Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[uncleof6]

Ok so that is 2 Inch bulkheads?? How much clearance behind the tank do you think will be needed??

How many inches down on tank does bulkhead need to be??

Also dimensions of overflow box? To support 2 inch???

You can easily, hit 3000 gph, with 1.5" pipe, but because it is better to have way more than you need-- 2" is fine. Just use 2" all the way from stem to stern.

The center of the hole for the bulkheads, must be at least, 1 - 1.5x the hole diameter down from the top of the tank. Generally, you want the floor of the overflow box, around an 1" down from the bottom of the inlet elbows. A measuring implement, and a little math, will tell you the dimensions of the overflow box, as well as clearance needed behind the tank, (usaully 6 - 8"): I mean, why do everything for you??

I run darts on tanks up to ~280 gallons, (yeah even 120s,) and then switch to barracudas. Most of the systems, I have responsibility for, have been changed over to this system. There are a few clingons, but all in good time. For a 350 gal system I would target 3500 gph. and a total of about 17000 gph, added circulation inside the tank, Big tanks are expensive to set up and run-- the right way. This works out to around 60x (recommended for SPS.) I am thinking of buying stock in Vortech.................

Jim

Jim

 

[larryfl1]

if i need 6-8 i may shring the tank down to 30 from 32 front to back...i will be sticking so far off the wall...

i assume using 2" vs 1.5" really does not increase the spacing very much....

now do you place the bulkheads at the same height but simply cut the elbows differently? for the height deltas?

i am planning on 2 vortechs on each side and 2 on back...so total 6... eeks....

are the barricuda pumps silent? i need this super quiet as its in my family room and we sit next to it...we are used to mag submergible which is silent...

 

[uncleof6]

if i need 6-8 i may shring the tank down to 30 from 32 front to back...i will be sticking so far off the wall...

i assume using 2" vs 1.5" really does not increase the spacing very much....

now do you place the bulkheads at the same height but simply cut the elbows differently? for the height deltas?

i am planning on 2 vortechs on each side and 2 on back...so total 6... eeks....

are the barricuda pumps silent? i need this super quiet as its in my family room and we sit next to it...we are used to mag submergible which is silent...

I made an error in my previous post: The edge of the hole needs to be 1 - 1.5x the hole diameter from the edges of the glass, and from other holes......

The difference between 1.5" and 2" bulkhead holes is 5/8". 3" hole as opposed to 2 3/8".

6 vortech MP40s will get ya 18000 gph-- I likes. OUCH on the pocket book though.

I am very desensitized to pump noise, so to me, my pc's make more noise than the pumps do. (Three pc's running 24/7. Someone that lives in silence, may have a different view

Jim

Per PM: See the sketchup thread, will bump it too the front page of DIY. Last page (14) a 337 gallon

 

[coralcruze]

has anyone actually used silicone sealant to join pipe to bulokheads? Someone suggested it if you want the pipes removable. I was just wondering if anyone out there actually did this with success?

 

[BeanAnimal]

SLIP fittings are meant to be solvent welded... so solvent weld them

 

[larryfl1]

i was just reading up further...

if i want to keep the tank tighter to the rear wall..

i assume i could do a traditional overflow box inside the tank but still have the 3 pipes... setup the same way with the valve on the siphon line...

will this accomplish the same thing? any downside to doing this?

 

[coralcruze]

SLIP fittings are meant to be solvent welded... so solvent weld them

absolutly Bean... I'm doing just that. I don't like the thought of silicone used as a glue... Seems silly to me.

on another note have you ever tried welding a threaded pipe to a bulkhead? I'm thinking on doing this in only one location in my tank. That is on the closed loop bulkheads that recieve loc-line heads. The reason: i don't want sand to get into the threads. I would have loved to be able to weld the loc-lines in... BUT, Unfortunatly loc-line does not make a slip fitting that connect to bulkheads that I'm aware of. here is the fitting I'm using...
http://www.marinedepot.com/Loc_Line...umbing_Parts-Loc_Line-LL1319-FIFTLLTQ-vi.html

btw- plumbing is going real good so far. I should be able to test it out after the weekend. My family is taking me away for fathers day so I'm just going to have to wait till I come back to test it all out. I'll let you know how it all went. Happy fathers day to all the dads out there!

 

[uncleof6]

i was just reading up further...

if i want to keep the tank tighter to the rear wall..

i assume i could do a traditional overflow box inside the tank but still have the 3 pipes... setup the same way with the valve on the siphon line...

will this accomplish the same thing? any downside to doing this?

I suspect if you measure things, the clearance will be very close to the same, due to the orientation of the "tees"

Jim

 

[coralcruze]

i was just reading up further...

if i want to keep the tank tighter to the rear wall..

i assume i could do a traditional overflow box inside the tank but still have the 3 pipes... setup the same way with the valve on the siphon line...

will this accomplish the same thing? any downside to doing this?

read up on the calfo, coast to coast overflow as it has great benifits over a simple overflow box. You should be able to achieve what you want but be sure to design a calfo style overflow box.

 

[uncleof6]

read up on the calfo, coast to coast overflow as it has great benifits over a simple overflow box. You should be able to achieve what you want but be sure to design a calfo style overflow box.

Yeah, so I am asleep at the wheel tonight... traditional, and I think Calfo, internal. non traditional Calfo external.. doh.... run with it cruze.......


Jim

 

[larryfl1]

can someone post some photos of an internal calfo? i am having trouble finding something decent about how its done

 

[TheFishMan65]

Go back to the first post of the first split. Bean has an example. Apparently you can't quote older threads or I would copy the picture.

Ah ha - view the source and search carefully. Thanks Bean

 

[BeanAnimal]

Fishman.... just right click on a picture and look at its properties, no need to view soruce

 

[rayn]

rayn, while it would be easy to answer the questions outright, (and I will if you insist), it would be very beneficial if you read though most of the thread and took a look at my website. In that way you will understand how the system works, as well as what dimensions work well.

I have read through most of the FIRST half :spin2: but I will again and the second half. I have this thread AND you site on my DIY bookmark folder

 

[larryfl1]

im confused on how that saves room behind the tank...is it the external calfo that saves room since no T's?

maybe i shouldnt worry about a 6-7 inch gap behind the tank???

based on the numbers i am thinking 4 pipes all 1.5 or 2"

1 or 2 of them will be meant for syphon, 2nd one is reserve in case 1 doesnt hande it...

1 for the vented line for the slight extra

1 for emergency syphon/...


thoughts?

1.5" pipe would be easier to work with rather then 2" to the sump i think???

i figure i will turn over around 3000 gph

 

[TheFishMan65]

I was just thanking you for the picture, but thanks for the properties information.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I built a claculator to approximate siphon rates based on pipe size and head height:

http://beananimal.com/articles/hydraulics-for-the-aquarist.aspx

 

[MrineLfRlz]

I built a claculator to approximate siphon rates based on pipe size and head height:

http://beananimal.com/articles/hydraulics-for-the-aquarist.aspx

I tried to check this link out and i got this instead
Server Error in '/' Application.

 

[TheFishMan65]

Really? Worked twice for me now.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I tried to check this link out and i got this instead
Server Error in '/' Application.

Dunno... the server is up and the site appears to be working fine, as do the links.