Plumbing

[frankieboy]

Hi mr can you do a external plumbing, like a external overflow, a return with a regular tank. I hear reef ready is the way to go was wondering with PVC if you can an a external setup thanks.

 

[cmantis]

Sure its called an overflow box it works by siphon and your returns would just come up over the top.

 

[james1990]

there are youtube vids on a DIY (do it yourself) overflow, but Eshopps sells overflow's in different sizes that look alot better and are well worth the 40 something bucks.

search youtube youll get a bunch of videos

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks guys I will do that research on youtube. And what type overflow you guys have?

Sent from my PG86100 using Reefs

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Just be careful with overflow boxes, if not really set up 100% correct they have a tendency to flood if the power goes out. I'm not saying don't go with one I'm saying really test every scenario out after setup by unplugging your pumps and making sure it doesn't overfill your sump in the event that you lose power.

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks Jimmy I'm going to plan overflow internal or external. I'm not shore witch way I want to go, what makes me lost a little is how intake out take works I'm reading the reef aquarium volume 3 reading section on plumbing, and I want to setup a nice system so I don't need to worry about leaks easy mantiance, What do you have and like better.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

The absolute best way to go is a reef ready tank. The plumbing goes down through the bottom panel to the sump and the tank has a plastic enclosure with surface skimmer. Thats the black oval you see in most of our tanks. They usually also have slots at the halfway mark also for intake at multiple levels.

But if you don't have a reef ready tank you can absolutely make it work with an overflow box. Just make sure you drill a siphon break(which is nothing but a hole in your return plumbing that you drill upwards on an angle towards the ceiling) just a 1/2 inch or so beneath your tanks water line.

That way of power goes out, it'll only suck that amount of water before the syphon break gets air and the tank will no longer drain into your sump after that.

Just look at a syphon as a vacuum seal. That's really all it is. When you open a bag that's vacuum sealed the liquid level will be at a certain level for as long as its sealed. Once you puncture the seal the liquid immediately drops. Same way with an external overflow with a u tube. You create a syphon to get the u tube filled and get the water to go through the tube, over your tanks rim and into the external side of the overflow box and then down to your sump. As long as no air gets into the tube it stays filled and continues to draw water. Even if your power goes out the tube usually stays submerged. As long as that happens, when your power comes back on your tank will restart just fine. If it loses its siphon you'll have reprime it. I always had reef ready tanks to not have to deal with the possible headaches myself. But again so many companies produce real nice overflows that you just have to take a few small precautions to have everything with your system be spot on and not have a flood.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Thanks Jimmy I'm going to plan overflow internal or external. I'm not shore witch way I want to go, what makes me lost a little is how intake out take works I'm reading the reef aquarium volume 3 reading section on plumbing, and I want to setup a nice system so I don't need to worry about leaks easy mantiance, What do you have and like better.

Right now I'm between tanks. Sandy finished off mine. I had the RSM250 setup because I was bringing my puppies home and did t want a sump for them to possibly get into. I had a 65g AGA before that and it was reef ready. The RSM is going to a new home and I am bringing home a Deep Boue 90G which is also reef ready.

 

[MatthewScars]

Sure its called an overflow box it works by siphon and your returns would just come up over the top.

I'll tell you, I had an overflow box on my 55g for 2 years. I literally thought about that thing breaking siphon and flooding my apt every single day. Every time i got home and turned the key I was like 'Is this the day?'

The extra $ for a reef ready pays for itself in piece of mind.

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks guys I'm planning reef ready I'll feel better not to worry about leaks. All your advice suggestions were great, I think for the extra buck go drilled already, so thank you all again for your help feel comfortable what method to go.