Done It Myself

[spade]

great setup and IMO A++ diy projects!!!

powerpoint ..... no kidding i kow tow to u .....

[Ian]

Here is my update on my OFB.

[mv3i]

bro ,

juz curious ... how much have you spent on the OFB already ??

[eprouve]

Hi Ian,

Wah, very impressed... got more pictures to show? I'm still plannning my sump/refugium. I believe you read and saw my design in "Sump Design" thread.

I was just wondering about the durso stand pipe bit... and here's what I drew... I'll be doing up the durso like in the link you and spade provided... where the durso will be sticking through the tank wall.

So I've got several questions:

1. Part "A" can be just a normal PVC elbow which I silicon to the internal tank glass wall of the overflow chamber right? Should the entire elbow be below the level of the other chamber walls (ie: expected water level when water is stagnant, not moving by pumps).

2. Part "B" can just be a cap with a hole drilled in it like yours? The airvalve is just simply a hole? Do I need to take precautions to prevent water from blowing through? How high should this be above part "A", minimum?

3. What will the expected water level be if everything is up and running? 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?

4. Once everything is assembled correctly, it will run without a glitch by itself right? I mean I won't need to blow or suck air through the air valve or whatever?

5. I'm considering having more than one of these to bring water back to my main tank. Would there be any problems if I were to install a tap-valve or ball-valve under part "C"?

6. How do you calculate the number of overflow boxes you need based on your pump's 500gph? If I were to have 2 of these durso standpipes (diameter 4 cm) working with my 750 l/hr pump... its too much right? I'll need smaller diameters correct?

Hope you don't mind... I'm quite an idiot when it comes to such things...

[Ian]

bro ,

juz curious ... how much have you spent on the OFB already ??

Here is the break down for a big OFB!

Complete Acrylic cut to size, drilling holes,

joining strips and clorophome $40

PVC Pipes $12

Washing machine hose $ 9

Redone front Acrylic with teeth cut $26

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Total cost of only materials $87

The bulk of the cost is actuall the cutting of the teeth.

Must find a cheaper source.

[wsiong]

I just went to the shop to cut the front teeth for the over flow. Cost me $25. Damm high i think. Will collect it later in the day to install and i'll post more pic later tonight.

About the cost I cannot say now cause the cost today for the teeth is so high. Must find other altanitive. I'm looking for the ones the marine shop is using. Grey color and very easy to install. Anyone can help?

Hi Phang,

Thinking of setting up your 3 footer?

[Ian]

Here is how it look like now.

[Ian]

Another one.

[wsiong]

Another one.

Excellent. Well done Ian.

[Ian]

Last one. don't want to bore you guys

[Ian]

Thanks wsiong

[Ian]

btw , yours MH ? what bulbs are you using ? DE ?

Actually not sure of the brand. I think i better find out. Its for aquarium for sure.

[eprouve]

Ian, where did you get you MH lights? Can you also tell me what's the estimated cost for just one unit instead of 2 like yours?

[Ian]

Hey Ian,

Nice reef there....

And one question, What's that for your avater... looks strange.....hmmmm

Coming back to the topic of external overflow, was thinking how much you would charge for a overflow llike yours???

Thinking of a smaller reef with a external overflow instead of a inbuilt one....

Phang for a small OFB like what i use to have, the material cost was about $35 without the cutout teeth. That cost alot more.

[Ian]

Ian, where did you get you MH lights? Can you also tell me what's the estimated cost for just one unit instead of 2 like yours?

The address is :

Blk 633 Veerasamy Road #01-134

Look for Anson and tell him your friend dennis, who has a marine tank recomended you there. Hope he remembers me <_<

I bought 2 (Lanzini Alaska 150W Fitting black with gears)

and 2 MH 10000k bulbs. Without hanging cable and hooks.

Tel:6298 6688

Cost slightly less than $300 a piece.

Hope this helps.

[Anthony]

hi ian ... i like ur design maybe i can copy abit.

just want ask u afew question...

hope u dun mind me copy ur design...

heehee thanx alots

i hope i can get the workshop to cut my box teeth ..

[Ian]

Dude! Copy Cat!!!

I Also copy cat and dog!!

Back to business:

1. return pipe, 20mm correct.

2. Yup, called "end cap".

3. Correct!!! 25mm.

4. This is the air hose connector with tap. I use this to start up the siphon. Used only once. connect air hose, open tap, suck out air untill water comes out, then close tap. All the air in the hose is gone! And ready for action!

[Anthony]

ohh yeah thanx dudez...

[Ian]

1. Part "A" can be just a normal PVC elbow which I silicon to the internal tank glass wall of the overflow chamber right? Should the entire elbow be below the level of the other chamber walls (ie: expected water level when water is stagnant, not moving by pumps).

2. Part "B" can just be a cap with a hole drilled in it like yours? The airvalve is just simply a hole? Do I need to take precautions to prevent water from blowing through? How high should this be above part "A", minimum?

3. What will the expected water level be if everything is up and running? 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?

4. Once everything is assembled correctly, it will run without a glitch by itself right? I mean I won't need to blow or suck air through the air valve or whatever?

5. I'm considering having more than one of these to bring water back to my main tank. Would there be any problems if I were to install a tap-valve or ball-valve under part "C"?

6. How do you calculate the number of overflow boxes you need based on your pump's 500gph? If I were to have 2 of these durso standpipes (diameter 4 cm) working with my 750 l/hr pump... its too much right? I'll need smaller diameters correct?

2. The hole is very small slightly smaller than a normal pencil lead. The height of the top end cap does not matter. mine is high for easy excess.

3. Slightly higher than 1

4. Only the initial suck did'nt sound right.

5. It's good to put a tap so you can control it.

6.

Placed both and ran the system. stopped one box and the return flow into the sump was not enough. so 2 was needed.

Use the 25mm pipes. If the flow is to much just use the ball valve tap.

[eprouve]

Thanks dude... you're a great help! But having said what you said, I got 2 more questions:

1. How did you drill that hole which is smaller than a pencil lead?

2. Did you actually put your mouth over the "small hole" (or the entire end-cap, for that matter) and sucked?

[Phang]

Hi Phang,

Thinking of setting up your 3 footer?

Actually thinking of setting up a growth out tank....

[Phang]

Phang for a small OFB like what i use to have, the material cost was about $35 without the cutout teeth. That cost alot more.

Nice work and very nice presentation....

Hmmm. how much then for what you hav jus done???

BTW, the tap you are using for the release of air, why not use those plastic ones....

[Ian]

Hmmm. how much then for what you hav jus done???

BTW, the tap you are using for the release of air, why not use those plastic ones....  

Price, this job cost me $87 for material. So what do you think is a fair amount?

The tap is on the c-siphon. It is to get the air out from it to start siphon.

For example if you were to siphon out water from your tank, you use a hose. One end is in the water and the other is outside. To start the siphon you need to suck air out from the end of the hose to start the siphon. It is difficult to do that with my OFB. So I placed a tap on top of the c-siphon to suck out the air, therefore starting the siphon. So happen i had the mettal ones. Good idea, i'll change to plastic soon.

[Sinn]

so did u taste the saltwater ?

[Ian]

Thanks dude... you're a great help!  But having said what you said, I got 2 more questions:

1.  How did you drill that hole which is smaller than a pencil lead?

2.  Did you actually put your mouth over the "small hole" (or the entire end-cap, for that matter) and sucked?  

1R. I used a swiss army knife. And screwed it in slowly. Used the tool in the pic. Very good for making holes in PVC Pipes!

2R. For your situation, you do not use a c-siphon. The endcap is for air to go in slowly so as not to allow your druso pipe to become a siphon.