overflow

I have attached a design for a PVC overflow that I downloaded from the DIY forum some time ago. I tried searching for the thread with no success.
 

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how do they work when the siphon breaks though due to a power loss? I have only heard of horrible things happening to people who have used overflows and it just makes me scary to make something like that.

I plan on purchasing a dual lifereef overflow from http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html

I've never heard anything but praise from those guys.

But if you can build one that doesn't break it's siphon I'd be all for that :P

<--- cheapest reefkeeper in the world.


Here's the article

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/overflow.htm
 
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I don't have any experience with the PVC overflow, I think Covey has one in his tank.

The Lee's specimen container overflow is safe because of the U-tube, it shouldn't lose syphon. It works on the same premise as the Lifereef overflow. I've heard horror stories about the CPR overflows and flooding due to loss of syphon.

I'm a cheap reefer as well, if I can DIY all the better. My last project was a <$10.00 kalk dripper. Good article BTW.
 
So guess I'll try and waste 40 bucks or so on ordering different parts cause I don't want just 1 overflow I'd want 2 :)

So then if they don't work or they break I'd be out another 40 bucks instead of 240 instead of just the original 200 but if I save 160 bucks that'd be nice :)
 
I can't find the original Aquayne thread for the PVC overflow but I've run it for a year and half now and it never lost siphon. No aqualifter nothing. I don't even suck any air out of it anymore.

Cheap and easy to build.
Overflowmydry.jpg


and in the tank
Overflow_nostrain.jpg

and with the strainer I add to keep the snails out of it.
Overflow_final.jpg
 
I'm confused on how that works. Have you tested it with a power outage? It would seem since you have the intake down so low it would drain an awful lot of water out of the tank and I'm not quite sure I see where you have it going to the sump etc.
 
It goes to the sump out of the tee. It drains like couple gallons of water when the return is off. Like I said I've used it for a year and a half. I promise it works. It run the same way that any other HOB overflow works and works better than alot of them.
 
I used this DIY actually it was from a post from Covey on another site Havent had a problem yet, it has worked best to have the pipe from the back of the tank at an angle. It worked better this way for me.

Will
 
so do you remember all the parts you bought? Looks like you have

6 - 90 degree elbows (how are these connected just pvc glue? or do they have male female thread type?

1 - extra 90 degree elbow for the strainer with a cap and pvc

1 - T connector which goes to the Sump and then has an elbow up for I'm assuming air bubbles to escape?

The rest is all straight pvc. What is that on top of the elbows looks like a little hose or something.

Oh and if it works that good it beats spending 200 bucks on something else :) It just looks like it doesn't skim too much off the surface but more like just one location. So I was thinking of modifiying it a bit to maybe have a normal overflow type top with the teeth etc cut out attached to one of those specimen containers.
 
I was following a thread in the DIY section about PVC overflows and someone made a surface skimmer cup out of a larger diameter piece of PVC. It looked pretty good, I've been trying to find the thread, if I locate it I'll post it here.
 
That was one of the advantages of the big honking strainer I have on mine. It increases surface straining. I suggested a strainer but it doesn't have to be anymore than some plastic gutter guard or egg crate. The little thing on top is a air check value same kind you put on a air pump to keep it from back siphoning. On the overflow it is used to prime the overflow the first time.

It takes longer to get your head around on line than it takes to build it.
 
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