Drip System - Overflow questions

[Leo Messi]

Hey guys,

I am completely new here and english isnt my native language, so I hope you guys wont kill me if I am gramatically terrible.

First I want to tell you something about me (just fast):

My name is Osman, I am half from switzerland and half from egypt and lived my whole life in switzerland. I am 23 yrs old (soon 24 - the 15th aug) and I have my own apartment. I started to keep fish and got my first 50 liter tank when I was ~11. I then had a new and always bigger tank every ~2 years. Started with the 50, then went up to a ~100l tank, after that got a ~200l, then a ~300, a ~400, then a ~600 and my last was a 900l tank. Since the ~300l tank I've kept discus fishes. With the ~400 I got my first wild discus and only kept wilds since then until now in my ~1900+ liter tank.

Sadly, I had to clear my whole tank and sold all my fishes and now I am gonna start my tank again and I am hopefully gonna successfully keep a pair of rays (probably P14 or Leo x Black Diamond) and an asian Arowana, together with maybe one or two L25 and one or two L600.

Now I want to have an "automatic water change" aka "drip system", that keeps adding new water 24/7 and the "old" water runs out through an overflow. Now, since my tank's top is 100% closed (also needed for an Arowana) an "external" DIY overflow isnt an option. I am now planning to get the guy who built my tank to drill me a small hole (probably for 1/2 inch pvc) and either then will let the water run out through a 90° pvc piece OR I will get an overflow box that I will stick into the tank. Which option do you guys think is the better one? I have attached some pics to show what I am talking about and I hope to get some good answers. Maybe theres even a better option, option 3 I do not know about?

Best Regards
Osman

 

[Leo Messi]

And this is my actual tank.

 

[DDK]

A overflow box will probably be best bet. If you have one 90 degree elbow you'll probably have a ton of noise. With an overflow box you can have a total of 3 holes drilled, for an example two 1 inch holes drilled and then a larger 2 inch hole drilled as well. This set up will be good for a pump that roughly pushes 1800 gph. The two 1 inch holes will take most of the flow leading to the 2 inch taking the remaining so it will be quite. Also having the 2 inch is added safety as if something blocks a drain the 2 inch can handle it easily.


But both ways are solid methods so you can't really do it wrong. But know if you have one pipe then depending on how much gph your pump pushes then noise can be a big issue.

Also look at the draining WITH a elbow, its about 20-35% less than having the pipe without the elbow.

 

[mudbuttjones]

The elbow is fine. A drip system flows so little water that the trickle wont make any noise. The box is unnecessary and will just take up space

 

[Leo Messi]

Okay I guess I'll get the 90° elbow then. Should I maybe get two of these? Like two elbows for 1/2 inch pvc for safety if one is full of dirt or something once and I am not home?

 

[ragin_cajun]

The tank's not drilled? Like an overflow, drains into a sump? That way, you could do the Auto water changer in the sump.....

 

[gangster]

2-3 elbows in the tank that drain down into the sump(filter).
Drip the fresh water into the tank.
Have the old(dirty), water drip out of the sump via(from), a hole in the sump that goes to a drain to water your garden outside or lawn.

 

[Leo Messi]

My sump is in my tank, so that isnt an option. The holes have to be in the tank. My sump is on the right side of my tank and the hole or holes are gonna be in there.

 

[softturtle]

Okay I guess I'll get the 90° elbow then. Should I maybe get two of these? Like two elbows for 1/2 inch pvc for safety if one is full of dirt or something once and I am not home?

Two would be good, one for a backup.

I have to say that your tank looks great. Very clean look to it.