Overflow without standpipe?

roosterchef · 08/23/2014, 01:11 PM

It's seems a given that when you have an overflow, you don't allow the water for flow directly from the bottom of the overflow (via a bottom-drilled hole). You either use a standpipe (bottom hole) or if side drilled it is higher up in the overflow.

However, except for the issues of sound (not discounting these), I can't find an explanation for the benefit of allowing x amount of water to be present in the overflow chamber.

In my case I am planning on resurrecting my old 90gal reef ready (corner overflow, bottom drilled for drain and return). I always had a standpipe drain, and I noticed that lots of detritus gunk collected in the bottom of the overflow, making one more thing that had to be siphoned out regularly.

In the 14 years since I had a reef tank, standard setups have changed, including using socks and more efficient skimmers, fuges, etc. So here's my question: Noise aside, why wouldn't you want your overflow to drain directly from the bottom, creating very little water volume to collect detritus in the overflow and instead sending all that on down to your chosen organics removal setup?

Is it purely a trade-off between sound and the extra work of cleaning the overflow?

-Jim

pmrossetti · 08/23/2014, 01:18 PM

Well, if theres a leak in the overflow box, the tank will drain to the level of the leak?

ca1ore · 08/23/2014, 01:25 PM

Well, I ran my original 180 bought in 1988 without a standpipe for 19 years. BUT, it was a custom tank before reef-ready was all the rage, and the oveflow was made up of two pieces of 1/2" glass siliconed in place at the time the tank was made - in other words not a chance for a leak and plenty of structure to hold back the water pressure. With more modern tanks, where the oveflow is a curved piece of plastic, leaks are more likely and I'd worry about the ability to hold back 24" of water pressure.

roosterchef · 08/23/2014, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

Well, if theres a leak in the overflow box, the tank will drain to the level of the leak?

Makes sense.

So it's more a safety issue than a noise issue, but a noise issue nonetheless.

How do people handle the detritus in the overflow problem? Just regular siphon cleaning?

cherubfish pair · 08/23/2014, 03:16 PM

Grow a mangrove in the overflow. A lot of people are doing it. Microfauna can live in the roots and eat the detritus.

rovster · 08/23/2014, 06:45 PM

I don't think it's a problem especially if you run a siphon such as in a herbie. You can use a gate valve to control the height of water in the overflow.

RocketEngineer · 08/23/2014, 07:34 PM

First, don't buy a "reef-ready" tank with the plastic overflow.

Second, a coast-to-coast overflow should only be as big as is required to install the plumbing and only as deep as it takes to get proper clearance for the drain fittings.

And third, I use a turkey baster to stir up the gunk in my overflow boxes just prior to doing a water change.

roosterchef · 08/24/2014, 12:38 AM

Unfortunately, Rocket, reef ready is what I am stuck with for the time being since that is what I have stored from 14 years ago. But I'll make it work.

However I agree that with a 24" deep overflow, it isn't too easy to get in there and clean it good.

Thanks for all the advice.

-Jim

08/23/2014, 01:11 PM	#1
roosterchef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 76	Overflow without standpipe? It's seems a given that when you have an overflow, you don't allow the water for flow directly from the bottom of the overflow (via a bottom-drilled hole). You either use a standpipe (bottom hole) or if side drilled it is higher up in the overflow. However, except for the issues of sound (not discounting these), I can't find an explanation for the benefit of allowing x amount of water to be present in the overflow chamber. In my case I am planning on resurrecting my old 90gal reef ready (corner overflow, bottom drilled for drain and return). I always had a standpipe drain, and I noticed that lots of detritus gunk collected in the bottom of the overflow, making one more thing that had to be siphoned out regularly. In the 14 years since I had a reef tank, standard setups have changed, including using socks and more efficient skimmers, fuges, etc. So here's my question: Noise aside, why wouldn't you want your overflow to drain directly from the bottom, creating very little water volume to collect detritus in the overflow and instead sending all that on down to your chosen organics removal setup? Is it purely a trade-off between sound and the extra work of cleaning the overflow? -Jim

08/23/2014, 01:25 PM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Well, I ran my original 180 bought in 1988 without a standpipe for 19 years. BUT, it was a custom tank before reef-ready was all the rage, and the oveflow was made up of two pieces of 1/2" glass siliconed in place at the time the tank was made - in other words not a chance for a leak and plenty of structure to hold back the water pressure. With more modern tanks, where the oveflow is a curved piece of plastic, leaks are more likely and I'd worry about the ability to hold back 24" of water pressure. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

08/23/2014, 03:16 PM	#5
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	Grow a mangrove in the overflow. A lot of people are doing it. Microfauna can live in the roots and eat the detritus. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

08/23/2014, 07:34 PM	#7
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	First, don't buy a "reef-ready" tank with the plastic overflow. Second, a coast-to-coast overflow should only be as big as is required to install the plumbing and only as deep as it takes to get proper clearance for the drain fittings. And third, I use a turkey baster to stir up the gunk in my overflow boxes just prior to doing a water change. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

08/23/2014, 01:18 PM	#2
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Well, if theres a leak in the overflow box, the tank will drain to the level of the leak?

08/23/2014, 06:45 PM	#6
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	I don't think it's a problem especially if you run a siphon such as in a herbie. You can use a gate valve to control the height of water in the overflow.

08/24/2014, 12:38 AM	#8
roosterchef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 76	Unfortunately, Rocket, reef ready is what I am stuck with for the time being since that is what I have stored from 14 years ago. But I'll make it work. However I agree that with a 24" deep overflow, it isn't too easy to get in there and clean it good. Thanks for all the advice. -Jim