Overflow

[d00d]

Thought of sharing and hope to get good or bad comments about this overflow. If good maybe can implement this on new tank. Seems to save a lot of space and would also not allow snails or other LS to get in if a porous sponge is added to it. Better than an overflow box that sticks at one corner and take up precious space IMO.

Its here!!!

http://www.reef-eden.com/DIY%202%20.htm

[Guinness]

Interesting idea, but....

you would have to be very careful in your calculations (in my case, I wouldn't know where to start!). From what i see, how successful this is would depend very much on how great a flow your return pump has. Because the amount of return would be totally dependent on the amount of water that is able to 'overflow'. There seems to be a very small amount of water that can be 'overflowed' due to the small surface area. With such a small downflow..... your return pump could well be pumping lots of air together with the water.....

[d00d]

Hey thanks for the reply dude!

I dun understand what you mean... How could the return pump run dry? Because what ever the return pump pumps up to the main tank, it would overflow into the sump. Like what a normal over flow does.

If you look at the diagram, there is 112+80+80=272mm=10.88inches of linear overflow. Thats a lot of room to overflow. Also the hole drilled to the back of the tank is 2", more than enough space to flow IMHO.

I think a better improvement would be to add teeth to the overflow, so it would enable better overflow.

Any other thoughts guys? Please contribute leh...

[Guinness]

It is very possible for a return to pump faster than the overflow. How to explain i dunno man.

Are you planning to DIY this on your tank? It would be interesting to see how it all works. But alas for me..... too late. Maybe for others who are getting a new tank made.

[terryansimon]

FOR EXAMPLE....

200L of water will fall into the overflow per minute. two overflows will be 400L.

pump pumps up 600L of water per minute. wouldn't this mean that the pump is 200L short per minute? this would be pumping dry...

any guru care to comment? I'm not sure either, but this is the only example I could come up with.

[chselee]

Hi,

IMOH - There is no major problem with the overflow system.

Is you want to have higher flow rate, use a bigger pipe.

25mm pipe should be not problem to handle up to 3000l/hr.

Did it b4 on a 10mm tube for over flow for my 2.5 feet tank.

Did not face any problem with it.

Happy Reef keeping.

[sps_dude]

imo.... the problem of running the pump dry can be solved by using a smaller return pump........ anyway.... cool idea....

[jc85]

Anybody think noise will be an issue?

[terryansimon]

I thought the author of that website said the idea behind this design was to eliminate noise in the first place?

[d00d]

From what I know, the author says he plans to counter the noise issue with a tap at the top of the pipings where he has two green hose connected. I assume it is a three way connector so he can control the amount of air going in. Thus he can control the noise. Need to confirm this with him.

Thanks chselee for sharing your experience with us. Guess the 2" opening shouldn't be a problem.

[alanseah]

FOR EXAMPLE....

200L of water will fall into the overflow per minute. two overflows will be 400L.

pump pumps up 600L of water per minute. wouldn't this mean that the pump is 200L short per minute? this would be pumping dry...

any guru care to comment? I'm not sure either, but this is the only example I could come up with.

This is not a problem.. u can always use a "Tee" where part of your return go back to your sump rather then back to the main tank..

This is handle the problem...and I believe help to increase you flow rate in your sump..

cause I dont think 1 time water pass thought all your filter/skimmer in your sump will be that clean. A 2 or 3 time filtering again will help alot cleaning up the water before going up to main tank..