Nice Cheap DIY Overflow

Maybe...

I think this could work. You would have to also include a hole at the water level on the up and out pipe so when the water drained down past that hole it would suck air. But that might do away with the restarting siphon also? Took me about 5 tries to get mine right

Good luck

 

If you break the siphon it won't restart. That wouldn't be a very safe overflow.


The only real way to do something like that would be to do what in effect the AGA Megaflows do. Have some sort of double walled system with the inside setting the water level and the space in between dragging water from different levels. Hard to explain harder to build cheaply.

 

Hi Guys, I am posting here once I found and made this!
I am a fresh water guy and tried this out and HAD to tell a great modification I made! I added a slip-on round filter to the intake. But the best part is this:
I take my gravel cleaner and submerge it and fill it completely with water, then slip it into the 90 that my intake with the round filter goes 9after removing of course). It works great!

 

I forgot to mention that I actually had to put the outside "u" below the bottom of the tank for the gravel cleaner to work.

 

Hello From Texas!!!!

It has taken me about two Hours to read this thread and I have learned a lot. I posted a question on how to build a wet/dry filter system without using a overflow box on Aquaria Central and I was directed to here, and I am greatful to the person who referred me.

Any way, the reason I am posting is because I have a question about the piece of pipe that connects the top two 90 elbows.(Pipe D in the Graphic provided). Can I make the piece of pipe 6" longer and still function. I built my own canopy and was planning on building my own canister filter system but I have since learned it is not very pratical for a 200 Gallon Tank. I drilled 3 -1 1/4" holes in the canopy for the suction and return lines.(See Photo) I really don't want to modify the canopy and I think the PVC Overflow is exactly what I need.

Is 600 GPH the max for 1 1/4" Pipe?

 

Making that pipe longer shouldn't be a problem and yes 600GPH seem to be the max for 1 1/4".

 

This seems like a great overflow. Any reason the suction tube could not be lowered, if the back tube were made longer as well? I would plan to drill a smal hole just below water line to prevent draining the tank.

 

The intake sets the water level if that is wha you are talking about.

Welcome to 3reef!

 

Hey Covey,

Ive been reading along, and now I have the bug, Im gonna make one. I have a question about the intake. I have a surface skimmer attachment from a prizm skimmer. I would like to make the intake suck from inside the surface attachment by glueing it to the pvc. Would this work?? And do you think it would be noisy?? Im gonna make it out of 1 1/4, and flow 500-600gph through it. Would this make it easier to set the water level in the tank?? I like the 38 gallon tub idea for a sump also. They are like 10 bucks at wal-mart. I was just woundering how you set that up. Did you make it a sump only, or did you make a refuge in there some how?? How did you mount the return pump? I was plaining on making an egg crate stand to hold the pump off the floor. Any pics of your sump, and/or opinions about my intake idea let me know. I havent got my pump yet, so any idea on which pump is quiter would be great too. Ive never had a sump, and this tank is in my bedroom, so I dont want a waterfall/huming noise, lol.

Michael

 

"I have a surface skimmer attachment from a prizm skimmer. I would like to make the intake suck from inside the surface attachment by glueing it to the pvc. Would this work??"

The overflow already skims the surface. I don't think you would need to carve up the prizm's overflow.

"I like the 38 gallon tub idea for a sump also. They are like 10 bucks at wal-mart. I was just woundering how you set that up. Did you make it a sump only, or did you make a refuge in there some how?? How did you mount the return pump?"

Back when I ran a fuge "Sumps for cheapskates". I used a 45G tub from walmart also picked up a 10G aquarium. I set the 10G in the big tub added a DSB to it added Chaeto and a couple clamp on PC lights and your set. I ran the plumbing from the overflow into the fuge The water fills it and spills over into the big tub. If you start a thread for that I will help you with it.

"Ive never had a sump, and this tank is in my bedroom, so I dont want a waterfall/huming noise, lol. "

For quiet and cost I would go with a submerged pump. I am a fan of the Oceanrunner pumps. There is one in that GPH nieghborhood. Remmber to account for headloss when choosing a pump.