internal overflow pipe

[ibmgeek]

i have a 90 gallon tank(60"x18"x20") with a 2inch inside diameter bulkhead in the center of the tank. my aquarium is going to be setup in which you can see all 4 sides of the tank. so i have to build a system that is hidden. i rather not use an internal overflow box because it takes up too much space inside the tank. so i was thinking of just having the 2inch pipe come up and then attach a funnel or bowl kind of thing at the end of the pipe. would this work and be quiet?

thanks in advance for your suggestions.:eek1:

[electric130]

i've been searching, but can't find the overflow pipe i'm looking for. i saw a setup at an aquarium store where the overflow was just a clear tube coming up from the bottom with a wide strainer on top for surface skimming. there was an adjustable air tube that went down the center to make it silent. maybe someone else knows the name of what i'm talking about. but yes, you can make it work.

[ibmgeek]

thank you for replying. i think i am going to do just that because if i build an internal overflow box it will take up too much space. i have seen the common overflow designs but i dont really like them. i am just going to take the pvc almost all the way to the top and then add a wide funnel, bowl, or kind of strainer. then ill add the tubing so it wont make noise. does anybody see any problems with this design? Do you think it will still be loud? what if i till the pipe a little so it wil be at an angle so the water will flow down better?

if you guys have any pictures of a similiar setup or situation as mine please post.

thanks:rollface:

[sjm817]

Make that sucker sturdy. If it broke, it could drain a lot of water and cause a nice flood.

[ibmgeek]

trust me ill make sure its sturdy. about the idea what do you think?

[electric130]

i found it. it's called the "Jet Stream" by Marineland. http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/con_jssuper.asp i don't know if anywhere sells them seperate. you could contact marineland and ask them.

[1010]

i have seen it done just using a pvc pipe with nothing at the top, it was not loud, but they may have had lower gph. ( think its called a stand pipe?)

[bbeck4x4]

here is what I came up with on my 90, been working great, I added a piece of eggcrate in the middle to keep snails and fish out

http://picasaweb.google.com/bbeck4x4/OverflowPics

[bbeck4x4]

btw, it is very quiet, with the flow under 400gph.

Brian

[ibmgeek]

thank you for the replies. i think i am going to do something similar to bbeck4x4 but might have to experiment with some modifications because since my overflow pipe is 2 inches inside diameter there will be a lot more flow than 400gph.

[bbeck4x4]

yes, you would be able to get much more flow, and still have it quiet, I had 1" pipe to work with.

remember though, that this works similar to calfo's horizontal or coast to coast over flow, as long as the flow is very low so you get the thinest layer of the water column.

in my sump this goes directly to the skimmer compartment.

[medic29]

You might also look at using acrylic tube...it can come in various thicknesses and you could use 3/16 or 1/4 inch and glue it at the bottom. It would be clear as well. You could seal the top with a flat piece of acrylic and trip it so it is flush, then drill holes in the end and top sides of the pipe/tube (kind of a modified overflow), this way it would all be clear. Another version is the have the tube come up and holes drilled in the top end, the place a cap that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch larger in diameter on top of the tube, this would make is quieter and would keep most everything underwater. Sounds like a really neat design. If I had my drains in the bottom of my tank I might try something like the....maybe the next tank.

[bbeck4x4]

that would work, but would defeat the surface skimming, my first design had slots in the pvc that let the water in the sides, my intent was to keep the fish out, and the snails, (nearly had a flood with snails in the pipe) problem was it plugged up easily with algae, water ended up going over the top anyway, also I thought the skimmer was junk it wouldn't produce anything. with the flow low (less than 3x tank volume) the skimmer is running great now.

of 'course I have a closed loop running approx 3600gph so I don't need to have all my flow from the sump.

[GoblinFish]

Here is what i found on glasscages.com
It should be 100% silent since the intakes are submerged.

http://www.glasscages.com/custpics/90AqSetup.jpg

[donald altman]

it is what I plan on doing with mine.

You can get 2 inch strainers and just put a slip fitting on the end of your stand pipe that has a threaded 2 inch inner part then screw your strainer on top.. it will stick out of the top of the aquarium but keep things out of the pipe

[electric130]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8531423#post8531423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GoblinFish
[B]Here is what i found on glasscages.com
It should be 100% silent since the intakes are submerged.
see that "tornado" forming at the intakes? those suck in air and the air sucking sound is what's so loud. you need a way to regulate that air like the durso does to prevent too much noise.

[Keelay]

The poster of this thread http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8406454#post8406454
was trying to do something similar. There were some good ideas (but no pics tossed around)

-Kyle

[ibmgeek]

thank you keelay for that link. thats exactly what i am going to do. i am also going to use an extra 1 inch bulkheadon the bottom as an emergency pipe just in case something happens with the 2 inch main pipe. Is that system fairly quite?

[Keelay]

As long as you top it with a stockman it should be very quiet. ...Or you could try the hofer gurgle buster as well. Haven't tried it yet, but everyone has has raves about it.

Stockman
http://www.rl180reef.com/pages/standpipe/standpipe-ken_stockman.htm


Hofer gurgle buster
http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/

[ibmgeek]

This is an old post but thought i share what i finally came up with. Does not restrict flow and is pretty much silent.
http://pic30.picturetrail.com/VOL1557/7127623/15758434/246152680.jpg

http://pic30.picturetrail.com/VOL1557/7127623/15758434/246152663.jpg

[dkk08]

any pics or instructions on how u made the top?

[Keelay]

Looks to me like 2" pvc stand pipe. A 4" to 2" adapter for the skimmer/weir and a 2" to 3" adapter for the bell. The top looks like a 2" plug.

Sweet idea.

The 4" fitting is really about 5" in diameter making almost 16" of linear surface skimming (Pi * diameter). That will handle most tanks very efficiently.

[ibmgeek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10497109#post10497109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Keelay
Looks to me like 2" pvc stand pipe. A 4" to 2" adapter for the skimmer/weir and a 2" to 3" adapter for the bell. The top looks like a 2" plug.

Sweet idea.

The 4" fitting is really about 5" in diameter making almost 16" of linear surface skimming (Pi * diameter). That will handle most tanks very efficiently.

Have you been stalking me:lol: Thats exactly what it is!:D

[ibmgeek]

Its basically a Hofer Gurgle Buster but i put my own little twist on their:D

[electric130]

looks like the contraption Marineland puts on their tanks.

[skhle]

I have mag 18 on my return, my stand pipe 1 1/2" at top I cut slots to fit eggcrate with cut end sticking out and put a 2" cap with 1/4" drill hole the cap is holding in place by the cut end of eggcrate little noise good flow.

[Keelay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10498153#post10498153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ibmgeek
Have you been stalking me:lol: Thats exactly what it is!:D

No. I'm stalking your tank ;)

[Keelay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10498153#post10498153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ibmgeek
Have you been stalking me:lol: Thats exactly what it is!:D

So it looks like you slid the 2" fitting all the way through the 2"-4" adapter. Is that right? How did you have to modify the fitting to allow you to do that? Usually the fittings taper and have a stop lip on them.