need 40b overflow recommendations

Neddy191 · 11/06/2011, 01:34 PM

I'm in the planning stages for setting up a 40b. I'll have a 20L sump/fuge. Hoping to do a DYI LED lighting setup. I"m trying to figure out the best overflow design. It will be in my living room so I really want it to be pretty quiet. So far I"ve looked at several styles - glass holes type which I've read can be pretty loud - herbie - and beananimal 3 pipe. I love the idea of the beananimal version but I'm concerned making a big wide overflow box for it would block the light to the back of the tank and take up some space for corals. How narrow could I make the box if I did decide to do a beananimal style?

Anyone have any suggesions? I've done alot of searching and thread reading but still would like advice.

krshlln300 · 11/06/2011, 03:11 PM

I actually didnt do any of those 3. My overflow is DEAD silent and the only thing I can hear is the wavemaker switching the pumps as a small click when they turn on. I do not have any pick but i will try and describe the best way I can for you.

First I drilled 4 holes in my tank. 2 drain and 2 return. I did not make any fancy overflow or create any fancy auxillary drain systems. all I did was used a basic bulkhead strainer on the first drain and NOTHING else inside the tank but the strainer. on the other drain is a 90 degree elbow turned horizontally to the level of the aquarium water level and drilled about 1/2" higher than the main drain. To prevent noise from sloshing I used nylon reinforced tube pvc as the drain into the sump from both. I also drilled and tapped an air tube in the 90 degree elbow (dry side of course) just like the bean animal type on the main drain. The final way I made it dead silent is by having the returns terminate about 6 or 7" under the water level in the sump. With the strainers there are no clogs to worry about and with where I keep my water level, the main drain has full siphon, and the 2nd drain has a very minimal trickle. even when the main return pump powered off, there is plenty of room to spare in the sump for any back siphon and draining. Now with me running a fuge, it is a low flow sump of about 300gph if that with a quiet one 3000 dialed down, My system is incredibly quiet and the only time I hear anything is if i am the only one home and standing right next to it- just a slight trickle of water kind of sound from the water going over the baffles, and thats with an open bottom iron stand with eggcrate being the doors lol (don't have a full time job yet so i can't afford to buy or make an actual wooden stand) The good thing about these drains is there is no light or space obstruction and even with some macro algae getting stuck in the strainer, I have had NO issues at all with water flow or noise, even with the second drain having water go down it there is no noise! I love it! I will add tho that the air tube is only utilized to get rid of the air bubble to create a full siphon, after that I clamped the air tube closed or submerged part of it otherwise it will suck air down the tube and you will get bubbling in the drain section of the sump and that can be a bit noisy. The only downside is that during water changes, I usually have to clean off a little bit of gunk from the strainer but that is easy since they just unscrew from the threaded Bulkhead. Hope this helps. Btw if you have any questions or want some pics (i am away from my camera at my in-laws right now- will be able to get pics tonight) just shoot me a pm and i will be more than happy to help.

One last note, if you don't mind a little extra maintenance, you could use a clear bottom overflow on your beananimal style overflow to allow light access to corals without much interruption in PAR or space. It would allow you to set some rock along the back wall and grow stuff under the overflow, only downside is that you would need to occaisionally need to scrape off corraline or algae from the inside of the overflow. Hope this helps!

Neddy191 · 11/06/2011, 03:20 PM

I think I can visualize the setup you've described. Would you happen to have any pictures?

username in use · 11/06/2011, 03:26 PM

You can also make an external bean animal overflow, although it would be a little more work, it would be the cleanest of all the choices.

ati70cutlass · 11/06/2011, 04:03 PM

use the bean animal system. its best if you have any worries. good system. just from experience a 1" bulkhead on an internal overflow box will not hold a mag 5. i had to go to a 1.5" system to hold that. i would also go with a 29 gal tank and partition a section for top off. i did that 14 gallon sump with a 5 gallon top off. ... couldnt be happier with the results

Neddy191 · 11/06/2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ati70cutlass

use the bean animal system. its best if you have any worries. good system. just from experience a 1" bulkhead on an internal overflow box will not hold a mag 5. i had to go to a 1.5" system to hold that. i would also go with a 29 gal tank and partition a section for top off. i did that 14 gallon sump with a 5 gallon top off. ... couldnt be happier with the results

So are you saying 1.5" bulkheads for all 3 drains?

Neddy191 · 11/06/2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username in use

You can also make an external bean animal overflow, although it would be a little more work, it would be the cleanest of all the choices.

If I was confident that I could build an external one and not have it every leak for end up flooding the house I think that would be a great idea.

ati70cutlass · 11/06/2011, 09:34 PM

neddy,

i think on a 40 , a single 1.5 that has the overflow screened so no one gets trapped is fine, i ran it on mine for over 3 years with no issues. once i had a snail get caught in a 1" that had no strainer and overflowed my tank in the middle of the night. luckly i heard the top off keep kicking on and that grabbed my attention. but ever since i made a screen for it ive never had a single problem. with the single 1.5 ive been able to run a mag 9.5 with no issues. however all i run on it is a mag 5. just make sure you make a screen to prevent stuff from getting in there.
on the other hand if you want two/three i think 1" will be just fine on the bean system. the 1.5x3 is rated for over 2000gph so i think you will be more than fine doing the smaller 1" or a single 1.5 . just my opinion.
i also run 2 1.5"s on my 75 and can flow a mag 18 with no issues other than a storm in the tank. thats 1500gph

11/06/2011, 01:34 PM	#1
Neddy191 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 52	need 40b overflow recommendations I'm in the planning stages for setting up a 40b. I'll have a 20L sump/fuge. Hoping to do a DYI LED lighting setup. I"m trying to figure out the best overflow design. It will be in my living room so I really want it to be pretty quiet. So far I"ve looked at several styles - glass holes type which I've read can be pretty loud - herbie - and beananimal 3 pipe. I love the idea of the beananimal version but I'm concerned making a big wide overflow box for it would block the light to the back of the tank and take up some space for corals. How narrow could I make the box if I did decide to do a beananimal style? Anyone have any suggesions? I've done alot of searching and thread reading but still would like advice.

11/06/2011, 03:26 PM	#4
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	You can also make an external bean animal overflow, although it would be a little more work, it would be the cleanest of all the choices. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

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11/06/2011, 03:11 PM	#2
krshlln300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Robinson twp, PA Posts: 641	I actually didnt do any of those 3. My overflow is DEAD silent and the only thing I can hear is the wavemaker switching the pumps as a small click when they turn on. I do not have any pick but i will try and describe the best way I can for you. First I drilled 4 holes in my tank. 2 drain and 2 return. I did not make any fancy overflow or create any fancy auxillary drain systems. all I did was used a basic bulkhead strainer on the first drain and NOTHING else inside the tank but the strainer. on the other drain is a 90 degree elbow turned horizontally to the level of the aquarium water level and drilled about 1/2" higher than the main drain. To prevent noise from sloshing I used nylon reinforced tube pvc as the drain into the sump from both. I also drilled and tapped an air tube in the 90 degree elbow (dry side of course) just like the bean animal type on the main drain. The final way I made it dead silent is by having the returns terminate about 6 or 7" under the water level in the sump. With the strainers there are no clogs to worry about and with where I keep my water level, the main drain has full siphon, and the 2nd drain has a very minimal trickle. even when the main return pump powered off, there is plenty of room to spare in the sump for any back siphon and draining. Now with me running a fuge, it is a low flow sump of about 300gph if that with a quiet one 3000 dialed down, My system is incredibly quiet and the only time I hear anything is if i am the only one home and standing right next to it- just a slight trickle of water kind of sound from the water going over the baffles, and thats with an open bottom iron stand with eggcrate being the doors lol (don't have a full time job yet so i can't afford to buy or make an actual wooden stand) The good thing about these drains is there is no light or space obstruction and even with some macro algae getting stuck in the strainer, I have had NO issues at all with water flow or noise, even with the second drain having water go down it there is no noise! I love it! I will add tho that the air tube is only utilized to get rid of the air bubble to create a full siphon, after that I clamped the air tube closed or submerged part of it otherwise it will suck air down the tube and you will get bubbling in the drain section of the sump and that can be a bit noisy. The only downside is that during water changes, I usually have to clean off a little bit of gunk from the strainer but that is easy since they just unscrew from the threaded Bulkhead. Hope this helps. Btw if you have any questions or want some pics (i am away from my camera at my in-laws right now- will be able to get pics tonight) just shoot me a pm and i will be more than happy to help. One last note, if you don't mind a little extra maintenance, you could use a clear bottom overflow on your beananimal style overflow to allow light access to corals without much interruption in PAR or space. It would allow you to set some rock along the back wall and grow stuff under the overflow, only downside is that you would need to occaisionally need to scrape off corraline or algae from the inside of the overflow. Hope this helps!

11/06/2011, 03:20 PM	#3
Neddy191 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 52	I think I can visualize the setup you've described. Would you happen to have any pictures?

11/06/2011, 04:03 PM	#5
ati70cutlass Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: mo Posts: 425	use the bean animal system. its best if you have any worries. good system. just from experience a 1" bulkhead on an internal overflow box will not hold a mag 5. i had to go to a 1.5" system to hold that. i would also go with a 29 gal tank and partition a section for top off. i did that 14 gallon sump with a 5 gallon top off. ... couldnt be happier with the results

11/06/2011, 09:34 PM	#8
ati70cutlass Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: mo Posts: 425	neddy, i think on a 40 , a single 1.5 that has the overflow screened so no one gets trapped is fine, i ran it on mine for over 3 years with no issues. once i had a snail get caught in a 1" that had no strainer and overflowed my tank in the middle of the night. luckly i heard the top off keep kicking on and that grabbed my attention. but ever since i made a screen for it ive never had a single problem. with the single 1.5 ive been able to run a mag 9.5 with no issues. however all i run on it is a mag 5. just make sure you make a screen to prevent stuff from getting in there. on the other hand if you want two/three i think 1" will be just fine on the bean system. the 1.5x3 is rated for over 2000gph so i think you will be more than fine doing the smaller 1" or a single 1.5 . just my opinion. i also run 2 1.5"s on my 75 and can flow a mag 18 with no issues other than a storm in the tank. thats 1500gph