Cheap, easy, sexy, and effective DIY overflow!

[Joe Lydon]

I found this idea on YouTube, and built one myself, to check it out. After fine tuning the flow, and getting everything right, it's amazing! It's very unobtrusive, painted black, with a black background.

Check it out.

Video Easy DIY Coast to Coast Reef Overflow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MssBnX6poII

 

[AFord]

How much flow can it handle?

 

[Joe Lydon]

How much flow can it handle?

Not sure, I'm running an Eheim pump, and have adjustments on the output. But, this is just using a single 1" drain output. You could easily add 2 more outputs, or larger diameter pipe, for as much flow as you'd like. It was handling the flow at full strength, but I was getting a lot of sump noise due to the overflow from the refugium chamber (crazy waterfall), so I had to turn down the flow.

 

[Rybren]

I had one similar to this but it was 40" long and had a single 1/4" slot along the top and drains at either end. It was fairly quiet at low (>500 gph) flow but got noisier as the flow increased. I don't think that I ever had more than 800 gph going through it, but I believe that it could handle more.

 

[pisanoal]

I have one in my 125 right now that is almost the full 6 feet. It is a bean animal style that I got off of a guy on youtube. Flow is based on the bulkhead size and piping size provided you have adequate teeth. The nice thing about the diagonals is as the water level rises, you increase your area for flow. I did the same as the previous poster with a single quarter inch slit. Mine is also a little noiser at higher flows but I believe its handling close to 750gpm. I think my noise comes from have a relatively long horizontal run to the sump and not a whole lot of drop to make up for it, so it was hard to balance my full siphon. Right now it is dead silent.

 

[gwubsmuzix]

Is there a youtube link how to build it?

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Painted black? What kind of paint. Because when I've looked, I've never been able to find any kind of paint that is approved for use in an aquarium.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

P.s. Really like that overflow. It is quite sexy as you say.

 

[Rybren]

Krylon Fusion works well on PVC and once cured, doesn't seem to be a problem in the tank.

 

[Joe Lydon]

Is there a youtube link how to build it?

I don't have a Youtube link, but I have a picture of the concept, before it was painted black that might help give you an idea of what's going on. It is very similar to the H20 oveflow. Yes, much cheaper. Maybe $5 worth of PVC on the inside of the tank.

Easy to make, if you have a miter, or "chop saw". Just need a 90 elbow, a 4 way, some length of PVC, and 2 end caps. I hand held the saw cuts, and didn't mark measured lines. Just kind of eyeballed the cuts. The part of the 4 way that sticks up, was a bit high, so I cut it off. It now sits below the top of the tank, and will be an emergency, if for some reason the teeth get clogged. If I were to attempt again, I would brace the length of PVC to a 2x4, mark measured lines, and go to town. That way, each cut would be identical, and perfectly in line. Regardless, this is still working out amazingly. My sump cannot handle a lot of flow, because of it's refugium with overflow teeth, so this one works perfectly with a single drain. It handled max flow, but I was getting a gushing waterfall into the skimmer chamber. It was super noisy, that's why I added the T to recirculate back to the skimmer chamber, and relieve flow to the DT.

 

[Joe Lydon]

Krylon Fusion works well on PVC and once cured, doesn't seem to be a problem in the tank.

Yes, this. I used Rustoleum protective enamel. Once cured, it's inert to anything within the tank. It's even very resistant to harsh solvents like xylene, acetone, paint thinner, etc.

 

[Reefer40b]

Do you have any other video/pictures maybe with less blue light? Looks like a good idea though thanks for sharing.

 

[ajm83]

Could somebody repost the pics to imgur or somewhere please? They are all dead.

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

I'm also having a hard time understanding, so photo's would help and possibly other video's.

 

[Bmplank86]

I use a similar DIY coast to coast pvc overflow. works well for me

 

[CrayolaViolence]

I called both of those companies a while back to ask about those products in an aquarium. They told me not to use them. That they would most likely cause an issue.

 

[Joe Lydon]

I called both of those companies a while back to ask about those products in an aquarium. They told me not to use them. That they would most likely cause an issue.

Both of what companies? I made it with like $8 in PVC pipe. The tubes handle more than enough flow. There's more than the average skimming surface, and there's an emergency overflow in the center, if those teeth become blocked. Of course any company that sells $100+ overflows, is going to tell you these will cause issues.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Both of what companies? I made it with like $8 in PVC pipe. The tubes handle more than enough flow. There's more than the average skimming surface, and there's an emergency overflow in the center, if those teeth become blocked. Of course any company that sells $100+ overflows, is going to tell you these will cause issues.

The spray on paint, not the overflows. Don't worry.

 

[mcgyvr]

Most (if not all) regular spray paint is 100% fine to use in an aquarium once fully cured..


As to the overflow.. Its "ok" but it has issues..
Clearly its not very quiet (look at all the bubbles coming out in the sump)..
There is no emergency pipe of any kind so a clog (instant or slowly over time) can/will cause a flood if your return pump area is not sized properly..
It will need more routine cleaning as algae,etc.. can/will grow inside it being that the slits are up facing light..
And a few others.. and some of that can be addressed/fixed..

Does it work.. SURE does..
Is it a cheap way to get a c2c overflow... SURE is..
Are there better/more reliable ways.. Absolutely..

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Idk, I really liked the look. I'm sure it could be tweaked and the shortcomings could be addressed.