DIY Overflow

[newfish]

So instead of paying for an expensive(for me) overflow I was thinking about trying to make something myself. Anyone have any DIY Overflow setups or has anyone seen any that work yet are cheap.

Here is the sump that I have so I have to be able to adapt it to the sump.

 

 

Thanks'

Josh

[wreck]

I've been using a Quietflo600 from Hurricanefilters.com for over a year with no troubles and it's very quiet. I paid $50 for mine, but I just looked on their site and it's on sale for $36. But if I had an empty tank I would drill it for a couple of bulkheads.

Wreck

[newfish]

Thanks for the site, I will take a look at it. As far as drilling I dont think my tank can be drilled because of the glass :( but will def. look into the other types.

 

Thanks

Josh

[Guest MikeInFredVA]

Thanks for the site, I will take a look at it. As far as drilling I dont think my tank can be drilled because of the glass :( but will def. look into the other types.

 

Thanks

Josh

Go talk to Johnny at BRK and get you a holesaw, and a bulkhead. Then PVC down to your sump and you can set a return up many many ways, it's not really hard and johnny has many good Ideas so it's not hard doesn't take long and you don;t have too fully empty your tank.

 

 

Mike

[treesprite]

Go talk to Johnny at BRK and get you a holesaw, and a bulkhead. Then PVC down to your sump and you can set a return up many many ways, it's not really hard and johnny has many good Ideas so it's not hard doesn't take long and you don;t have too fully empty your tank.

Mike

Do you mean you don't have to fully empty the tank to drill it? As in leave half the water and all the livestock and still be able to drill? If such a thing is a possibility with no chance of breaking the tank, it might be something worth considering.

[ErikS]

Yes, a tank can be drilled while partially full...........it requires care but it can be done.

 

Standard disclaimer - you can not drill tempered under any circumstances.

[treesprite]

Yes, a tank can be drilled while partially full...........it requires care but it can be done.

 

Standard disclaimer - you can not drill tempered under any circumstances.

 

 

Bit of a hijack...

since I now know it can be done with the stuff still in it, does anyone want to volunteer to drill it for me in a couple months?

[YBeNormal]

If such a thing is a possibility with no chance of breaking the tank. . .

 

No chance of breaking? Wrong! There is always a possibility of the glass breaking whether the tank is empty or partially full. That's why everyone (including LFS and glass shops) will inform you that they will drill the tank at your risk.

[ErikS]

No chance of breaking? Wrong! There is always a possibility of the glass breaking whether the tank is empty or partially full. That's why everyone (including LFS and glass shops) will inform you that they will drill the tank at your risk.

Yeah - far cry from knowing it can be done to actually doing it.

[DonP]

Along the same lines, I am looking for a new tank, probably used. There are a lot of them out there that are not drilled. Assuming the tank is empty..... what are the advantages/disadvantages to drilling a tank through the back for overflows/returns vs using an overflow box. Also, what are the major advantages/disadvantages of having drilled overflows/returns through the bottom vs. through the back of the tank?

[ErikS]

Along the same lines, I am looking for a new tank, probably used. There are a lot of them out there that are not drilled. Assuming the tank is empty..... what are the advantages/disadvantages to drilling a tank through the back for overflows/returns vs using an overflow box. Also, what are the major advantages/disadvantages of having drilled overflows/returns through the bottom vs. through the back of the tank?

Drilled vs overflow - an overflow requires a siphon to operate, a poorly designed one can fail to start or maintain a siphon in the event the main pump shuts down (power failure). What happens is the main pump re-starts & pumps water from the sump to the tank......if the overflow isn't working the tank overflows = mess.

 

A properly designed one like LifeReef, Hurricane, or Amiracle will hold the spihon & suffer no such issues. It will maintain the siphon & start working when the main pump comes back online. Five years without a single issue tells me they're reliable.

 

Optimum is a drilled or "reef ready" (same = same) tank. It requires no siphon to function therefore is pretty bullet proof. Drilling in the back saves a bit of floor space & makes the pipes a bit easier to hide. Many tanks are built with tempered glass in the bottom - this makes it impossible to drill, hence many aftermarket (DIY) drills are done in the back. Most all factory "reef ready" tanks are drilled through the bottom.

 

Both systems can fail, in rare events like clogs = they require some maintenance.

[DonP]

Drilled vs overflow - an overflow requires a siphon to operate, a poorly designed one can fail to start or maintain a siphon in the event the main pump shuts down (power failure). What happens is the main pump re-starts & pumps water from the sump to the tank......if the overflow isn't working the tank overflows = mess.

 

A properly designed one like LifeReef, Hurricane, or Amiracle will hold the spihon & suffer no such issues. It will maintain the siphon & start working when the main pump comes back online. Five years without a single issue tells me they're reliable.

 

Optimum is a drilled or "reef ready" (same = same) tank. It requires no siphon to function therefore is pretty bullet proof. Drilling in the back saves a bit of floor space & makes the pipes a bit easier to hide. Many tanks are built with tempered glass in the bottom - this makes it impossible to drill, hence many aftermarket (DIY) drills are done in the back. Most all factory "reef ready" tanks are drilled through the bottom.

 

Both systems can fail, in rare events like clogs = they require some maintenance.

 

 

Thanks - Sounds like there are good options to go with both the drilled and overflow box options, but ideal is probably drilled, especially on a bigger tank where the "mess" factor is greater . I would also think that the bigger the tank, the thicker the glass and the better success rate for drilling with no mishaps. From what I have read on different forums, it would appear that patience while drilling (low pressure) with good water flow or drilling coolant would be the keys.

 

I also noticed on the BRK website reference above that they have both bulkheads and Uniseals. Any thoughts on their use/proper applications and experience on the use of the two, success and issues?

[ErikS]

Bulkheads, uni-seals are for an entirely different application. Uni-seals work by having a slightly smaller hole than the OD of the pipe, putting the pipe into a uni-seal forces it against the edges of the hole, making a seal.............don't think that would be such a good idea against glass. Also, there's no real need for them, glass provides a smooth rigid surface = ideal for a bulkhead.

[treesprite]

I was going to post something here but rather than make the hijack even bigger I'll put the possibly goofy idea in a different thread...

[newfish]

Any thoughts on whether something like this would work. Also any thoughts on what size pump should be used for this?

 

 

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/diy-pro...rflow-sump.html

[quazi]

FWIW, I have been using an overflow for over 18 years. It has NEVER failed me. One big caveat: I have 2 u-tubes. This has saved me more than once. I would NEVER rely on one tube. I only push about 600 gall/hr in my 55 so I might get away with 1 tube. But I always want redundancy.