Plumbing an FX5 into built in overflows

[fishman76092]

Anyone done this with success?

Have a 180 acrylic with dual overflows - currently running a CL sump and it's garbage. The Rio makes too much noise and it's overall simply half-***. I'd like to hard plumb my two overflows to one using pvc and hook it up to an FX5. I watched a vid on youtube and it seems simple enough, but how does it not suck air? I know it will shut off every day and purge itself, but given the sump is gravity fed and the FX5 actually sucks the water, I don't see how this won't be a constant issue. I"m using standpipes now with holes drilled in the sides with a larger sleeve and cap over it to make it quiet.

 

[Pharaoh]

I have my FX5 hard plumbed on a 180 with dual overflows works just fine although I may be switching to a sump so I can simplify my setup a bit and also add a drip.


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[mudbuttjones]

View attachment 1071673


Best of all no ugly plumbing in the tank!

I just drilled a 40b for 2 sunsun canisters. Works awesome. I'm sure in this setup there is more pressure on the plumbing than if I were using an overflow chamber, and my cheapo canisters handle it fine. Just make sure all your hoses are tight and I recommend putting a ballvalve right under the bulkhead so you can work on the plumbing under the tank

Just make sure your pipes are low enough in the overflows and it should work.

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[fishman76092]

Thanks. I have done something similar with drilled tanks without overflows (like the pix), but never with ones with overflows where the water levels are variable. I'm going to give it a go this weekend.

 

[mudbuttjones]

I suspect the level in the overflow will be dependent on evaporation and behave like the water level in a sump does versus the display.

If you ran straight bulkheads with strainers and kept the water level high enough in the overflow it should work. but any water removed from the tank would inevitability be taken from the volume of the overflow chamber as the pumps circulate.

If it doesn't work you could always drill a hole in the overflow

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[fishman76092]

I suspect the level in the overflow will be dependent on evaporation and behave like the water level in a sump does versus the display.

If you ran straight bulkheads with strainers and kept the water level high enough in the overflow it should work. but any water removed from the tank would inevitability be taken from the volume of the overflow chamber as the pumps circulate.

If it doesn't work you could always drill a hole in the overflow

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I have a 3d background glued to it. I may be able to take the hole saw that I used on the top of the acrylic and drill a couple of holes in the sides halfway down and glue netting to keep the fish out.