NEW plumbing method for an ULTRA QUIET REEF TANK!!!! LONG !!!!

Sounds like a regular overflow box, like my DIY one here:

l_051118084530_432_1_2.jpg


The side with the rolled up gutter guard is the side with the gate valve at the other end. The PVC sticking up in the other drain is the emergency.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7211090#post7211090 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
Could you explain how this would work in the meantime?
Click to expand...
 
It will ALWAYS be known to me as "Herbie's Method" :) !!! Thanks Herbie! I can't believe how cool this mod is!

-Nathan

Here are a couple of pics of mine... albiet you can't see too much here... but it will give you some idea...

11.JPG


8a.JPG


And here is the plumbing going into the sump (pic taken when the tank was first set up, hence the CLOUDY water... just ignore it!):

sump.jpg
 
GMGQ,
I am trying to do the same thing right now. The problem I am having is that when I restrict flow the level in my tank rises quicker than the level in the overflow. I can get the sweet spot in the overflow to make the sound VANISH but, with water rising in the tank I am forced to open it back up and am not able to enjoy the sweet sounds of silence, I am just trying to dial it in and can't figure it out.
Thanks
 
Nathan, I really like the over the top trap with clean out for your return. That is the simplest way I've seen it yet.
Dan
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7210059#post7210059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Herbie
How about "Herbies Ultra Quiet Siphon Overflow"..........
Just kidding ........ :lol: :lol: :lol:
It does work pretty good though, if you are looking for a QUIET reef tank! It does require some slight adjustments from time to time. A gate valve is really the most adaptable valve for this application. A ball valve is just to hard to get the FINE adjustments required to get this system to work properly. An emergency drain shoud be considered mandatory for this mod to work safely and trouble/worry free.

I will post some pics soon of a a custom made external overflow box, with an emergencey drain, that Jeff at Lifereef made for me specifically for this style of overflow system. Its a pretty sweet overflow box, that runs "ULTRA"quiet using this system.

Later...........Herbie
Click to expand...

I just don't understand how this could work. The external siphon overflow can only pull water as fast as it drains right? So if you restrict the drain the flow will slow and if you are not perfectly adgusted on the return your display will need to have the emergency drain so if you have one hole why not two?
If I am wron please let me know as I have actually tried to mod one of Jeff's boxes for this system and that was my experience. I drilled a bulkhead in the sidde and put in a durso and that works good on the top but you know the story in the sump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7215295#post7215295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
Nathan, I really like the over the top trap with clean out for your return. That is the simplest way I've seen it yet.
Dan
Click to expand...

I assume you are talking about the picture below?

sump.jpg


I researched that method and found it to be the simplest and most cost efficient and least likely to leak. Others have drilled holes into their sumps, but I don't like that method.

Getting the pump started is a little bit tricky (but not too bad). I used a powerhead to force water up and over the "U" tube. From there, the main pump started sucking at the water and drawing in more water from the sump and then sucked all the air out. It takes about 5 seconds to get the pump up and running. Once it is running it stays that way indefinately (until you want to clean the pump; about once a year).

One other advantage of doing it this way; less vibration noise since the PVC pipe is not actually touching the sump at all.

-Nathan
 
If the power goes out it does not need to be reprimed because there will always be that 1 foot approx of water in the pipes. (I have several times had my power go out and it always restarts).

I thought you would just reprime with that nifty little cleanout plug in the top of the trap.
Click to expand...

Yes you can do it that way too but then you have to pour water into the tiny hole and it makes a mess. Also half of the water flows towards the pump and half towards the sump. You must close the plug first before attempting to restart which means that you can't just stick a hose in there with a powerhead attached.


There is also another way to reprime the pump. This method is useful when you are taking the pump out for whatever reason. Simply shut off the valve on the pump output when the pump is still on. Then you can turn off the pump, remove and clean the pump, and then replace it. Once the valve is reopened a gush of water that is still in the pipes will flow down and reprime the pump. Nifty! :)

It's a good system and best of all it works and is trouble free! :)

-Nathan
 
planning my tank setup and reread a lot of this thread....

i have 3 holes drilled into my overflow box, but for those with only ONE hole.... i have an idea that might have already been mentioned.

with an emergecy fitting built into the VERY SAME drain line...

ill try drawing a pic...

but from TOP to BOTTOM ... all inside of the overflow box: strainer, pvc, underwater PVC gate valve, Tee, ( that connects upwards..) this way the gate valve restriction is bypassed in the event of an emergency.....
 
The only way I can figure out a safe way for this to work with 1 overflow drain is to have a float switch on the tank so If it senses water going to high it will shut down the pump. This would work if you didn't rely on full water movement going through your sump ie: closed loop or powerheads.
 
What if you bought one of those hang-on-the-back overflow boxes to use in the event of an emergency? I am sure you could get it to work as a backup without too much trouble.

-Nathan
 
Just tried out this method.... silence... wahoo!! Well, the overflow is silent but now some of the pumps sound really loud. One thing at a time I guess :)
 
Yupp, the only drawback to this system is now you can hear how loud your pumps really are. :D

I have been running my tank with this system for almost a year with no problems, knock on wood, and it is as quiet as can be.
 
What if you bought one of those hang-on-the-back overflow boxes to use in the event of an emergency? I am sure you could get it to work as a backup without too much trouble.
Click to expand...
I am trying to figure out how to make that work as my main drain:eek: . So do I hang a HOB overflow off the back of my HOB overflow:eek2: .
Yupp, the only drawback to this system is now you can hear how loud your pumps really are.
Click to expand...
Quiet Pump Mod.
 
The T thing where you use the emergency and main on 1 line does not work, it sounds like a vent and is loud.

This type overflow and an eheim pump makes for a very very very quiet tank.
 
deadmanh,

I don't see a need for the ball valve on the brown pipe.

Also, are you having the orange line feed the skimmer? I don't know if this is a good idea since any pressure delta could dramatically affect your head pressure for the syphon. Better to leave the syphon pipe alone IMHO.

Other than that it looks good. :)

-Nathan
 
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