Japanese overflow design

[reefjapan]

Hi, everybody.
This is my first post on this great site.
I am currently living in Japan and am planning to set up a reef aquarium here.
I've been reading a lot about the initial set up and would like to go with a durso stand-pipe for the overflow system, as it really has to be quiet in operation.
But looking in shops here and japanese retailers on the net I notice a preference for a design that seems to differ to those popular in the states.
Please have a look at the pics on these pages:
http://www.wave-creation.com/image115.jpg
http://www.wave-creation.com/image116.jpg
http://www.wave-creation.com/image123.jpg
http://www.wave-creation.com/image310.jpg
The overflow basically consists of three concentric pipes, the return is the innermost pipe and then the next takes the water to the sump and the outermost makes the overflow box.
The design seems really cool and elegant and also means only one hole needs to be drilled in the bottom of the tank.
The only thing that worries me is the noise! Do you think it would be noisy? What do you think of the design in general. Any major flaws? I'd really appreciate any comments.

[colemanitis]

Welcome to Reef Central!

I couldn't get the links to work. Anyone else having the same problem? Maybe it's just me?

[phonnold]

I had no problem with them.

Very interesting setup there. Takes up less space but needs bigger hole drilled into the tank it looks like. Also there is no need for the corner box. Would be interesting to see it running next to a "regular" drilled setup.

Philip

[Kara]

The links work for me! What a beautiful design for an overflow.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how it would be with noise as I am just now delving into the world of aquarium plumbing.

[lllosingit]

The links work for me.
I think I would want to see it work, before I would commit to that design.
It looks nice but without seeing it run it's going to be hard to tell how loud it is or how much flow it can handle.

[colemanitis]

I guess my work is blocking that URL for some reason. Still can't pull them up. :(

[phonnold]

Ok as I look at those pictures more I "think" I see a problem. With me still being a newbie in SW I could be wrong. With that return right below the overflow there would be the chance for a lot of the water to overflow, go thtought the filter system get pumped backup to the tank and then flow right back into the overflow. A lot of the tank would get "missed". There would be no circulation through the tank. Return on 1 side of the tank and the overflow on the other.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Philip

[alfaman]

Hi all

Thats the classic AMP(Aqua Marine Pro)-inc design

:smokin:

[rmendis]

colemanitis: Try this attachment...

[opihi]

welcome to RC reefjapan

looks like a really clean design now, but i wonder how it looks after 3 months of use.

[krish]

Looks like a special bulkhead fitting that would convert one
hole to hook up to 2 pipes. One for the drain and the one
for the return. This way, we can have a ball valve on the
drain and not bother the return.

If it is the same conventional bulkhead, it would be a pain to
regulate the drain water without the ball valve, if the
2 co-axial tubes are coming into the sump.

-krish

[oz]

reefjapan,

Let me be the first to give you the RC welcome fish.

http://reefcentral.com/images/welcome.gif

http://www.gpb.org/peachstar/explorer/images/home/h2.gif

[colemanitis]

Originally posted by rmendis
colemanitis: Try this attachment... Thanks!!! Now I can see what everybody's talking about!!!

[reefjapan]

Thanks for the great replies everyone and also the warm welcome.
The design seems pretty popular in japan.
They dont seem to have heard of the durso arrangement.
I just worry about the noise of this design.
Hearing it in a shop with aircon going and other tanks running wouldn't give much idea of how noisy it is, I fear.
I guess it would get very encrusted after a few months but that's cool, isn't it?
If I do go with the durso design, is it safe to have 2 holes drilled near to each other in the bottom of a glass tank? The japanese guy I was talking to in the local aquarium shop seemed a little wary about that, although he was quite happy to set the tank up like that if I wanted.

[krish]

The AGA tanks seem to have 2 holes drilled in close proximity.
Personally, i would prefer to space them apart.

But if going with holes that are close, you are better off getting
a template of the hole placement from someone with an
AGA of comparable size. That way, you don't have to take
chances. But again your tank construction should be identical
to an AGA, for example the bottom glass pane thickness etc.

-krish