Anyone using a DIY pipe overflow?

[daniella3d]

thanks a lot, that's nice.

Also can you show me how you connected the airline tubing to your intake? You just plug it on the assigned spot on the return pump? I don't have any pump that has such feature, what pump are you using? Also I have a aqualifter pump that I could plug to this airline tubing to syphon the air out and output the coming water back into the sump. Would that be better?

As I don't have any airline intake on my return pump, I was planning to connect my airline tubing to my intake pipe by percing a little hole and gluing the other end to it like in this design but instead it would be connected to the intake tubing: Do you thik it will do the same? The coming water from the return pump should create enough pressure to suck back any air that could get trapped in the overflow pipe, and with the check valve, it prevent the intake water from flowing back into the overflow. Do you think that will work? I got this idea from the MAME overflow which is working that way.

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

I posted this on a recent thread. You can add a 90 degree elbow at the end of the overflow, instead of the cap and the open end up (cut it to choose the height you want) will serve as an emergency overflow if your slots get plugged. The airline tubing attached to the intake of your return pump is essential to prevent loss of siphon and to auto start it.

Foolproof overflow. Will not lose siphon due to micro bubbles, and will auto start even after power outage. Airline tubing is connected to return pump input. And totally quiet.

I was using an undrilled tank as a refugium for a while, and made this out of 1 1/4 inch PVC. Worked great.

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[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

Also can you show me how you connected the airline tubing to your intake? You just plug it on the assigned spot on the return pump? I don't have any pump that has such feature, what pump are you using? Also I have a aqualifter pump that I could plug to this airline tubing to syphon the air out and output the coming water back into the sump. Would that be better?

As I don't have any airline intake on my return pump, I was planning to connect my airline tubing to my intake pipe by percing a little hole and gluing the other end to it like in this design but instead it would be connected to the intake tubing: Do you thik it will do the same? The coming water from the return pump should create enough pressure to suck back any air that could get trapped in the overflow pipe, and with the check valve, it prevent the intake water from flowing back into the overflow. Do you think that will work? I got this idea from the MAME overflow which is working that way.

Just make up one of these, and stick it anywhere on the intake side (low pressure) of your pump. It does not need to be glued if under water right at the pump intake. But higher up, on an an intake line, needs to be glued properly. You could even just stick the airline tube into the intake (being careful that it doesn't get sucked into the impeller, and it will work. Many ways to do it...

But don't use an aqualifter or any air pump, becasue if it fails, you are hooped....

[daniella3d]

Oh cool! thanks a lot. That will make it nearly impossible to build up air inside. So far I have tested it and there is still a good syphon after being not in use for 24 hours so I guess the air is not getting inside but I want to be safe!

I already have such pipe at the intake of my return pump so all I need to do is drill a small hole and glue a air tube like in your pic.

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Just make up one of these, and stick it anywhere on the intake side (low pressure) of your pump. It does not need to be glued if under water right at the pump intake. But higher up, on an an intake line, needs to be glued properly. You could even just stick the airline tube into the intake (being careful that it doesn't get sucked into the impeller, and it will work. Many ways to do it...

But don't use an aqualifter or any air pump, becasue if it fails, you are hooped....