Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[palmer373]

Is it possible to use 1" PVC instead of 1 1/2" and still have it function just fine? If i lose a little bit of GPH it is fine. Also Do i have to use a sanitary T? What will happen, if anything, if i use a regular T? i cant find any sanitary T's locally.

Thanks for the help, trying to get a 29 as a peninsula style tank up ASAP and use the BeanAnimal overflow. I dont think i have room on the 13" end for 1 1/2" tubing.

 

[Barfly]

Is it possible to use 1" PVC instead of 1 1/2" and still have it function just fine? If i lose a little bit of GPH it is fine. Also Do i have to use a sanitary T? What will happen, if anything, if i use a regular T? i cant find any sanitary T's locally.

Thanks for the help, trying to get a 29 as a peninsula style tank up ASAP and use the BeanAnimal overflow. I dont think i have room on the 13" end for 1 1/2" tubing.

No problem using 1". I use 1" for my 125g.

Regular T's will work just fine.

 

[palmer373]

No problem using 1". I use 1" for my 125g.

Regular T's will work just fine.

Ok perfect thanks Barfly.

Also, will i need 1 or 2 1 3/4" glass hole cutters from glass-holes for the 3 holes i need to drill?

 

[Barfly]

Ok perfect thanks Barfly.

Also, will i need 1 or 2 1 3/4" glass hole cutters from glass-holes for the 3 holes i need to drill?

Probably just one but it's always nice to have an extra on hand if needed.

 

[tonyespinoza]

barfly - agree was combining the 3 down to a pair of pipes... but anyway, thanks for the explanation...

 

[BrklynArch]

i nkow its been asked a million times before but im having a hard time finding the john guest fitting needed. my local HD is a mess not very well stocked and impossible to find anything
would this work?
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/1-4-npt-x-3-8-push-connect-murlok.html

 

[SouthBayPhoto]

Bean - I would greatly appreciate your assistance with a setup. I've noticed that almost all setups have a small coast to coast overflow box mounted inside of the tank and then the bulkheads mounted through the back glass and then the drains run down the back. That's how I saw you did it on your site.

However, my question is...will this system work if the drains are drilled through the floor and kept internally in the tank? In other words, if I made it like a "standard" overflow box (from the top of the tank all the way to the bottom), but had it go all the way across the tank (coast to coast). I hope I'm explaining it right. Also, another question, if I did make the overflow from the top to the bottom of the tank, how deep (front to back) would be the minimum I could go with it? I plan on using 1 1/2" piping all the way (including 1 1/2" bulkheads). It's a 110g (5' x 2' x 1.5') tank and I have yet to drill the holes. However, I was hoping to put the bulkheads in the floor of the tank instead of out the back of the tank and then run it directly down into the sump below the tank. Here is a pic of my tank so you can see what tank I'm talking about

So, I was thinking about installing a sheet of black acrylic from one end of the tank to the other and from top to bottom to create a giant overflow box in the back of the tank. However, I would like to do this with minimal depth since I only have 18" of display depth. So, if I had to place the sheet 4" from the back of the tank, that would still give me 14" of display for everything. But if I end up having to do it 6" into the tank, then that drops my display depth to just 12" and I'm not sure I want to do that. I'd like to make it a shallow as possible, but still have it work properly and effectively.

Anyway, I was just wondering if it was possible and/or suggested. I haven't really seen anyone do your system through the bottom of the tank, only out the back.

Thanks again for your help and awesome job on changing reefing forever.

Take care,
Mat

 

[BeanAnimal]

My design incorporates dual external waveboxes which flank the overflow. I may have missed it but I haven't seen anything definitive claiming that this system will function well with inconsistent water flow into the overflow box. Here are some pictures of my overflow and parts to make the BeanAnimal overflow system.

Oversized open channel set at a depth higher than the siphon will help to accomodate the surges. It may or may not stay stable depending on the frequency and the size of the surges.

The 4th bulkhead could serve as a second open channel. The system would be set to be stable at the lowest surge point or flow and the open channels and siphon would increase in flow as the surge peaked.

 

[BeanAnimal]

...will this system work if the drains are drilled through the floor and kept internally in the tank?

Yes, the water does not care where the standpipe passes through the tank wall or bottom.

In other words, if I made it like a "standard" overflow box (from the top of the tank all the way to the bottom), but had it go all the way across the tank (coast to coast)....
...if I did make the overflow from the top to the bottom of the tank, how deep (front to back) would be the minimum I could go with it? It's a 110g (5' x 2' x 1.5') tank and I have yet to drill the holes...
...I was thinking about installing a sheet of black acrylic from one end of the tank to the other and from top to bottom to create a giant overflow box in the back of the tank. However, I would like to do this with minimal depth since I only have 18" of display depth

A few problems...

• Your internal overflow box will be exposed to tremendous stress if it is ever empty and the tank is full. Acrylic does not bond will to glass so your design will have to take that into considaration.
• A leaking bulkhead in the box means the entire contens of the box can end up in the sump (read FLOOD).
• A leaking bulkhead and leaking overflow box can mean the entire contents of the box and tank can end up in teh sump (read BIG FLOOD)
• You need to be able to reach all the way into the box to do maintenance on the plumbing and retrieve critters....
• The water level in the box will need to be at almost tank level (see above about pressure) meaning that the water in the lower portion will tend to be very stagnant due to the standpipe heights. If it is lower it will sound like a waterfall
• The internal box IS going to take a significant amount of your display space.
• Many tanks have tempered bottoms and CAN NOT be drilled.

So yes, you can build the setup as described but it may be more trouble than it is worth.

 

[nemosworld]

So, I was thinking about installing a sheet of black acrylic from one end of the tank to the other and from top to bottom to create a giant overflow box in the back of the tank. However, I would like to do this with minimal depth since I only have 18" of display depth. So, if I had to place the sheet 4" from the back of the tank, that would still give me 14" of display for everything. But if I end up having to do it 6" into the tank, then that drops my display depth to just 12" and I'm not sure I want to do that. I'd like to make it a shallow as possible, but still have it work properly and effectively.

Anyway, I was just wondering if it was possible and/or suggested. I haven't really seen anyone do your system through the bottom of the tank, only out the back.

Thanks again for your help and awesome job on changing reefing forever.

Take care,
Mat

I would first get a glass pice the same size and 1/2 inch shorter in height for the overflow and then coverit with the acrylic . but honestly it would be a whole lot cheaper to do a coast to coast or non coast to coast with the returns on both ends of the box.

 

[pandimus]

i can attest to the needing to get to bottom of overflow box. First fish i put in tank, (yesterday), immediatly jumped into overflow, and i had to "fish" him out...

 

[Dudester]

Oversized open channel set at a depth higher than the siphon will help to accomodate the surges. It may or may not stay stable depending on the frequency and the size of the surges.

The 4th bulkhead could serve as a second open channel. The system would be set to be stable at the lowest surge point or flow and the open channels and siphon would increase in flow as the surge peaked.

Thanks for the response BeanAnimal, but the 4th bulkhead will be blocked by the plumbing parts of the other drains (refer to pics I posted to see how little extra space I have in the overflow box), so I just have to cap that 4th one off.

This is a HUGE deal for me, since my overflow box is quite narrow and once I plumb this system up and glue everything in, it would be EXTREMELY difficult to disassemble it and switch to a different drain system. Additionally, by using the BeanAnimal system, I am able to avoid the use of a bubble tower beneath my drains since this is supposed to be silent and basically free of bubbles.

So if ANYONE out there is using this system successfully along with a wavebox, or if anyone has tried it and failed, that would be very valuable information for me. I simply cannot move forward with my tank setup until I resolve this issue.

I realize from reading the thread that the system is supposed to be airtight, and hard plumbing including glueing of all fittings is recommended, but would it be okay for me to glue up the whole thing EXCEPT for the pipe that connects to the bulkheads in my overflow box? That part should be submerged at all times, and therefore air tight, and that would allow me to simply lift it out of the overflow if it doesn't work with my waveboxes?

 

[tonyespinoza]

BeanAnimal -

Any recommendations for how to setup your system whereby the sump is located on the other side of the house (40 feet horizontal, about 3 feet down, vertically)? Do you recommend running 3 independent lines or is it okay to combine the Open and Emergency below the tank? Am I going to hear noise from the Open channel since it's not a vertical free fall into the sump? Any suggestions?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Tony, the system works by using both a siphon and an open channel. You have a long horizontal run AND a clumb back up into the sump. That means that the water is going to back up at the bottom of the drop (display side) AT LEAST to the height of the top of the sump plumbing. This may or may not cause surging, splashing, etc. It may also create an air locked system if you are not careful.

If you do NOT put a pre-sump (a grant) at the bottom of the display drop (just above the height of the other sump), then you run the risk of entraining air along the entire run to the main sump.

So, the "open channel" ends at the bottom of the drop because of the climb to the main sump. You can run (3) properly sized pipes but may or may not get splashing at the bottom of the drop. You can also run 1 larger pipe.

As I said above, the entire 40 foot horizontal run (1, 2 or 3 pipes) will be full because the water has to back up high enough to run over into the main sump. To be safe, the pipe(s) needs to be large enough to handle the full flow of the system without allowing detritus to settle out due to decreased velocity. This is going to be somewhat tough.


The main sump side will likely need to be vented at the top to prevent airlock and splashing.

Sorry if my answers are vague, but you have a large number of variables to deal with.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Dudester, you can set the system up without cementing the components internal to the overflow box.

I think with a bit of thought, you can free up the 4th bulkhead if needed

 

[tonyespinoza]

Tony, the system works by using both a siphon and an open channel. You have a long horizontal run AND a clumb back up into the sump. That means that the water is going to back up at the bottom of the drop (display side) AT LEAST to the height of the top of the sump plumbing. This may or may not cause surging, splashing, etc. It may also create an air locked system if you are not careful.

If you do NOT put a pre-sump (a grant) at the bottom of the display drop (just above the height of the other sump), then you run the risk of entraining air along the entire run to the main sump.

So, the "open channel" ends at the bottom of the drop because of the climb to the main sump. You can run (3) properly sized pipes but may or may not get splashing at the bottom of the drop. You can also run 1 larger pipe.

As I said above, the entire 40 foot horizontal run (1, 2 or 3 pipes) will be full because the water has to back up high enough to run over into the main sump. To be safe, the pipe(s) needs to be large enough to handle the full flow of the system without allowing detritus to settle out due to decreased velocity. This is going to be somewhat tough.


The main sump side will likely need to be vented at the top to prevent airlock and splashing.

Sorry if my answers are vague, but you have a large number of variables to deal with.

Thanks BeanAnimal!

So let me fill in some blanks:

- I have a pair of 2" drains and an additional 1.5" available if I need it for this purpose already run the long distance from the display to the sump.

- I have bulkheads whereby I could avoid the elevation at the main sump and just flow directly in below water level.

- Having experimented, I can confirm that it's very easy to end up with an air lock situation.

Main question:

- Do you recommend going with the dual sump approach? If so, any tips on how best to configure it to avoid getting air locked between the two sumps, given that the first sump basically sits just above the second vertically.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have bulkheads whereby I could avoid the elevation at the main sump and just flow directly in below water level.

That only reduces the operating level to that of the sump operating level. The pipes still have to backup to that distance to flow toward the sump....

- Having experimented, I can confirm that it's very easy to end up with an air lock situation.

Yes, the air will need to be allowed to escape the pipe at one or both ends, vented at the SUMP operating level.

- Do you recommend going with the dual sump approach as listed below? If so, any tips on how best to configure it?

Without playing with the setup, I really can't offer any more advice than I have

 

[tonyespinoza]

Ok, thanks BeanAnimal!

 

[SouthBayPhoto]

Yes, the water does not care where the standpipe passes through the tank wall or bottom.




A few problems...

• Your internal overflow box will be exposed to tremendous stress if it is ever empty and the tank is full. Acrylic does not bond will to glass so your design will have to take that into considaration.
• A leaking bulkhead in the box means the entire contens of the box can end up in the sump (read FLOOD).
• A leaking bulkhead and leaking overflow box can mean the entire contents of the box and tank can end up in teh sump (read BIG FLOOD)
• You need to be able to reach all the way into the box to do maintenance on the plumbing and retrieve critters....
• The water level in the box will need to be at almost tank level (see above about pressure) meaning that the water in the lower portion will tend to be very stagnant due to the standpipe heights. If it is lower it will sound like a waterfall
• The internal box IS going to take a significant amount of your display space.
• Many tanks have tempered bottoms and CAN NOT be drilled.

So yes, you can build the setup as described but it may be more trouble than it is worth.

Bean - Thank you for your input. I can see your points and where it would cause issues. Especially the stress and the stagnant water. That wouldn't be good.

So, if I made the setup like yours (not all the way down the tank), I shouldn't have a problem using black acrylic for the entire setup, correct? That should adhere to the glass with regular clear aquarium silicone and not have any "pressure" issues, correct?

One of the main reasons I considered going all the way to the bottom with the overflow box is because I've heard of issues of the coast to coast overflow box "shadowing" on the bottom of the tank and blocking out the light. Is this an issue? If so, how would it be resolved?

As for the tempered glass, I understand that as well. I did check and none of the glass (including the bottom) is tempered, so that wouldn't have been an issue. However, I definitely checked into that before I bought the tank (thinking I was going to drill through the bottom). Now, it might not matter if I'm going through the back glass with your setup.

Nemosworld - I'm thinking maybe I'll do what you did. Just put the returns through the back on each end of the tank and then create the coast to coast overflow box in between the returns. Did you just use black acrylic for your overflow box and then used regular clear aquarium silicone to attach it to the rear of the tank? How about attaching each piece of the overflow together to make the "L"; did you just use silicone on that too?

Thanks again for the info. :beer:
Mat

 

[Dudester]

Dudester, you can set the system up without cementing the components internal to the overflow box.

I think with a bit of thought, you can free up the 4th bulkhead if needed

That's awesome!! If that's the case, then I'll be able to simply lift the standpipes out of the overflow box whenever I need to service them, and therefore I can hard-plumb a cap directly onto the top of the "Y" since the cap won't need to be unscrewed for cleaning or whatever, correct?