more diy overflow questions

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the2ndtinman

Feeder Fish
Mar 31, 2010
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0
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Idaho
I know I am sorry I am sure you guys here way to many of these!

Let me start off by saying hi to everyone, and I look forward to learning knowlege from each and everyone of you.

My question is I am wanting to build the pvc overflow for my 80 gal saltwater. however i do not want the pvc going all the way to the bottom of my tank will this still work if I make the 2 loops shorter?

Thank you in advance
 
well i built it anyway out of 3/4 instead of 1 inch gotta say I thought i was gonna get a lot more water overflowwing than what I did

any ideas?
 
the2ndtinman;4030821; said:
well i built it anyway out of 3/4 instead of 1 inch gotta say I thought i was gonna get a lot more water overflowwing than what I did

any ideas?
Click to expand...

Did you check out these two stickies?
Pipe Sizing Charts and Flow Rates
? about the diy overflow

Your 3/4" overflow will flow a MAXIMUM of 337 gallons/hour. In practice it may not even be that much. Remember, an oversized overflow will work, whereas an undersized one will not.

Mine is made from 1.5" pipe even though it is only flowing about 400 gal/hour.
 
Also keep in mind, that gravity plays a big part in the effectiveness of a siphon. Shortening the tubes can affect the flow rates.
 
Agree length matters. I have 3 1 1/4's.. 2 are built like overflows, third is just a straight pipe. But on the 2 one goes all the way to the tank bottom and the other goes to mid tank. all other things are the same, but one drawing from bottom works better ten one drawing from mid tank.

But again it would really help us help you, if we knew what you had. There are a lot of "overflows" out there.
 
sorry for not giving enough info.....

I did the DIY pvc overflow I am ok with the flow of it now, now I am curious if there is a way to put a fail safe on it as far as the return goes...

For example shortly after I did overflow I left to go to the store real fast which ended up being for a long while, when i got back one of my clown got stuck in the overflow suction(i know it is my own fault for not having it covered) this caused no water to go into the sump but allowed ALL of the water pump out of my sump into the over filled tank. Which caused my return pump as well as my protien skimmer pump to burn up.

Is there anything I could do to make the pump turn off if this happens?
 
usually people are more worried about their pumps going out in case of a power outtage, and thier overflows not working. I'm not sure if theres much you can do in the reverse.
 
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