Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[bowhunt10]

Stupid question here. I understand how this works when using an overflow inside the tank, but how does an external overflow work and still go coast to coast and skim the waters surface? Would this be a box that hangs over the tank and is really just a giant siphon flowing into the external overflow box? The external would be so you don't have to drill holes in the tank or what?

 

[Tswifty]

Hey Bean,

Hope all is well. I just moved back to Pittsburgh, and was wondering how to get a hold of you? I noticed you no longer have the PM or Email option.

I had some questions regarding a backup power system. Do you attend the PMAS meetings? If so... I'm not in any rush, and could talk to you at the next meeting.

Thanks.

(sorry for the hijack)

 

[zachtos]

great thread. I learn something new about this hobby every month. amazing.

I created a thread about a year ago about helping to solve my micro bubble issue, and this is the answer. Reducing the air intake in the dursos. I can't believe the answer was right in front of me the whole time. Bean, I've dealt with you several times in the past, and admit, you like to be right and can be a real pain in the butt... but, you usually are right.

Forgive me if this is already buried somewhere, but how can I retrofit my existing tank which can't be pulled out from the wall or drilled for extra holes?

I have 4 dursos, 1.5" each, 2 in each compartment. I also have 2 more in a single compartment in the other room on a 75G. I'm wondering how I can retrofit this setup if possible? Even if it's only a version that helps reduce air intake?

main tank, you can see the two overflows, each has 1.5" durso I think.

refugium/angel fish tank in the dining room, has 2 dursos in this one, shared sump of course.

Edit:
I forgot to say, estimate 1000gph overflow rate in display, 400gph in fuge
*Also, I have a wavemaker, and I assume the siphon tube would only be 1 of the 4 tubes in my setup? So will the waves that splash from one box to the other really screw up the consistency of operation of this device?

 

[MeuserReef]

zactos, the wavemaker should not effect anything relating to the siphon tube. The "regular" durso drains will make up for any fluctuations in flow.

I have about 1000gph flowing through my "BeanAnimal" overflow setup and sometimes one of my Tunze streams creates a wave that adds a bit of "extra" water into the overflow box and the system handles it just fine. I have some pics of my setup that I need to post here.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14116785#post14116785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Hey Bean,

Hope all is well. I just moved back to Pittsburgh, and was wondering how to get a hold of you? I noticed you no longer have the PM or Email option.

I had some questions regarding a backup power system. Do you attend the PMAS meetings? If so... I'm not in any rush, and could talk to you at the next meeting.

Thanks.

(sorry for the hijack)

My PM box and email get inundated with questions. It makes it easier for me to answer in thread, than in private.

I have a gmail address... It is not hard to figure out

I rarely miss a meeting (I am on the board). Send me an email or stop by the meeting

 

[Lewy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14115905#post14115905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bowhunt10
Stupid question here. I understand how this works when using an overflow inside the tank, but how does an external overflow work and still go coast to coast and skim the waters surface? Would this be a box that hangs over the tank and is really just a giant siphon flowing into the external overflow box? The external would be so you don't have to drill holes in the tank or what?

An external overflow will still work the same. Instead of holes in glass you have to have a weir cut along the top of the glass. Obviously for the water to go into the external box.

If you have the room behind the tank. I would go this route as the internal box takes up a lot of real estate.

If it is a decent sized box I would also use additional bracing in the form of gussets for the additional support.

 

[BeanAnimal]

zachtos...

I am on the way out the door. I will attempt to answer your questions when I return this evening, or first thing in the morning.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14118479#post14118479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
My PM box and email get inundated with questions. It makes it easier for me to answer in thread, than in private.

I have a gmail address... It is not hard to figure out

I rarely miss a meeting (I am on the board). Send me an email or stop by the meeting

Gotcha... like I said I'm not in a big rush. My new tank isn't due to arrive until next Friday. So I'll just plan on talking to you at the meeting.

 

[rodneyri]

my tank arrived today!!

 

[zachtos]

I haven't heard back yet for a design suggestion, but I have a few more questions to tack on. Must each pipe have it's OWN pipe leading to the sump? Or can they all be connected together before they proceed to the basement sump?

It is quite a chore to plumb them all seperately, I'm not sure how a shared pipe would affect the setup.

I'm considering doing this setup in my display which has 4 x 2" standpipes, but only 1000gph turnover. I think I could use 3 of the four and let the fourth be capped off or unused? Does this sound right or is there another use for it? They are in seperate compartments so I think I would keep the overflow emergency pipes in one compartment, and the durso and siphon in the other? Or should I put the siphon and a emergency in one, and the durso and emergency in the other?

There must be others consdiering this retrofit!

 

[oldsaltman]

Bean, I am having trouble getting my overflows to restart normally. My system appears to be the same as your design. It runs great, but upon restarting it continues to cycle or purge itself until I open the siphon valve back to fully open. Then the system will regulate itself and I can close it back off some. Nothing else seams to work. I have three compartments in my sump and one drain line runs into each one. I cut the return PVC to about 1” above the normal water level and then went back and drilled some holes to help the air escape the returns. Am I missing something? What can I try?:rolleye1:

 

[MSU Fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14145410#post14145410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
I haven't heard back yet for a design suggestion, but I have a few more questions to tack on. Must each pipe have it's OWN pipe leading to the sump? Or can they all be connected together before they proceed to the basement sump?

It is quite a chore to plumb them all seperately, I'm not sure how a shared pipe would affect the setup.

i think that you're fine to combine the pipes into a single pipe AS LONG as the pipe's flow capability exceeds all three pipes combined.

In theory that means that 3 1" pipes can flow into a single 2" pipe and it would handle the flow.

 

[MSU Fan]

The more I think about it, the more I think that maybe you shouldn't...hmmm. Not sure.

 

[zachtos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14155640#post14155640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSU Fan
The more I think about it, the more I think that maybe you shouldn't...hmmm. Not sure.

yeah, I need to be sure that I can combine all 3 pipes into one before I do all this work. It's very difficult for me to get back there as I can not get behind the tank as it is against the wall and the sump is 10' below that in the basement. I would think this would be a common retrofit question.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14117416#post14117416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
great thread. I learn something new about this hobby every month. amazing.

I created a thread about a year ago about helping to solve my micro bubble issue, and this is the answer. Reducing the air intake in the dursos. I can't believe the answer was right in front of me the whole time. Bean, I've dealt with you several times in the past, and admit, you like to be right and can be a real pain in the butt... but, you usually are right.

I am honestly not sure of that is a compliment or an insult.

I have 4 dursos, 1.5" each, 2 in each compartment. I also have 2 more in a single compartment in the other room on a 75G. I'm wondering how I can retrofit this setup if possible? Even if it's only a version that helps reduce air intake?

It will be hard to balance the flow between two individual boxes (if not impossible). Your only option is a "herbie" style setup in each box, but that leaves you no fail-safe.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14145410#post14145410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
I haven't heard back yet for a design suggestion, but I have a few more questions to tack on. Must each pipe have it's OWN pipe leading to the sump? Or can they all be connected together before they proceed to the basement sump?

For my setup, they need to be individual standpipes. Combining them will not work.

I'm considering doing this setup in my display which has 4 x 2" standpipes, but only 1000gph turnover. I think I could use 3 of the four and let the fourth be capped off or unused? Does this sound right or is there another use for it? They are in seperate compartments so I think I would keep the overflow emergency pipes in one compartment, and the durso and siphon in the other? Or should I put the siphon and a emergency in one, and the durso and emergency in the other?

If you put the "emergency" pipes in one compartment, the water will simply flood that compartment. You will in effect have only (1) overflow box.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14154988#post14154988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSU Fan
i think that you're fine to combine the pipes into a single pipe AS LONG as the pipe's flow capability exceeds all three pipes combined.

In theory that means that 3 1" pipes can flow into a single 2" pipe and it would handle the flow.

Well kinda, but not really. The open channel silence depends on water cascading down the standpipe, not mixing with air. The siphon depends on the absence of air. All three pipes can dump into 1 larger pipe, but it has to be large enough to NOT interact with the function of the other pipes. Keeping it silent is also going to be a problem.

 

[anin]

hey guys, i am in the process of setting up a 50g aga tank(36x18x18), i want a silent setup, since it will be in my bedroom, so i needed some opinions on what to do..i thought of an external durso, with the 90, but i am not sure if the setup is supposed to be like this? So the strainer will be measured to water level?i know that i won't be getting much surface skimming either so any opinions? Thanks

in the pic oviously, the strainer will be at water level..

 

[BeanAnimal]

Anin,

This thread is about the construction of a (3) standpipe overflow that is virtualy silent and has many fail-safe features. The standpipe design is most commonly used with a "calfo" or "coast-to-coast" style oveflow box. It will work with a 55G tank, but will take up a fair amount of realestate. You may also want to note that many 55g tanks are tempered all the way around (can not be drilled).

Durso or similar standpipes can be quiet, depending on the configuration and flow they need to process. They many times need frequent adjustment.

Any standpipe system usedwithout an oveflow box will be very poor at surface skimming.

It would be best if you started a "help with my overflow" type of thread. You will get plenty of responses and opinions to help you move forward with your setup. If you want to attempt to use this setup than stick around and ask questions

 

[oldsaltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14153597#post14153597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oldsaltman
Bean, I am having trouble getting my overflows to restart normally. My system appears to be the same as your design. It runs great, but upon restarting it continues to cycle or purge itself until I open the siphon valve back to fully open. Then the system will regulate itself and I can close it back off some. Nothing else seams to work. I have three compartments in my sump and one drain line runs into each one. I cut the return PVC to about 1” above the normal water level and then went back and drilled some holes to help the air escape the returns. Am I missing something? What can I try?:rolleye1:

Bean, can you give me any advise here?