Overflow Idea

[itstheantitang]

Overflow from the bottom....

Hole is drilled in the glass, bulkhead inserted. Pvc is ran up the aquarium and it does a 180 at the top then curves down to the bottom. As water rises in the aquarium, it rises in the pipe and overflows down the other.

It would be restricted by the diameter of the pvc



Any thoughts?

 

[eshook]

Are you suggesting to pull water from the bottom of the tank? I am confused by your description. If you have the pipe run above your tank line you will flood your room because the water level will rise higher than the rim of your tank.

Can we see a graphic or better description please?

 

[BeanAnimal]

2 Problems...

1) we don't want to pull water from the bottom. The surface is where the water should come from... The idea is SURFACE SKIMMING.

2) When the power goes out, you willl siphon the entire contents of the tank to the sump.

Bean

 

[eshook]

That was my thinking exactly BeanAnimal.

 

[8BALL_99]

You would basically be making a siphon.. Would work and you could drain massive amounts of water with even a small hole.. Only problem is trying to get the pump and siphon to match each other Exactly and stay that way.. Aslo like they said if the power cuts off you would drain the entire tank to the sump:eek2:

 

[itstheantitang]

No, No

The pipe would rise up to the top of the tank, then turn back around at the top. When the water level rises in the tank, it does in the pipe, and overflows at the 180, so no siphon is formed.

The reason it wouldn't be at the surface is for greater detritus suction.

I'll try to get a graphic, but no time today.

 

[itstheantitang]

there would be a vent at the top too.

Think durso standpipe, but it is totally a U and it connects to the tank at the bottom.

 

[8BALL_99]

Sorry I have no idea what your saying.. A picture would help

 

[travismcgee]

i think what you mean is a 180 at the top but just under the surface of the water and would cut out the noise such as a durso..i thought of this but you would lose the surface skimming..still working on the noise..any ideas out there

 

[itstheantitang]

Diagram attempt

Diagram attempt

you would lose the surface skimming, but it would be an alternate approach for a tank that has jumpy fish who may get in the overflow box, snails, other critters that are meant to stay in the display.

I have no Idea how to post a diagram.
Ill try with keyboard.




+_ ====== <180
+ l l 0 0 0 l l

+ l l 0000 l l

+ l l 0000 l l
<to sump
+ l l
=== =
+ ^bulkhead

Key

= are horizontal pipes
l l vertical pipes
+ tank wall
_ water Level
0's are place holders so the chart would show up, pay no attention


As the water level in the tank rises, it does the pipe also, and if
the level is at the top of the 180, it's always spilling over in the other pipe when the pump is on









Hope that helps you guys understand.....Just trying to re-invent the wheel

 

[DucatiRave21]

lol wow im lost

 

[itstheantitang]

sorry, had to edit it 4 times to get it to look the way It did, you must have viewed it before it was edited

 

[coolfish5]

If you want to use suck water from the bottom of the tank, the way I would do it is to have a straight stand pipe to the desired water level, water overflowing the top. Then have a second pipe bigger than the first, arround the outside, with holes or slots drilled arround the bottom, and slightly taller than the inner stand pipe. The outer is just sitting arround the inner not glued.

One I have used in a large system was a 2" inside pipe, and a 3" outside pipe with holes in the top and bottom, allowing for water level regulation as well as bottom detritus pickup.

-John

 

[natual]

Re: Diagram attempt

Re: Diagram attempt

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6706011#post6706011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fisharefoodtoo
you would lose the surface skimming, but it would be an alternate approach for a tank that has jumpy fish who may get in the overflow box, snails, other critters that are meant to stay in the display.

I have no Idea how to post a diagram.
Ill try with keyboard.



.......|_|
+_ ====== <180
+ l l 0 0 0 l l

+ l l 0000 l l

+ l l 0000 l l
<to sump
+ l l
=== =
+ ^bulkhead

Key

= are horizontal pipes
l l vertical pipes
+ tank wall
_ water Level
0's are place holders so the chart would show up, pay no attention


As the water level in the tank rises, it does the pipe also, and if
the level is at the top of the 180, it's always spilling over in the other pipe when the pump is on









Hope that helps you guys understand.....Just trying to re-invent the wheel

I would think you would want to have a open top for breaking the siphon otherwise it would drain your tank regardless. Cuz of capillary action.

 

[itstheantitang]

I see. Finally somebody understands!

Thanks for your patience.

 

[gussy]

Are you planning to drill any holes so that as the water level rises the air could get pushed out?

 

[itstheantitang]

I probably am not going to do this, but it would need a vent at the top.

Also, the diameter of the pipes at the outside of the tank would need to be large to get a so-so overflow rate, and the fittings required to do that would get kind of crazy.