Overflow pipe termination hieght in sump

Afterdark · 04-20-2005, 07:53 AM

Hi All

Just a quick question. I hope to be gluing a lot of my pipe work together tonight and was wondering if it is best to have the two retun pupes from the overflow ending above or below the waterline in the sump. It is a 150G tank, 60G sump with a 3500l/hr pump driving it and as it is in my lounge I would like it to be fairly quiet. Already have dorso stand pipes, low water drops over the wier, etc

Feedback much appreciated

Cheers

AD

skeety · 04-20-2005, 08:01 AM

Not exactly sure of your set up.

But the important thing isn't so much the end of the pipe, as the intake of that actual pipe. (mine is about 2" taller than where the water can actually flow into the pipe. Mainly from the anti-siphon hole on top).

The actual hole where water can flow into your pipe should be slightly below your water line. The higher up it is, the higher the water has to rise to flow into that pipe. If it's too far above the water line, then your waterline will have to rise to reach it (which could mean overflowing your tank). You could technically have it level with the water line, but I find that creates a lot of air bubbles. So I have it maybe a 1/2" under the waterline. But that's just me.

The output pipe can be any height you want it to be.

VWD · 04-20-2005, 08:01 AM

I have my pipe below the water line, If You put it above You will get noise and alot of water spray everywhere, Can make a big mess fast.

Vince

Afterdark · 04-20-2005, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWD

I have my pipe below the water line, If You put it above You will get noise and alot of water spray everywhere, Can make a big mess fast.

Vince

That is what I was planning to do but I come across an article somewhere saying that this can cause trapped air in the pipe where as if it is above the water the air can escape (at the cost of more noise/splahing)

skeety · 04-20-2005, 08:09 AM

thus the reason for the anit-siphon hole.

If yours doesn't have one, simply drill a hole at the top of the pipe.

Afterdark · 04-20-2005, 08:11 AM

yep, already got one of those. So there is no problem having th epipe exit below the waterline to reduce noise/splashing?

Cool

skeety · 04-20-2005, 08:18 AM

as long as it's coming OVER the overflow box...nope. No problem.

I have mine come over, and go slightly under the water line.

I recommend still having it pumping somewhere towards the top, as if you have it too far down into the tank, you won't get any surface agitation, and you'll notice a film start to form at the top. And that's bad.

Then again, me and my g/f smoke...so that might be what causes it.

But now I have it just barely underwater, pointing pretty much forward (just below the waterline enough to not splash). This created good surface aggitation, and when the moon-lites come on at night, it looks AMAZING!