Silent and Failsafe Overflow System

[Jgoal55]

Im sure this has been answered in this thread but I really cant read the whole thread....lol

What i want to know is how the John Guest fitting is attached to the standpipe that uses the airline????? It seems like its going to be a solution that'll make me feel dumb for asking, but yeah....im not that handy!

[uncleof6]

Snickers, a threaded hole. 1/4" or 3/8" NPT.



Jim

[BeanAnimal]

If the women don't find you handsome, at least let them find you handy....

[teesquare]

Bean and Jim:
This how I set up my most recent tank. Notice the 2 primary siphons on the left/upper. ( Needless overkill...) On the right - the emergency drain. Tested it by shutting off all the valves on the other 3 pipes- it akes all of the flow from a Barracuda - no problem. No overflow. All piping is 2'' flex PVC. The siphons and open channel are fitted with 1-1/2'' sanitary tees and street ells, but on the emergency - I plumbed with 2'' fittings.
Any input? Critique?
I have started a build thread in the Large Reef Tanks section titled" "Holy Reefer" please visit - and offer your advice.
The BeanAnimal overflow thread was instrumental in this tank design - thanks Bean!

[Jgoal55]

Originally Posted by uncleof6

Snickers, a threaded hole. 1/4" or 3/8" NPT

Ok, so the John Guest valve is threaded as well???? Now, that makes sense. Is that a part that is regularly available at HD or Lowes. I've only ever seen the ones that you can connect tubing to both sides. Then again, thats all Ive ever looked for.

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

If the women don't find you handsome, at least let them find you handy....

looks like im out of luck....


teesquare....tank looks awesome......great job with the overflow.

btw, is that a remote control tank? lol....last picture looks like two antennas?

[teesquare]

thanks Jorge!
The antennae are actually clamps - I added a piece of glass to the back of the overflow to add safety margin. It gives me another 1/2'' of water height before overflow of the tank.
But as it turns out w/testing - that was not necessary at all.
T

[Jgoal55]

ahh....pretty cool idea....better safe than sorry in this hobby....thats for sure.

[uncleof6]

Originally Posted by Jgoal55

Ok, so the John Guest valve is threaded as well???? Now, that makes sense. Is that a part that is regularly available at HD or Lowes. I've only ever seen the ones that you can connect tubing to both sides. Then again, thats all Ive ever looked for.

Both threaded. HD and Lowes have knock offs of JG fittings. The valve is not needed for this setup, it just happened to be in my hand when I set up the shot.

Jim

[BeanAnimal]

Lowes stocks the "Watts" brand of fittings. You will find them in the tubing section of plumbing.

Nice work Teesquare.

[teesquare]

Thanks Bean! Please check out my build thread - would like input guys!
T

[leochngyh]

mine, triangle overflow. No air sucking sound at all. Have to mention this first, last time I post in RC and most of the question is about the sucking sound.

With 2x1" pvc. Tested with 5K lph return pump and still have room for higher flow rate.


Back of the overflow. No gate valve, straight to sump.


Cable tie to prevent the gravity and pressure pulling the PVC away.


Egg crate to prevent funny fish from going in. Had this save my Blue Tang, it likes to jump for food and sometime it just goes up to the overflow and slowly bounce it body back to tank.


Look from front of the tank. I like this coz the overflow is like hidden from the front view and have a very wide area of surface skimming.

[MeuserReef]

teesquare, nicey done! What effects have you seen from the dual siphon tubes?

leochngyh, you have a nice setup but arent you missing a tube!?

[teesquare]

Thanks!
I have needed to adjust the length of the pipes from the 2 siphons - in the sump. I lengthened slightly the 2nd siphon , causing a slight differential in back pressure , thus forcing the 1st siphon as the "priority"
They both stay full, and with valving, flow is easily adjusted as with any -
Come ck. out the build thread for this one if you like:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1762906

[leochngyh]

Originally Posted by MeuserReef

leochngyh, you have a nice setup but arent you missing a tube!?

Tube???

[MeuserReef]

Originally Posted by leochngyh

Tube???

Tube = Pipe

I noticed that your setup only uses 2 pipes, not 3. No emergency drain, correct?

[uncleof6]

Looks like they are both open channels to me-- note the fittings on top of the caps.

J

[teesquare]

So - it is neither silent or safe.....
T

[uncleof6]

Originally Posted by teesquare

So - it is neither silent or safe.....
T

You got that tank boxed up and ready to ship yet?

J

[teesquare]

Building a crate it now Jim...will that be Visa, or Mastercharge???
T

[leochngyh]

Originally Posted by MeuserReef

Tube = Pipe

I noticed that your setup only uses 2 pipes, not 3. No emergency drain, correct?

Yup, just 2 pipes. Have not think about the emergency last time but so far using it for 2 years and it still able to handle my 5k lph return.

[Jgoal55]

Hey guys. Quick question. I finally got around to setting up the beananimal overflow and it works great when I fine tune it. It is virtually silent but I can hear water running down the pipe but not loudly.

However, when I restart the system (turn the return pump back on) I have to tune the gate valve to get it to quiet down again. I know that it takes a bit for the sir to purge after restart, but I waited about 20 minutes. Any ideas what's going on?

[jbryks]

i have all the parts to start drilling this overflow and i just have one question...i am going to use 1 1/2 bulkheads and am just wondering how far down from the black trim should i drill....the one thing that i dont see to much are the size of the internal overflows...any info would help pics too..


jordan

[BeanAnimal]

Originally Posted by Jgoal55

Hey guys. Quick question. I finally got around to setting up the beananimal overflow and it works great when I fine tune it. It is virtually silent but I can hear water running down the pipe but not loudly.

However, when I restart the system (turn the return pump back on) I have to tune the gate valve to get it to quiet down again. I know that it takes a bit for the sir to purge after restart, but I waited about 20 minutes. Any ideas what's going on?

Your siphon stanpipe is likely submerged too far into the sump and during startup the open channel is taking most of the flow. The siphon standpipe should only be an inch or so under water. You can also drill a few holes in the standpipe right above the sumps water level to help ensure that the siphon starts easily.

[Jgoal55]

Thanks William. I took a look and all three pipes are probably about 1.5 inches or a bit less under the water line. You think that's too deep? If so, should I drill holes in all of them? Would that cause too much splashing?

I made the mistake of gluing those last sections of pipe before marking the water line.....

I dont know if this matters, but the siphon channel and the open channel elbows in the overflow box are at the same level.....should the open channel elbow be higher?

Also, when I finally tune the siphon channel to where its silent, it seems that virtually no water at all comes down the open channel, thats what should be happening correct?

thanks for your help.....pics here if you think theyd help: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1687207&page=7

[Jgoal55]

Originally Posted by jbryks

i have all the parts to start drilling this overflow and i just have one question...i am going to use 1 1/2 bulkheads and am just wondering how far down from the black trim should i drill....the one thing that i dont see to much are the size of the internal overflows...any info would help pics too..


jordan

Jordan....Im not really sure I understand what you're asking here but I used 1.5" bulkheads and they work great....not sure what black trim you are referring too so I cant help you there.....just wanted to let you know the 1.5s are a good size imo.