Silent thin overflow idea

lucidheights · 01/25/2012, 01:43 AM

i've noticed some threads here with thin overflow designs and i'm considering implementing one in my next rimless reef. I would like to run the bean-animal system because of how silent it is, but i am not sure if it's possible with this style of overflow. i have however sketched something that may work. I would like some opinions before i try it.

The top hole would be the secondary/safety drain (not sure if a third hole is neccessary), and the bottom will be the full syphon drain. i haven't included the pvc parts but i'm sure you can imagine what it would look like, also there will be no elbows within the overflow box because it is only 3/4" width. The space between the two holes is about 5" in the sketch but i'm not sure if this is enough to keep the syphon from sucking air out of the surface. what do you think? Any suggestions on making it better?

lucidheights · 01/25/2012, 01:52 AM

i should also mention that the holes will not be directly under each other like the sketch shows. They will be apart to allow plumbing to go straight down.

96p993 · 01/25/2012, 10:13 AM

Couple questions..

Size of tank?

Expected flow through overflow?

Is 3/4" big enough to get a bulkhead screwed on or will this all be done before putting on wall?

Maintenance of overflow?

My biggest concern is going to be tuning the system, 3/4" is not much space to get you hand down in there. I have a glass-holes.com overflow which is thin and it is tough to do much maintenance on or fine tuning on. The idea is solid, just have to figure out a couple issues

lucidheights · 01/25/2012, 01:49 PM

This would be on a 4'x2'x2'
Flow would be less than 1000gph
Bulkhead would def have to be secured before the glass is siliconed
As far as maintenance i was thinking maybe a blast of water from a high pressure pump would clean up anything trapped inside.

tinkerman · 01/25/2012, 03:38 PM

I run a beananimal with slim internal box and external box. Internal is 36"x2"x6" external is 36"x6"x6" the 2 boxs are connected with 3 holes from previous 1 1/2 bulkhead holes that are nolonger there. Works great and quiet.

rndmcnflct · 01/25/2012, 04:26 PM

What you propose has been done already, and to perfection:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...1920386&page=2

As far as I am concerned this is the most elegant, beautiful, and functional overflow possible to exist. Page three shows you how you could do it with a full siphon and extra drain.

tinkerman · 01/25/2012, 05:13 PM

rndmcnflct how do you get to anything to clean? If the box is under tank not sure how you would implament a beananimal overflow plumbing in this. That was the OP's question was about beananimal overflow.

rndmcnflct · 01/26/2012, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinkerman

rndmcnflct how do you get to anything to clean? If the box is under tank not sure how you would implament a beananimal overflow plumbing in this. That was the OP's question was about beananimal overflow.

I don't have an overflow like that, I only want to have one built like that one day.

To clean it, I imagine a pipe cleaner brush would do the job between the panels. Unions on the bottom would allow you to clean the plumbing.

On page three of that thread I linked (post 57), the first panel would be connected to a box, then to a ball valve, allowing you to tune in a siphon. The second panel would be connected to a second box and would catch the rest. Two coast to coast overflows could handle a gigantic amount of flow, a third safety overflow wouldn't really be needed.

As for the design in the OP, of course it could be done in a bean animal style. All he is proposing is a very slim internal overflow, just plumb it like any other bean animal system. The position and height of the holes determines what does what.

tinkerman · 01/26/2012, 08:32 PM

rndmcnflct the link and style of overflow you posted you would never be able to use with a beananimal overflow style. The beananimal uses a syphon, durso, durso that turns into a syphon, and a 4th back up pipe. You can't fit the durso plumbing in the box below the tank or run the plumbing up far enough to implament the 4th fail safe. I don't think you can even implament a herbie style overflow with your linked overflow. If you can please explain how. To the OP the thinest you would be able to go would be about 3" in tank and not be able to remove plumbing with out ripping out the overflow box. I did 2" and if I went smaller I wouldn't be able to clean it or any other matinance.

01/25/2012, 01:43 AM	#1
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	Silent thin overflow idea i've noticed some threads here with thin overflow designs and i'm considering implementing one in my next rimless reef. I would like to run the bean-animal system because of how silent it is, but i am not sure if it's possible with this style of overflow. i have however sketched something that may work. I would like some opinions before i try it. The top hole would be the secondary/safety drain (not sure if a third hole is neccessary), and the bottom will be the full syphon drain. i haven't included the pvc parts but i'm sure you can imagine what it would look like, also there will be no elbows within the overflow box because it is only 3/4" width. The space between the two holes is about 5" in the sketch but i'm not sure if this is enough to keep the syphon from sucking air out of the surface. what do you think? Any suggestions on making it better?

01/25/2012, 01:52 AM	#2
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	i should also mention that the holes will not be directly under each other like the sketch shows. They will be apart to allow plumbing to go straight down.

01/25/2012, 10:13 AM	#3
96p993 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mckinney, Tx Posts: 1,130	Couple questions.. Size of tank? Expected flow through overflow? Is 3/4" big enough to get a bulkhead screwed on or will this all be done before putting on wall? Maintenance of overflow? My biggest concern is going to be tuning the system, 3/4" is not much space to get you hand down in there. I have a glass-holes.com overflow which is thin and it is tough to do much maintenance on or fine tuning on. The idea is solid, just have to figure out a couple issues

01/25/2012, 01:49 PM	#4
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	This would be on a 4'x2'x2' Flow would be less than 1000gph Bulkhead would def have to be secured before the glass is siliconed As far as maintenance i was thinking maybe a blast of water from a high pressure pump would clean up anything trapped inside.

01/25/2012, 03:38 PM	#5
tinkerman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Moorhead,MN Posts: 386	I run a beananimal with slim internal box and external box. Internal is 36"x2"x6" external is 36"x6"x6" the 2 boxs are connected with 3 holes from previous 1 1/2 bulkhead holes that are nolonger there. Works great and quiet.

01/25/2012, 04:26 PM	#6
rndmcnflct Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 25	What you propose has been done already, and to perfection: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...1920386&page=2 As far as I am concerned this is the most elegant, beautiful, and functional overflow possible to exist. Page three shows you how you could do it with a full siphon and extra drain.

01/25/2012, 05:13 PM	#7
tinkerman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Moorhead,MN Posts: 386	rndmcnflct how do you get to anything to clean? If the box is under tank not sure how you would implament a beananimal overflow plumbing in this. That was the OP's question was about beananimal overflow.

01/26/2012, 08:32 PM	#9
tinkerman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Moorhead,MN Posts: 386	rndmcnflct the link and style of overflow you posted you would never be able to use with a beananimal overflow style. The beananimal uses a syphon, durso, durso that turns into a syphon, and a 4th back up pipe. You can't fit the durso plumbing in the box below the tank or run the plumbing up far enough to implament the 4th fail safe. I don't think you can even implament a herbie style overflow with your linked overflow. If you can please explain how. To the OP the thinest you would be able to go would be about 3" in tank and not be able to remove plumbing with out ripping out the overflow box. I did 2" and if I went smaller I wouldn't be able to clean it or any other matinance.