I guess I'm curious on the open channel, what constitutes significant flow. Doesn't the open channel which is not at full syphon always have air mixing with it and therefor always producing air bubbles at it's exit to the sump? I ask because I just finished plumbing mine and can't seem to get a full syphon on my primary drain line either. When I read thru this entire thread, I surmised that the three drilled holes were supposed to be the same height. Then later on I read the open channel should be a little higher so the main channel will achieve full syphon. Frankly, I'm confused. The holes are drilled, and the tank is plumbed. I feel this guys pain. It is what it is at this point for me, which unfortunately is not a bubble free main line. Am I bummed? Yes. Can I fix it? Don't know how at this point. What I am going to try is siliconing every pvc joint, with the exception of the unions. You would think if air is able to get in, water would be able to leak out!! My system is not leaking.
Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
I guess I'm curious on the open channel, what constitutes significant flow. Doesn't the open channel which is not at full syphon always have air mixing with it and therefor always producing air bubbles at it's exit to the sump? I ask because I just finished plumbing mine and can't seem to get a full syphon on my primary drain line either. When I read thru this entire thread, I surmised that the three drilled holes were supposed to be the same height. Then later on I read the open channel should be a little higher so the main channel will achieve full syphon. Frankly, I'm confused. The holes are drilled, and the tank is plumbed. I feel this guys pain. It is what it is at this point for me, which unfortunately is not a bubble free main line. Am I bummed? Yes. Can I fix it? Don't know how at this point. What I am going to try is siliconing every pvc joint, with the exception of the unions. You would think if air is able to get in, water would be able to leak out!! My system is not leaking.
akindbro4u
New member
i dont think baffles are really the problem. when you get home post some pics of your sump. open up your siphon some more and try to get the tank adjusted. then we all can help you adjust baffles as needed. Your pump section would have to be real small in comparison to the volume of water to really be a problem with running. you will have to top off more often, but the system here willl work.
akindbro4u
New member
air is considerably less dense than water. it will always find a way. siphon and oc can be the same height. the airline will prevent oc from achieving siphon. your ok
browning_boy20
New member
Will do!!!!!
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
browning_boy20
New member
Well I came home and added 15 more gallons to my sump and it did the trick. She is working fine but I still have a good bit of noise coming from my overflow box. Is that normal?
browning_boy20
New member
Also can I have too much flow through the sump? Right now my reef Flo super dart gold is wide open and its pushing a lot of flow through my sump. Should I turn it down some? This is a 350g fowlr and I don't want to beat my smaller fish up too bad.
akindbro4u
New member
Can you tell w here the noise is coming from.
browning_boy20
New member
It's just the waterfall Saunders from the water entering the box. Any way to silence that any? Also what about too much flow?
browning_boy20
New member
Sounds not Saunders. Dang auto spell. 
excellent feedback thank you sir.
I will try for a different pump. I am not worried about flooding at all. the system is set up properly, it's not rocket science. I know the open channel inlet is not too low as it is slightly higher than the main siphon ( I assume you mean the actual hole in the glass of the aquarium). Not sure what you mean by the vent hose being too low? Do you mean at a level where the water in the over flow would cover the tube and create a full siphon? answer would be no there.
I will let you know how the system works with a new pump in a few days.
If this doesn't work then I have an air leak somewhere as that would be the only other possibility. Even though I have redone the plumbing 3 times now with same results. the only consistency is the pump.
Thanks
readc, yes, that's what he means.
q8vw
New member
Hello,
Guys I'm looking to do a vertical BeanAnimal system, but I couldn't find any threaded Tee, or threaded cap in my country.
so instead i will use elbows. *Picture attached*
1- My question is will this setup work?
2- Can i replace the T (open channel - Middle) with two elbows and drill it to add air line? or should I use T with drilled cap?
3- Do the system need maintenance from time to time? (cleaning)
Thanks in advance.
Anyone? Will this work?
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uncleof6
Active member
q8vw
New member
Thank you Uncle, Appreciate it.
akindbro4u
New member
if you are hearing a waterfall over your weir the you are pushing too much water over it, or the fall is to great. ( also causing turbulence, and bubbles ) Either your overflow is to small, your pump is to big, or your drains are to low relative to your weir. You can try some mesh to break up the waterfall, but that is not really a solution. If you are hearing a waterfall. We could still use some pics to really tell you for sure.
browning_boy20
New member
Here is my overflow box, its 31 inches long. This is where my noise comes from. The water coming in is falling far and its loud. If I raise the water any more my open channel kicks in and lowers it for me.
Here are some pics of my sump. Its working good now!
Here are some pics of my sump. Its working good now!
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My situation is my overflow is small and getting 3 1/5" pvc tubes with 90s/Ts etc and there isnt enough room. I could screw in the fittings and then push the Ts/90s on manually, but I dont want to glue them in or they would be stuck forever (I dont have room to unscrew them). Any ideas for me or if that would be a big deal?
Zobp
New member
I am having a terrible time trying to pinpoint my micro bubble madness, hoping someone can point me in the right direction so I can begin diagnosing the problem.
On start up there are no micro bubbles but once the overflow begins to fill and start filling the sump its a ton of micro bubbles every where. I have been reading and trying different things for the past 2 days with no luck.
Help is greatly appreciated
Video: Click the picture
Video: Direct link
http://s118.photobucket.com/user/BluMonstrRX8/media/IMG_0675_zps8a71eda2.mp4.html
On start up there are no micro bubbles but once the overflow begins to fill and start filling the sump its a ton of micro bubbles every where. I have been reading and trying different things for the past 2 days with no luck.
Help is greatly appreciated
Video: Click the picture
Video: Direct link
http://s118.photobucket.com/user/BluMonstrRX8/media/IMG_0675_zps8a71eda2.mp4.html
Last edited by a moderator:
browning_boy20
New member
Do you have all your joints glued? It doesn't look let the joints in the picture are glued? If not, they can pull air. Does your water have to fall very far in your overflow? That can cause bubbles if so. But the way its micro bubbles, it seems like its pulling air from a small source with the way they are micro vs large bubbles.
uncleof6
Active member
Here is my overflow box, its 31 inches long. This is where my noise comes from. The water coming in is falling far and its loud. If I raise the water any more my open channel kicks in and lowers it for me.
Here are some pics of my sump. Its working good now!
Although this thread is about the drain system itself, rather than overflow issues, I will briefly address your overflow.
Cut the teeth out, the channeling caused by the teeth, is causing a portion if not the lions share of the noise. Teeth not only cause noise, they also reduce the effective length of the overflow by 1/2 - 2/3," which in turn affects the surface skimming ability. You may have a 31" long overflow, but you don' t have 31" of overflow. The only length that counts is the space between the teeth.
If you are having problems getting the water level in the overflow within an acceptable range, then the bulkheads are too low in the overflow, or there is some other configuration error. You only want around a 1" drop to the water level in the overflow, and that water level should be around the top of the down turned elbows.
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