TheFishMan65
New member
Go to beananimal.com it is a much shorter read.
Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
nope... nothing has changed 
medicreefer
New member
I'm assuming some of my questions may have been addressed somewhere in the past 100+ pages but I haven't been able to find the information. Sorry if this is redundant.
I'm wondering what effect a long horizontal run in the drain pipes will have on this system. The plans for my 120 reef build keep changing, mostly due to indecisiveness on the part of
my "better-half" as to where the tank should go. Right now the likely option would have the fish room sump further away than I'd like. This would involve a lengthy horizontal run in my standpipes. I will have an external coast to coast overflow with 3 x 1" bulkheads for a beananimal system. The 1" standpipes will drop about 24" vertically then will travel horizontally through a wall for about 10 feet before dropping the last few inches into my sump.
My questions are:
1- Will this affect my full siphon drain capacity due to increased friction or will it be negligible?
2- Will it affect the full siphon in any other way?
3- What will the effect be on the open channel? I'm thinking this will be my main problem as I know the open channel should have free-falling/cascading water, and the horizontal portion may cause an issue with this. I was thinking about compensating for this by using 1.5" PVC for the horizontal portion of the open channel. Hopefully that way it would allow the cascading water to just flow along the horizontal portion without completely filling it with water. Would that work?
4- Will I have serious issues adjusting and fine tuning this system set up like this? I don't mind a lot of adjusting when I first set it up but I don't want to play with it every time I stop and start my return pump.
5- Finally, I'd like to set my gate valve for the siphon line in my fish room, just above the sump, rather than behind my tank. Would that be ok or would it not work as well?
Thnaks.
I'm wondering what effect a long horizontal run in the drain pipes will have on this system. The plans for my 120 reef build keep changing, mostly due to indecisiveness on the part of
my "better-half" as to where the tank should go. Right now the likely option would have the fish room sump further away than I'd like. This would involve a lengthy horizontal run in my standpipes. I will have an external coast to coast overflow with 3 x 1" bulkheads for a beananimal system. The 1" standpipes will drop about 24" vertically then will travel horizontally through a wall for about 10 feet before dropping the last few inches into my sump.
My questions are:
1- Will this affect my full siphon drain capacity due to increased friction or will it be negligible?
2- Will it affect the full siphon in any other way?
3- What will the effect be on the open channel? I'm thinking this will be my main problem as I know the open channel should have free-falling/cascading water, and the horizontal portion may cause an issue with this. I was thinking about compensating for this by using 1.5" PVC for the horizontal portion of the open channel. Hopefully that way it would allow the cascading water to just flow along the horizontal portion without completely filling it with water. Would that work?
4- Will I have serious issues adjusting and fine tuning this system set up like this? I don't mind a lot of adjusting when I first set it up but I don't want to play with it every time I stop and start my return pump.
5- Finally, I'd like to set my gate valve for the siphon line in my fish room, just above the sump, rather than behind my tank. Would that be ok or would it not work as well?
Thnaks.
Thanks for responding Beananimal
and Thanks TheFishMan65 for your suggestion - I never knew there was an actual website!
Awesome.
I am planning a 72 in long, by 36 in wide, by 28 in tall (approx 315g)
How wide and high would the overflow box need to be if I made the length 24 inches or 30 in max. ( I think having huge in tank flow through Vortech's etc. might do a good enough job so I could have a smaller overflow vs a coastal. Also due to the silence of the design)?
Would hole placement for the 3 standpipes be the same for any tank size (so I could use your 75g tank design hole placement?)?
Do I need 2in or would 1.5in plumbing work for 315g?
Really appreciate your help and time. I was talking to a manufacturer in Canada and almost the first thing out of his mouth was BeanAnimal design overflow! I just want to get the the advice from the expert!
and Thanks TheFishMan65 for your suggestion - I never knew there was an actual website!
Awesome.
I am planning a 72 in long, by 36 in wide, by 28 in tall (approx 315g)
How wide and high would the overflow box need to be if I made the length 24 inches or 30 in max. ( I think having huge in tank flow through Vortech's etc. might do a good enough job so I could have a smaller overflow vs a coastal. Also due to the silence of the design)?
Would hole placement for the 3 standpipes be the same for any tank size (so I could use your 75g tank design hole placement?)?
Do I need 2in or would 1.5in plumbing work for 315g?
Really appreciate your help and time. I was talking to a manufacturer in Canada and almost the first thing out of his mouth was BeanAnimal design overflow! I just want to get the the advice from the expert!
dmastracchio
New member
Hey all, hoping someone can chime in on this one... I have 4 holes drilled in my 180.... two 1.5" holes two 1" holes. Well, bulkheads I should say. I am using the 1.5" ones for the siphon and the secondary. Will it be ok for me to use the 1" hole as the emergency backup drain? I am thinking to be extra safe, I will use both 1" holes as emergency drains. I am trying not to drill anymore holes in the tank.
any thoughts?
any thoughts?
bennyhanna1
New member
just bumping this one last time to see if anyone has experience with grinding out a long slit in the back panel of a tank... if not I might just go for it and post my results!
dmastracchio
New member
double post...
TheFishMan65
New member
IMHO a one inch emergency will be fine. Chances of getting a complete blockage is unlikely. But one inch can handle a lot of flow.
Sorry no experience with a slit.
Sorry no experience with a slit.
RocketSurgeon
New member
1.5 = emergency and open channel
1" = full siphon
cap off hole number 4 or use as return.
dmastracchio
New member
Good idea, didn't cross my mind.... I hope it doesn't reduce the flow to much by using 1" instead of 1.5"
RocketSurgeon
New member
Either way will work. If the output on the return pump is less than 1 inch, then 1 inch full siphon should easily cover it. If your output is 1 inch or larger, use the 1.5 inch full siphon.
RocketSurgeon
New member
When the 1.5" open channel fills and turns into a full siphon, the one inch emergency will be plenty.
nemosworld
Active member
Heres my setup for review:
reduced to 1 inch drains, and plan to only run 3-400gph
my return is a sicce synchra 3.5 tee'd to 20g long fuge.
sump is also a 20g long. have not done a water test yet. need to get some tubing to complete the returns and drain.
Main display is a 40 breeder, so i did not think the larger pipes would be needed, as 1 x1inch pipe can handle 600gph by itself.
reduced to 1 inch drains, and plan to only run 3-400gph
my return is a sicce synchra 3.5 tee'd to 20g long fuge.
sump is also a 20g long. have not done a water test yet. need to get some tubing to complete the returns and drain.
Main display is a 40 breeder, so i did not think the larger pipes would be needed, as 1 x1inch pipe can handle 600gph by itself.
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I came across this design some time ago, but haven't had time to really read through this entire (double) thread. I've studied the design on beananimal.com and from his above post I see nothing has really changed.
I have a feeling that my questions have been already covered, but I need to make a relatively quick decision.
Our Reef LFS is having a tank sale. I can get a non-RR 120 fatty (2x2x4) at a good price if I pre-pay by the 22nd. I would like to do a 3-pipe system.
I have a few basic questions:
1) I don't think I need 2000 GPH. Can I do 3/4" system and if so, what would the flow rate max out at for full siphon (so I can size the pump)?
2) Can I position the intake/overflow along the end rather than the back? The way I figure it, even with 2000 GPH, it breaks down to 1/2 gallon per second over 2 feet which I think would be fine, or less for a 3/4" pipe system
3) Can I terminate the siphon at a place other than below the water line in the sump? I have a feeling the answer is no, but let me expand:
I would like to run a Algal Turf Scrubber off the main line, so the main pipe would lead directly to a horizontal pipe with a 1/8" slot at the bottom, approximately 20" long, into which a 1/16" thick screen would be inserted and held in place. So I'm wondering if this would provide enough of a seal to keep a full siphon going. Otherwise, I can make the ATS stand-alone with it's own pump, or T it off the return pump line, but I'd rather pipe it directly off the main line of the 3-pipe system. I guess I would like to know if anyone has done something similar to this already, and if there is a way to modify the system so that it will work and still remain fail-safe.
Thanks very much in advance!!
I have a feeling that my questions have been already covered, but I need to make a relatively quick decision.
Our Reef LFS is having a tank sale. I can get a non-RR 120 fatty (2x2x4) at a good price if I pre-pay by the 22nd. I would like to do a 3-pipe system.
I have a few basic questions:
1) I don't think I need 2000 GPH. Can I do 3/4" system and if so, what would the flow rate max out at for full siphon (so I can size the pump)?
2) Can I position the intake/overflow along the end rather than the back? The way I figure it, even with 2000 GPH, it breaks down to 1/2 gallon per second over 2 feet which I think would be fine, or less for a 3/4" pipe system
3) Can I terminate the siphon at a place other than below the water line in the sump? I have a feeling the answer is no, but let me expand:
I would like to run a Algal Turf Scrubber off the main line, so the main pipe would lead directly to a horizontal pipe with a 1/8" slot at the bottom, approximately 20" long, into which a 1/16" thick screen would be inserted and held in place. So I'm wondering if this would provide enough of a seal to keep a full siphon going. Otherwise, I can make the ATS stand-alone with it's own pump, or T it off the return pump line, but I'd rather pipe it directly off the main line of the 3-pipe system. I guess I would like to know if anyone has done something similar to this already, and if there is a way to modify the system so that it will work and still remain fail-safe.
Thanks very much in advance!!
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Do you mean use the secondary (open standpipe) to feed it? Or do you mean skip the 3-pipe system and just opt for the RR tank?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I wonder if that would defeat part of the purpose of the system. From what I understand, the siphon pipe runs under the full overflow rate, the secondary pipe runs open-air so no gurgle, and the failsafe 3rd pipe is dry unless there is a failure. Putting backflow pressure on the 2nd pipe will eventually cause it to surge and gurgle I would think. Plus since it's not truly open on the sump end, it's not really a secondary line of defense in the 3-line strategy. You end up with a hybrid 2-pipe system.
I'm leaning toward running the ATS on a secondary pump. That's probably the ultra-safe route.
Still I'm left with Questions #1 and #2 unanswered...anyone?
I'm leaning toward running the ATS on a secondary pump. That's probably the ultra-safe route.
Still I'm left with Questions #1 and #2 unanswered...anyone?
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