New tank, middle overflow built in with one hole at the bottom of it. How does this work? thanks for the tips
how does built in overflow work
- Thread starter aprime11b
- Start date
There are a lot of variables, but this is the basic idea:
The hole in the bottom is for the drain. You will need a bulkhead fitting if there isn't one in there already. In the top of the bulkhead (inside the overflow) you will put a standpipe (Search "Durso"). The drain plumbing will attach to the bottom (outside) of the bulkhead fitting. Your stand will need a hole drilled or cut in the top if it is a full plywood top.
Filtration, usually a sump, goes in the stand (or elsewhere). With a sump the drain plumbing will go through mechanical and biological stages and then get returned by a pump to the tank.
Post some photos of the tank, stand, et cetera and people can definitely steer you the right way.
The hole in the bottom is for the drain. You will need a bulkhead fitting if there isn't one in there already. In the top of the bulkhead (inside the overflow) you will put a standpipe (Search "Durso"). The drain plumbing will attach to the bottom (outside) of the bulkhead fitting. Your stand will need a hole drilled or cut in the top if it is a full plywood top.
Filtration, usually a sump, goes in the stand (or elsewhere). With a sump the drain plumbing will go through mechanical and biological stages and then get returned by a pump to the tank.
Post some photos of the tank, stand, et cetera and people can definitely steer you the right way.
taking some photos now with my phone. Yes I would love help and step by step. I will probably go to a few store tomorrow and buy materials so I can make whatever I decide on tonight. I just figured if it has a built in overflow, mys well use it instead of hooking up some canister filters to it. (keep in mind it is outside on my back patio)
It does not have a bulkhead as I dont even know what that is. Who would carry them locally? So let me get this right, I get a bulkhead, connect pipe to it down to another box/tank or something that filters and have a pump in there that will push water up another pipe and into the tank?
Got this bad boy for 70 bucks. lol
Got this bad boy for 70 bucks. lol
you need piping on the overflow side of the bulkhead that goes to the water level of the tank, otherwise water will fall down the overflow like a waterfall creating quite a racket. then on the outside of the tank you have a pipe going from there to the filter
I posted same question didn't get these juwels of info. Also if you don't have pipe in the weir/ overflow it will draw air water mix causing gurggle. It good you have return holes drilled saves external pipework Which I'm having to do
aprime11b;5051294; said:It does not have a bulkhead as I dont even know what that is. Who would carry them locally? So let me get this right, I get a bulkhead, connect pipe to it down to another box/tank or something that filters and have a pump in there that will push water up another pipe and into the tank?
Got this bad boy for 70 bucks. lol
$70 - Great deal!
Unfortunately you will have a hard time finding a bulkhead locally. You can get them online lots of places (I like Pet Solutions). They do come in several sizes, I would guess yours is drilled for a 1" bulkhead (1.5" hole?). There is a place in Portland called Seahorse Supply that advertises a large selection of aquarium plumbing parts, but other than that I'm not sure. Industrial supply places might have one, but probably not exactly what you want (I would get a "slip x slip" fitting).
For your return you will probably want to use flexible vinyl tubing as it is a bit easier to work with than hard pipe. You will need a barbed fitting to attach to the pump. The other end will go through one of the holes in the top. You can use another bulkhead (or a DIY of some sort) to give the top a nice clean look, or you could just run the return line through the hole.
As far as your sump, I would build a filter sock holder for the drain to dump into and then fill the rest of the space with bio-media (scrubbies, bio-balls, ceramic, whatever you want). You can use glass/acrylic to partition your sump into mechanical, bio, and pump sections. You can also use plastic containers (buckets, Tupperware, et cetera) to hold the separate elements.
Good luck and keep the photos coming!
Dan F;5051912; said:
ya i think it was a steal.
anyways I just went to tue value and they have pvc and soft tubes. I came home real fast to figure out for sure what to buy. I think the hole at the bottom of the overflow is between 1 and 1.5" the 2 holes on the top must be .75-1''. I dont have a tape measure.
So how should I do this?
They don't have bulkheads, so I am thinking of getting something else and sealing the whole around the pvc or soft tubes I go with. what would seal or fill the gaps?
So I need to buy a pond pump too that will get connected to the outtake and push water up and back into the tank, right?