Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
- Thread starter JohnL
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BeanAnimal
Premium Member
85%-95% through the siphon. So on a 1500 GPH system you may have 150 GPH going through the open channel.
virginiadiver69
New member
40 pages down and 27 to go...!
I'm almost hear Bean and I've got a bunch of questions for ya!
I'm almost hear Bean and I've got a bunch of questions for ya!
virginiadiver69
New member
.
virginiadiver69
New member
Finally...
Okay Bean...Some of these have been answered WAY too many times already but...
1) On a 8' tank...do you see a 36x6x6 ext overflow being adequate? The manufacturer wants it to be 10" tall but I think that's overkill. I would make it longer but it would interfere with my wavebox.
2) Speaking of a wavebox...would a taller ( than 6" ) overflow be better for your system to work?
3) Skimmer feed...I know you said it could be finicky. With that in mind, would you opt for a totally separate syphon or would you branch a single one? If it makes any difference...it's an external reeflo 250, so head pressure may not be a problem like a internal skimmer would be?
4) Where is best to place the ball valves? I've seen you answer both just below the overflow AND in the stand. I can do either just as easy.
5) My fabricator is planning on doing overflow teeth...when I tell him not to, I'll need to know how big of a slit to have him make instead. Will 1/2" be to small for ~1500 gph through 36" of overflow?
6) I thought I saw a pic of your setup using airline on all 3 of your standpipes...am I just cross-eyed after reading 67 pages?
7) Can I tie all three standpipes into one drain so I can use a filter sock.....
Couldn't resist on that last one. You've got a lotta patients!
Okay Bean...Some of these have been answered WAY too many times already but...
1) On a 8' tank...do you see a 36x6x6 ext overflow being adequate? The manufacturer wants it to be 10" tall but I think that's overkill. I would make it longer but it would interfere with my wavebox.
2) Speaking of a wavebox...would a taller ( than 6" ) overflow be better for your system to work?
3) Skimmer feed...I know you said it could be finicky. With that in mind, would you opt for a totally separate syphon or would you branch a single one? If it makes any difference...it's an external reeflo 250, so head pressure may not be a problem like a internal skimmer would be?
4) Where is best to place the ball valves? I've seen you answer both just below the overflow AND in the stand. I can do either just as easy.
5) My fabricator is planning on doing overflow teeth...when I tell him not to, I'll need to know how big of a slit to have him make instead. Will 1/2" be to small for ~1500 gph through 36" of overflow?
6) I thought I saw a pic of your setup using airline on all 3 of your standpipes...am I just cross-eyed after reading 67 pages?
7) Can I tie all three standpipes into one drain so I can use a filter sock.....
Couldn't resist on that last one. You've got a lotta patients!
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BeanAnimal
Premium Member
It only needs to be tall enough to handle the standpipe configuration. 10" will work and will certainly help stiffen the back of the tank, but it could be shallower without problem.
The depth has nothing to do with the setup as shown. You COULD put the open channel several inches above the siphon standpipe in a deep box and let the extra depth pick up the slack between waves sloshing over. Though this is just a thought.. I have never tried it.
I just can't answer that question... I have not tried either. A few other folks here may be able to give you some better first hand thoughts on hooking a skimmer up to the siphon standpipe.
You only NEED the valve on the siphon. In theory it would be best at the sump end of the standpipe. For short runs, it can be placed wherever convenient. In a basement sump scenario, it needs to be on the basement side (to prevent possible cavitation in the pipe).
I would say 1/2" would be fine. If you are concerned, make it 1" and have him fashion a simple guilotine type sliding cover. Have him attach it with a few thumbscres. That way you can fine tune the slot so that it does not block surface skimming, but does block critters.
All three of my standpipes are built exactly the same (save the direction of the intake elbow). I had the parts and used them. Any standpipe can act in any role.
If you tie all of them to a common pipe, the will interact with each other. You don't want that. You can have the open channel and siphon DUMP into a filtersock... but I would leave the emergency by itself.7) Can I tie all three standpipes into one drain so I can use a filter sock.....
Couldn't resist on that last one. You've got a lotta patients!
virginiadiver69
New member
Thanks for the advice...I'll let you know how it turns out when it's up and running.
jb61264
New member
Congrats BeanAnimal!...well deserved for sure...so many, including me very soon, have benefited from this thread. I really like the fact that the basic design principle can be applied in different ways as I have seen it used with internal and external overflows and also overflows going coast to coast and as in my case, a 3/4 tank width internal overflow.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Thank all of you who voted for the thread! The other threads that were nominated were also pretty cool and deserving as well.
jb:
I am working on rendering several different physical applications of the design to help those who are having trouble envisioning it in different configuration.
jb:
I am working on rendering several different physical applications of the design to help those who are having trouble envisioning it in different configuration.
Reefski's
Active member
i never got any feedback about using the system with a surge so i forged ahead on my own. definitely my vote for the thread of the month.
i am so glad i found this thread. it really works.
i have 5 overflows and made two of them into siphons, two into open channels, and one into an overlfow. it is quiet until both of the surges fire at the same time and 100 gallons goes into the tank in 30 seconds. then the overflow gets overwhelmed.
before i made one of the internal overflows a siphon.
the overflow one now has a Melev silencer on it and it is almost silent when both fire simultaneously.
with just one surge firing. wow, what a difference.
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if i was building my tank again i would put in a longer external overflow and more open channels. if my tank did not have the surges it would be dead silent. there is a bit of bubbling sound just before the surges fire and water sounds from the surge rushing across the tank.
thanks Bean
i am so glad i found this thread. it really works.
i have 5 overflows and made two of them into siphons, two into open channels, and one into an overlfow. it is quiet until both of the surges fire at the same time and 100 gallons goes into the tank in 30 seconds. then the overflow gets overwhelmed.
before i made one of the internal overflows a siphon.
the overflow one now has a Melev silencer on it and it is almost silent when both fire simultaneously.
with just one surge firing. wow, what a difference.
if i was building my tank again i would put in a longer external overflow and more open channels. if my tank did not have the surges it would be dead silent. there is a bit of bubbling sound just before the surges fire and water sounds from the surge rushing across the tank.
thanks Bean
Last edited by a moderator:
Reefski's
Active member
the second one is just a photo, not a video.
i have an external overflow with 3" teeth that is 36" wide. the other one in the photo above is 7x10" also with 3" teeth. the in the tank one is only 1" pipe on the intake into a 2" pipe for the rest of the plumbing. i still have to throttle it back so it doesn't run dry.
siphons really suck!
i have an external overflow with 3" teeth that is 36" wide. the other one in the photo above is 7x10" also with 3" teeth. the in the tank one is only 1" pipe on the intake into a 2" pipe for the rest of the plumbing. i still have to throttle it back so it doesn't run dry.
siphons really suck!
Would like some advice on interal overflow dimensions.Getting ready to install an overflow in a 265g 84x24x30 tank.Thinking about going across the back 84" and want advice as to the how tall depth and height for the box.Also how far down from the top of the tank to drill the holes for 1.5" bulkheads.
Great thread spent some time the last few days trying to read it.Hope someone can provide some clif notes
Great thread spent some time the last few days trying to read it.Hope someone can provide some clif notes
jb61264
New member
I am by no means close to an expert on this but just finished adding this setup to my 75 gallon tank (48" W) so I can maybe offer a little advice based on my experience. For my setup I only went 36" wide on the internal overflow. This was just a personal preference on my part that I didn't want to see silicone on the sides of my tank and also wanted room on the ends of the tank for my returns that are over the top of the tank.
To determine where to drill, I first built my overflow box (glass) and then laid my tank on its backside and placed my overflow box in the tank...I have a black rim around the top of my tank, so I positioned my overflow box about 1/8" higher than the bottom of my black rim so the tank level will always be slightly above the that rim and marked off the corners and bottom with some blue painters tape. I then put my tank upright and got a bunch of 2x4's and other thicknesses of wood to place my overflow box at the same height and then put my overflow elbows where i wanted them and marked them on the back of the tank with a sharpie marker.
My tank is smaller so i wanted to have as small of a overflow box as possible so mine is 4H x 4D...with yours, you will probably want to go 5H x 5D maybe 5H x 6D since your plumbing will be 1 1/2"....mine is all done in 1"
HTH a little bit...I'm sure others have better ways to do it than I did but it worked for me
troylee
In Memoriam
hey bean i wanted to give you a special thanks for helping jim to.....i got the 5ft external calfo installed with the beans bad to the bone overflow system in it...i will let you know how it goes in a couple weeks. the tank should be running in less than 3 weeks cant wait.heres a few pics for people to reference.btw. nothing is glued just sitting in there.i have more pics in my thread but i thought i would post these here to help others i was confused as heck on doing this external.....hth. someone.
the tank should be running in less than 3 weeks cant wait.heres a few pics for people to reference.btw. nothing is glued just sitting in there.i have more pics in my thread but i thought i would post these here to help others i was confused as heck on doing this external.....hth. someone.
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