Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[ToeTag77]

It is running fine.. I haven't attempted to break the siphon to check if it restarts itself.. I figure even if it doesn't the open channel and emergency will do their job.


tonyespinoza... Ill get you a pic... I have VERY little bubbles coming from the open channel but it sounds like some fine tuning will fix that!

 

[ToeTag77]

Also Bean... I plan on putting live rock rubble below the drains... If I dont have the drains pipes submerged quite a bit I am afraid the turbulence from hitting the rock might cause splashing at the surface.. Following me?

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would turn off the return pump and let it restart a few times so that you are comfortable with the system startup and operation.

Test 2:
With everything running. close the SIPHON valve and see if the emergency and open channel handle the flow. If the water rises high enough, it will block the air intake and turn the open channel into a siphon, causing it to flush.

 

[ToeTag77]

These pics are all with approx 1500 gph running throught the sump/overflow.

 

[tonyespinoza]

awesome!!!

 

[ToeTag77]

BAH! look what happened! I guess I didnt support the back wall of the fuge enough! stupid 1/4" glass!

=|

Now to figure out how to fix it without draining the tank, pulling it from the wall to remove the sump......

Heres what Im thinking....

I plan on draining the sump only and breaking out (score and snap) the back wall to where the bubble traps begin and replacing that wall with 1/2" glass.... What a pain!

 

[rodneyri]

this is the tank setup im going with, cant wait to try it out

 

[jedheuer]

Hi Beananimal,

I am trying to set up a overflow system similar in design to yours. Basically I probably would have done yours but the tank I got was already drilled etc.

I have a 1" bulkhead with a small overflow box from glassholes.com. This is vented and can handle the entire return flow from my pump but it is loud and gurgling. Next I want to have a full siphon 1" bulkhead to handle much of the flow there by reducing the flow to the overflow box and quieting it down.

My question is will the siphon start automatically with an down turned elbow ? I am not worried about overflowing the tank because even is it doesn't start the box will handle all the flow. But I dont want to have to restart the siphon every time i power down to feed the fish.

Any thoughts on how I can make this system work or potential problems with the system is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[LoneRanger]

I wonder how everyone has been supporting the weight of these true union ball valves?

I am running all 1.5" lines and I dont have a real easy way to support everything.

L.R.

 

[oldsaltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14057815#post14057815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LoneRanger
I wonder how everyone has been supporting the weight of these true union ball valves?

I am running all 1.5" lines and I dont have a real easy way to support everything.

L.R.

Those 1 1/2" are huge. I decided to go with 1 1/4" because of that. They are much smaller valves. I used 1 1/2" bulkheads, but adapted them down to 1 1/4" for the rest of the plumbing.

 

[LoneRanger]

hopefully this pic will show~

the union ball valves are barely seen down below on a pice of 2x2 for support. the 20" long or so 1.5" pvc will go from the bulkhead on the overflow down to a 90* then through the valves.

 

[LoneRanger]

if omeone can come up with something better I am all ears!

living room side:

 

[fishoutawater]

Thanks for the thread Bean, I put this overflow on both of my tanks and now my only complaint is that my pumps, skimmers, fans and powerheads are so loud.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14058953#post14058953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishoutawater
Thanks for the thread Bean, I put this overflow on both of my tanks and now my only complaint is that my pumps, skimmers, fans and powerheads are so loud.

 

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1541946