Ghettofied super easy to install internal overflow box/surface skimmer :)

[gwaco]

qoute// ps---I like your overflow idea too Gwaco. Waiting to see how it looks once you paint those dang pipes black.
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i might just build the new ones out of black pipe , but if i don't i'll just let them get covered with coralline .

[chrisjet]

well, what is the end result ? Any more pics ?

[luvmylo]

Here's a couple of pics of the tank. Working very well for me!

[Orient Master]

That's nice i didn't paint mine black. next time i do this kind of setup i will use the black pipes.

[luvmylo]

yeah the black pipes really blend in well

[DarthOcellaris]

really sweet idea Waht if the water level isn't what you'd expect initially? how would you adjust the height of that if need-be?

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

Waht if the water level isn't what you'd expect initially? how would you adjust the height of that if need-be?

simply lift it up to where you want. The slotted pipe assembly isnt glued.......its just slip fitted via the street elbows on the end so its adjustable and removable for cleaning very easily. The way it is removable could even compensate for a unlevel tank so the overflow is level anyway.

I would however take your time before you drill your bulkheads so you get it close.

[DarthOcellaris]

Very clever indeed

[chrischris]

awsome now i know what a fly guy overflow is
im might use this in the future

[Taznut]

Hello everyone... this is my first post at this site but have read a lot of your forums for info... i ran across post a little while ago and wonder if anyone had any other information on this... looks like an awesome way to do a coast to coast without wasting sooooo much room with a typical overflow... are there any other downsides besides the noise??? anything else i need to know??? is this something i should do??? (tank will be about 135g, sump about 60g) built both myself out of 3/8" acrylic... thanks for the help...

p.s. i know this is an old theard that a newbe drug up...

[OneDummHikk]

If you cut the pipe in half instead of just a slot in it, you can cut down on the noise a lot since the water is no longer dropping from the slot to the bottom of the pipe. If setting up a new tank I would do an overflow box the full width of the tank but I think the way you plumb an overflow becomes personal opinion. Even notching the back glass and putting the overflow box external is an option. The idea is to get the surface water out of the tank and there are many many ways to accomplish that.

[Taznut]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

If you cut the pipe in half instead of just a slot in it, you can cut down on the noise a lot since the water is no longer dropping from the slot to the bottom of the pipe. If setting up a new tank I would do an overflow box the full width of the tank but I think the way you plumb an overflow becomes personal opinion. Even notching the back glass and putting the overflow box external is an option. The idea is to get the surface water out of the tank and there are many many ways to accomplish that.

actually i got the parts and drilled the tank for this since no one said anything against it (lol)... so now i guess i am stuck with this... the "overflow" pipe is giong to be a 2" which taper into 2 1.5" tubes which will go to the sump/fuge... i like the cutting the pipe in half idea, i will try that and switch it out if it doesnt work... i want to paint the pipes and the back of the tank black (do i use krylon for that??? is there anything i need to know about the paint??)... thanks for the imput...

[Fly Guy]

cutting the pipoe in half isnt going to fix any noise issues. The people who did have issues with noise, it wasnt because of a slit vs half pipe issue. Its more of a flow speed issue and its happening after the water drops into the pipe. As I said earlier in th is thread, the way around this if your specific setup and pipe size used, and desired flow creates noise is to go somewhat herbie style with it. Namely, by using a valve to perfectly time what is falling through the overflow with what is allowed into the sump. Cutting it this close is of course a disaster waiting to happen should any debris or buildup change this balance. This is where the herbie comes in. You install a entirely seperate third bulkhead that the intake of is set just above the water level of the overflow. It is nothing more than a seldom used back up drain that covers your butt when something does get in the weay and mess up your timing.

I have only built one of these and it wasnt even for me. But if you want to read more from people who have actually set this up who might be able to specifically help you I posted the idea about page 18 of this thread. There are quite a few possibly relevant conversations to follow. good luck

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...1#post14052381

[Taznut]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

cutting the pipoe in half isnt going to fix any noise issues. The people who did have issues with noise, it wasnt because of a slit vs half pipe issue. Its more of a flow speed issue and its happening after the water drops into the pipe. As I said earlier in th is thread, the way around this if your specific setup and pipe size used, and desired flow creates noise is to go somewhat herbie style with it. Namely, by using a valve to perfectly time what is falling through the overflow with what is allowed into the sump. Cutting it this close is of course a disaster waiting to happen should any debris or buildup change this balance. This is where the herbie comes in. You install a entirely seperate third bulkhead that the intake of is set just above the water level of the overflow. It is nothing more than a seldom used back up drain that covers your butt when something does get in the weay and mess up your timing.

I have only built one of these and it wasnt even for me. But if you want to read more from people who have actually set this up who might be able to specifically help you I posted the idea about page 18 of this thread. There are quite a few possibly relevant conversations to follow. good luck

thank you for this... i will take a look... and i installed a 1" bulkhead above the 2 1.5" being used for the overflow (the 1" is the backup)... i will post some pics of what i did... i cut the coast to coast pipe in half but dont like the looks and dont know how i would keep it from floating away, and dont think it would work much as an "overflow" because i think that water will just go down the elbows (so i will have to redo it)

guess i have to have more posts to post pics

[alloymetals]

keep up the good work