Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[Saltwaterwill]

hey guys I'm new to reefcentral, i was trying to submit i knew thread but didn't know how to, but i have a question i am confused about, which type of overflow is the quieter one, and what is the difference and advantages/disadvantages of having one overflow box compared to two overflow boxes one on each side of the tank, I'm planning on having at least two drains and two returns, thanks.

 

[sleepydoc]

Hello all!
I'm new on reefcentral. I'm sorry, but my english is so bad. I hope you can help me. I will drill my 200 gal. tank this week. My first question:
These holes are in right place ?

I want to build a freshwater aquarium with sump for biological filtration. For my biofilter medias not necessary high flow, probably 600-800 GPH is enough, but MAXIMUM 1500. So I don't know yet. Between 600 and 1500 GPH :/. I see in this thread big bulkheads with low flow can cause problems in the full siphon, so 1" bulkhead is enough, but I'm confused about size of pipe. Uncleof6 wrote in 8255 1" pipe is enough for 600-800 GPH so it is clear. What do you think what is the maximum flow for 1" bulkhead+1" pipe? Must I use 1" bulkhead+1.5" piping for around 1000 GPH? And 1300-1500? The length of tube: 25 inches (vertical pipe). Thanks for your help!

1" bulkhead & pipe should be enough for your siphon to handle 800 gph. 1.5" pipe would be way too big. For the open channel pipe, it may be helpful to have 1.25 or 1.5" pipe, since the range of flows that 1" pipe can handle quietly before it starts to make noise is relatively small.

 

[Dice750]

Yes as long as you don't use monster bulkheads, use 1" bulkheads, and 1" pipe. Use 1.25" pipe for the open channel.

So a 1" bulkhead would be fine for the 1 1/4" open channel pipe?

 

[uncleof6]

So a 1" bulkhead would be fine for the 1 1/4" open channel pipe?

Yes.

 

[Artur 1972]

I'm in the process of building that overflow for my 40 breeder. Glass overflow 20x5x3 top will be even with bottom of top aquarium trim. Is that ok? And turned down elbows for syphon and open channel- what should be a distance to bottom of box ?

 

[Hybridhibrid]

Sleepydoc, thanks for answer. What du you think about places of holes on my drawing?
-1" Full siphon bulkhead center 3.75" from edge of tank
-1.5" open channel bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-1.5" emergency drain bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-bottom of overflow box 6.25" from edge of thank
-length of overflow box: 16"
-tank water level 1.25" from edge of tank
Sorry for my stupid questions, but this is my first sump, my first overflow, my first drilled tank and I don't want to ruin my 200 gal tank. So I'm a little scared

 

[uncleof6]

Sleepydoc, thanks for answer. What du you think about places of holes on my drawing?
-1" Full siphon bulkhead center 3.75" from edge of tank
-1.5" open channel bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-1.5" emergency drain bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-bottom of overflow box 6.25" from edge of thank
-length of overflow box: 16"
-tank water level 1.25" from edge of tank
Sorry for my stupid questions, but this is my first sump, my first overflow, my first drilled tank and I don't want to ruin my 200 gal tank. So I'm a little scared

Why are you going to use 1.5" bulkheads? There is no point to that. The original design used 1" bulkheads, and 1.5" pipe, and it would run 2000gph. Only reason to go larger than 1" bulkheads is if you are going to break the 2k ceiling.

Length of the overflow should be the full length of the back of the tank. Less than that, you are just cheating yourself and the system as a whole.

Spending a few days to a week, reading, instead of being in a rush and impatient, would yield you the answers to the questions you are asking, without getting conflicting or confusing answers.

 

[sleepydoc]

Sleepydoc, thanks for answer. What du you think about places of holes on my drawing?
-1" Full siphon bulkhead center 3.75" from edge of tank
-1.5" open channel bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-1.5" emergency drain bulkhead center 3.25" from edge of tank
-bottom of overflow box 6.25" from edge of thank
-length of overflow box: 16"
-tank water level 1.25" from edge of tank
Sorry for my stupid questions, but this is my first sump, my first overflow, my first drilled tank and I don't want to ruin my 200 gal tank. So I'm a little scared

I agree with what Uncle said (think I even suggested going with 1" bulkheads a few posts up.) Larger bulkheads are more expensive, have no benefit, and may actually cause problems.

Regarding the actual placement, the clearances are fine. Whether the actual position ok or not depends on the rest of the plumbing and tank configuration (elbows, weir height, etc)

 

[sleepydoc]

I'm in the process of building that overflow for my 40 breeder. Glass overflow 20x5x3 top will be even with bottom of top aquarium trim. Is that ok? And turned down elbows for syphon and open channel- what should be a distance to bottom of box ?

¾" should be fine. Make sure the holes are down far enough so that there is enough clearance between the top of the upturned dry emergency elbow and the lip of the trim.

 

[Kingfisher1980]

40b

40b

Ok folks. I know I'm not a reefer, well as far as tanks go. But I do need you guidance as I intend to employ the BAOF in my 40B planted tank setup.

I originally was going to build a glass box to hang on the back and do the overflow plumbing there. Upon further investigation I see that isn't necessary and that I can run the overflow inside of the weir.

With that being said. I am going to use an ECO633 (594 gph) for my pump. I have already purchased some of the plumbing for 3/4" overflows. I have a total of 5 3/4" bulkheads. However, I also have 3 1" bulkheads. Unfortunately all of the plumbing I have purchased was with 3/4" overflows in mind. I don't think I have the receipts to return the 3/4" plumbing bits.

Will the standard 3 pipe BAOF with 3/4" plumbing have sufficient flow for this setup? Or should I start over from square one and buy all new plumbing for the 1" bulkheads? (budget IS an issue)

I guess if need be I can use the 3/4" bulkheads for return lines and probably some of the PVC bits as well. However I would certainly prefer not to.

Thanks on advance for any input. From what I've seen from my searches 3/4" when gravity fed only flows about 330 gph and that's before accounting for head loss. I'm unsure if this flow rate is increased enough uner siphon to compensate.

 

[Mrramsey]

Ok folks. I know I'm not a reefer, well as far as tanks go. But I do need you guidance as I intend to employ the BAOF in my 40B planted tank setup.

I originally was going to build a glass box to hang on the back and do the overflow plumbing there. Upon further investigation I see that isn't necessary and that I can run the overflow inside of the weir.

With that being said. I am going to use an ECO633 (594 gph) for my pump. I have already purchased some of the plumbing for 3/4" overflows. I have a total of 5 3/4" bulkheads. However, I also have 3 1" bulkheads. Unfortunately all of the plumbing I have purchased was with 3/4" overflows in mind. I don't think I have the receipts to return the 3/4" plumbing bits.

Will the standard 3 pipe BAOF with 3/4" plumbing have sufficient flow for this setup? Or should I start over from square one and buy all new plumbing for the 1" bulkheads? (budget IS an issue)

I guess if need be I can use the 3/4" bulkheads for return lines and probably some of the PVC bits as well. However I would certainly prefer not to.

Thanks on advance for any input. From what I've seen from my searches 3/4" when gravity fed only flows about 330 gph and that's before accounting for head loss. I'm unsure if this flow rate is increased enough uner siphon to compensate.

3/4 will be just fine in a 40. I ran all 3/4 on my 72g bowfront and managed about 500gph.

 

[Kingfisher1980]

Well then I guess the next step is to figure out where to drill the holes.

 

[uncleof6]

Well then I guess the next step is to figure out where to drill the holes.

3/4" is too small for practical applications for marine systems. It plugs up far too easily, and the friction losses are extreme. The minimum bulkhead/pipe sizes for marine systems should be 1". The only exception would be pico tanks, and there would be no sense in going through all of this.

You will have a heck of a time getting a 3/4" open channel silent, which the silent flow capacity is ~ 25gph give or take. It is way smaller than the minimum practical durso, which is 1.25" pipe on a 1" bulkhead.

 

[sleepydoc]

3/4" is too small for practical applications for marine systems. It plugs up far too easily, and the friction losses are extreme. The minimum bulkhead/pipe sizes for marine systems should be 1". The only exception would be pico tanks, and there would be no sense in going through all of this.

You will have a heck of a time getting a 3/4" open channel silent, which the silent flow capacity is ~ 25gph give or take. It is way smaller than the minimum practical durso, which is 1.25" pipe on a 1" bulkhead.

But is there any reason one could not have a ¾" bulkhead with 1" (or 1.25") plumbing? For the flow rates he/she is interested in it seems like they should be adequate.

 

[Hybridhibrid]

Sleepydoc, Uncleof6 thanks for help!

 

[BS87]

3/4" is too small for practical applications for marine systems. It plugs up far too easily, and the friction losses are extreme. The minimum bulkhead/pipe sizes for marine systems should be 1". The only exception would be pico tanks, and there would be no sense in going through all of this.

You will have a heck of a time getting a 3/4" open channel silent, which the silent flow capacity is ~ 25gph give or take. It is way smaller than the minimum practical durso, which is 1.25" pipe on a 1" bulkhead.

By marine systems, do you mean strictly saltwater or do you mean aquariums in general? He mentioned it was for a freshwater tank, I'm not informed enough about the subject to know if there a difference.

 

[Ironwood]

Hi, I currently have a 72 gallon bow front with a 20 gallon sump underneath the DT. I have a 3/4 internal weir and an external overflow that has the beananimal system. All of the piping is 1.5". I'm thinking of putting a 40 gallon sump in the basement to free up space in my cabinet. My question is could I reduce the piping just before it enters the wall to be 1" instead of 1.5". On the main stand pipe I would reduce the pipe to 1" after the ball valve.
I just think the 1.5" is overkill for my setup. I'm also thinking that since the water will be falling ~5' the larger pipe would cause more noise. Thanks

 

[pdiehm]

Starting to hear some noise from the open channel pipe, does that mean too much water is flowing down that pipe? Distance down is about 4'

 

[woodnaquanut]

Starting to hear some noise from the open channel pipe, does that mean too much water is flowing down that pipe? Distance down is about 4'

That's what I'd look at first. Is the siphon wide open? If not, try giving it a tiny nudge open and see what happens with the OC.

Another thing to check is if you have a strainer on the siphon, perhaps it needs a cleaning.

 

[sleepydoc]

By marine systems, do you mean strictly saltwater or do you mean aquariums in general? He mentioned it was for a freshwater tank, I'm not informed enough about the subject to know if there a difference.

Aquariums in general. A ¾" siphon may handle the flow just fine, but a3/4" open channel can barely handle any flow before it starts to make noise.