Hartford Overflow - Anyone Try This?

[ChrisRD]

Well, I had some free time today and decided to try the Hartford setup on the empty tank I have sitting around. I figured I'd post the results in case anyone was interested...

The Hartford setup is much easier to adjust, and not as sensitive to small changes in flow rate as the external Durso, but as expected, without the partial syphon action present, the capacity is less. The open pipe at the top requires some type of cover/muffler to quiet the falling water sounds. I just threw a towel over it and it was very quiet up top. In the sump it suffers from the same air bubbles and gurgling noises as the Durso setup.

FWIW, to this day, by far the quietest setup I've tried is just putting a valve on the drain line. By simply restricting the drain until the intake runs submerged you get virtually silent operation and since no air gets into the drain line once it is set, there is virtually no noise or bubbles in the sump. The obvious downside to the valve setup is the restriction (and possible resulting clog) in the drain line.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW, to this day, by far the quietest setup I've tried is just putting a valve on the drain line. By simply restricting the drain until the intake runs submerged you get virtually silent operation and since no air gets into the drain line once it is set, there is virtually no noise or bubbles in the sump. The obvious downside to the valve setup is the restriction (and possible resulting clog) in the drain line.

Any way you could do this while allowing an emergency drainline in case it did get clogged? I can imagine creating a second drain line just a half inch or so higher than the water level as it currently is. In an internal overflow I would imagine this as just a simple standpipe a tiny bit higher than your current one. Never comes into play with standard operation. In case of a clog, the second drainline will drain your water instead. As soon as it does, noise happens and you will hear it next time you check on your tank and fix the clog. Best of both worlds.

 

[Anonymous]

Or, even simpler (duh, this is how my tank is set up ) just place your gate valve right above the sump. Above the gate valve, place a tee of the same diameter piping. Have this drain into your sump (or your refugium, or whatever) and if the gate valve gets clogged the flow is simply diverted through the tee.

 

[Anonymous]

I am not following the second idea Matt. If the tee is open won't it just be an avenue for the water that gets restricted by the gate valve - bypassing the restriction?

 

[Anonymous]

Depends on how much you restrict it I guess. If you leave the valve all the way open the open end of the tee will suck air in like a venturi. The gate valve on mine is about halfway closed so that just a little trickles out the open end of the tee (feeds a refugium with a closed loop).

Attached is a pic of my drain. The upper (or leftmost) gate valve is completely unnecessary. If I open both valves all the way it will actually siphon water from my refugium (on the left) into the sump!

Hopefully this helps with your application Chris

 

[ChrisRD]

I did think about the secondary/emergency overflow pipe, but the valve idea is interesting. I might have to test that too. :wink:

I'm not so sure the clogging thing is a real big risk in my case anyway. I put a cover on my overflows so nothing larger than about 1/4" (teeth spacing) can get into the drain. I also setup the sump so there's not enough water available to the return pump to flood the main tank in the event of a total drain blockage.

Thanks Matt.