Simple Mod for DIY overflow/drip system

[AndrewMack]

So After doing a ton of research and trying to figure a simple way to make a drip/ Water Exchange system without drilling the tank. I came up with this. Its kind of funny cause my wife and myself have been working on an idea for about a week and nothing was working the way we wanted it to. Then I came up with this. Pretty much instead of putting the intake of the overflow at the desired water level you put it several inches under the water. Move the T to your desired water level and done. No matter how much surface movement you have during feeding time the intake will not pull in air. Not sure if someone has come up with this before or not, if so sorry if I jacked your plans. Here is a simple drawing. It took be roughly 10 minutes to build and I have tested numerous ways to actually try and get the overflow to lose prime, and even with me trying to ,it hasn't. I've had it flow as low as 1/2gallon per hour.

 

[fishdance]

Is there a need for the inside tank leg to point up? Do you do this just to reduce air intake? I use a similar design but have an `N` shape instead of your `W`

 

[AndrewMack]

No, the reason i did it like this is because I already had an assembled overflow,so i just modified it.

 

[fishdance]

It must be pretty hard to prime with the extra leg like that. Slightly more inside tank clutter too. I modified your photo to show you what I meant more clearly. I usually use 40mm PVC for larger tanks.

 

[AndrewMack]

actually it primes no harder then a single tube. Good idea on the less clutter, the idea of it was for people who already have the regular PVC overflows, it takes a new T and cap, cut the intake lower and done

 

[arkmann]

I thought the height of the intake is where the water level will end up if there is a loss of power?

It must be pretty hard to prime with the extra leg like that. Slightly more inside tank clutter too. I modified your photo to show you what I meant more clearly. I usually use 40mm PVC for larger tanks.

 

[AndrewMack]

No, not in this case, because the T( outtake) has been moved up that determines the water height. If the power goes out, the water will drain only as low as the T, cause water cant flow up.

 

[arkmann]

Hmmnn... interesting... I just might try this in my future overflow diy.

 

[AndrewMack]

It is very simple, i came up with the idea as a modification for those who already have built the DIY overflow

 

[rallysman]

I've been using that basic idea for quite a while. It does work well.

I like using the larger tube with a PVC hanger on the outside, with the small U shaped tube going into it. It makes it easier to adjust the water level when it's not 1 solid piece.