less. And with an airline as the outlet for the air noise I can say you'll still hear slurp if it's there, just differently. But really the big question I had on the idea was the drain function. When I installed the upward 90 on the 40g I experimented with a few different things out in the driveway and some led to water going up and over the rim before the flow really caught hold in the drain and lowered the water level back down. If you used an overflow with downward 90s it keeps the tank water level in line better while the drain flow gets going (or stopping). Without an overflow in front of downward 90s I just picture the tank draining down below the 90's rim during a power outage and then having issue getting back up to snuff with power back on. Could be completely off... that's why I was curious if you saw it online somewhere so we could get a visual or someone else's experience w/ it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

yer welcome to come over and check out my drains, Mike

 

[magdelan]

yer welcome to come over and check out my drains, Mike

Thanks Gary. I might have to take you up on that.

 

[magdelan]

Still going back and forth here. Now I'm thinking about asthetics too. Do I want two white pvc elbows sticking out of my back wall in the middle of a black background or should I just slap on a black acrylic overflow box and call it a day? What's the difference between a glAss Holes overflow box and 5 pieces of acrylic glued together to form 4 sides and a bottom? I know that the GH one comes with teeth but I could DIY that myself.

What say you?

 

[zooman72]

Not sure if doing it yourself would be any different, but I have personally always disliked the white PVC elbows, especially on a black background. I say go with the GHs kit - seems inexpensive in retrospect, although it is late and I need some sleep.....

 

[Zucker26]

They sell dark gray PVC elbows at Home Depot. I went with the 90 degree on mine because I found the dark gray 1.5" elbows, bulkheads, and a black strainer. From most angles, you couldn't even see it in my tank!