Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[BretCreager]

Im not sure why but my previous post was cut short on one of the paragraphs, still there when i went to quote it (weird) and i was unable to find a way to edit it. so here it is.

\ Also I find it difficult to find a simple to understand pro and con of how much water flow to have, I plan a mixed tank I want to have the sump set up skimmer - baffles - return - fuge. (it wont let me use arrows but im sure you can gather that all parts flow towards the return) I dont understand the gph that varies so much between peoples designs, also with that I was going to have a portion (about 25%) of that either drain or pump directly into the fuge, are you able to split your siphon and keep air out of it, or would splitting the pump be a better choice

 

[jwilson]

From what I've read the better choice with a siphon drain is to have the return split, not the drain.

Another thought on the siphon drain and getting the siphon to start after loss of power is to place the restricting valve as close to the sump as possible. It would seem to me that doing it that way the upstream pipe is more likely to fill with water.

 

[Landsailor]

I bought a 125 tank with the BeanAnimal overflow. I'm amazed at how well it works. It just doesn't make sense until you see it and crank the valve.

Quick question:
I have to replace that tank since it leaks. Should I stick with 1" bulkheads or go for 1.5"? It has 1" bulkheads into 1.5" standpipes.

I am using a Blowhole 1450 return pump, but have been advised that I might want more waterflow in the future.

I've already tested it and even with the Full Siphon shut off completely, there is barely any water coming out of the Emergency Drain.

 

[Landsailor]

I bought a 125 tank with the BeanAnimal overflow. I'm amazed at how well it works. It just doesn't make sense until you see it and crank the valve.

Quick question:
I have to replace that tank since it leaks. Should I stick with 1" bulkheads or go for 1.5"? It has 1" bulkheads into 1.5" standpipes.

I am using a Blowhole 1450 return pump, but have been advised that I might want more waterflow in the future.

I've already tested it and even with the Full Siphon shut off completely, there is barely any water coming out of the Emergency Drain.

 

[knight2255]

What size bulkheads do I need for a 135g tank?

What size drill bit do I need to order to make the holes?

Thanks.

 

[drock59]

knight2255, the size of the bulkhead depends on how much flow you want to put through it. I imagine 1.5" bulkheads would be fine. Go to bulk reef supply and look at the 1" bulkheads. They say how big the hole needs to be and sell the drill bits. My two cents at least. :beer:

 

[jdcook72]

knight2255, the size of the bulkhead depends on how much flow you want to put through it. I imagine 1.5" bulkheads would be fine. Go to bulk reef supply and look at the 1" bulkheads. They say how big the hole needs to be and sell the drill bits. My two cents at least. :beer:

Speaking of flow and capcity and because of the issues you've been having, can anyone comment on if there is such a thing as too much capacity? I'm going to be setting up a 30 gallon tank and am targeting about 400-500 gph turnover. The charts and calculators I've seen put 3/4" pipe at about 300 gph and the flow I'm looking for, rounding up, would put me at 1" pipe. But I'm thinking that the ratings are for open air channels and I'm guessing actual throughput for a full siphon channel would be about double that.

Would it be bad to have that much capacity if I'm not going to be pushing that much water, will I have difficulty maintaining and/or autostarting my siphon? I suspect a big factor contributing to drock59's problems is the long horizontal run, I will basically be dropping straight down into the sump so should I be worried about under pumping?

 

[drock59]

My experience is a little different, because of the horizontal run.

 

[TheFishMan65]

jd,

Go to bean's home page. He has a calculator for flow rates.

 

[noplay180]

are you guys running a filter sock

 

[jeffreylam1132]

Hi, I've bought a tank that only came with two 1.5" drilled. I've notice that the majority of the tank here have 3 holes drilled. What's the best and quiet way to plumb this. Am I still able to incorporate the bean animal? Some help would be appreciated.

 

[jeffreylam1132]

Correction, the two hole drill on the tank are measured at 2.5" and the bulkhead size that I'll be using are 2".

 

[jeffreylam1132]

I'm not able to drill the third hole, so what are my option? With two hole, what's the best way I can do to give me maximum flow and safe. Anybody can give me some ideas? Thanks.

 

[jwilson]

Herbie drain with return over the back would be my suggestion.

 

[elFloyd]

Correction, the two hole drill on the tank are measured at 2.5" and the bulkhead size that I'll be using are 2".

Looks like a Glass Holes overflow.

Www.glass-holes.com

 

[jeffreylam1132]

I know how the Herbie Method work when the tank is drill on the bottom with the internal overlfow. But how does it work when your tank is drilled on the side?

 

[WLDOR]

I know how the Herbie Method work when the tank is drill on the bottom with the internal overlfow. But how does it work when your tank is drilled on the side?

+1 please - i'm about to go this route on a 23g long tank (tempered glass on bottom pane)... Unless others advise against?

 

[jwilson]

I don't have experience trying to do a Herbie on a back drill but my thoughts are that it should be ok, with one caveat.

You're basically running the BeanAnimal drain but using the siphon to handle all the flow.

The caveat is that when the siphon adjustment get's out of balance you'll start to use the emergency overflow, at which point you need to re-adjust.

This is of course all my opinion and any flood is all your fault for taking the advice of a stranger who may know nothing of what he is talking about.

 

[reeflo/sequence]

flow rates & Pipe diameter

flow rates & Pipe diameter

couple of thoughts and observations:
-having more flow than you need is a waste of watts,
-you can valve the pumps back on the discharge, but more than about 20% means you should downsize the model
-at low flow taes (less than 1000gph) 1" pipe is fine but for anything higher, 1.5" is recommended
-bulkhead diameter should not dictate pipe size ..just because you have a one-lane on ramp (1" bulkhead) does not mean you should build a one-lane highway
Self serving ad: everyone of our new BlowHole pumps have three speed adjustments so that you do not have to guesstimate the proper pump size

 

[jdcook72]

If I'm using 1" pipe reduced to a 1/2" bulkhead, what should I expect the flow to be? Rated for 1", 1/2" or somewhere inbetween?