Anyone using a DIY pipe overflow?

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by mike31154

I like this design with the slotted tube & elbow as emergency. Was thinking it could even be modified by having two emergency drains. The elbow at the end of the slotted tube looks good, but what if you were to replace the 90 that the slotted tube is plumbed to with a Tee? That way the open end of the Tee would be your emergency. Might be better in case the slotted tube gets plugged internally. In that scenario, your elbow at the end of the slotted tube wouldn't help. Anyhow, you could do both & have double protection.

Yes, Mike, a T at the beginning of the slotted tube is even better and I would just put the cap back on the end. You really need only one emergency, as it is big enough to handle any flow that could go through the slots. I would just have a little screen cap or something over it to prevent fish from jumping in.

The beauty, too, of this design, is that the tank side plumbing does not need to be glued, and you can keep making adjustments to fit the tank until you are satisfied with the design.

When I was actually using this overflow as a refugium, I only had the slots (no emergency elbow) and macro algae, chaeto, caulerpa, etc, would collect there, but it never came close to plugging. The slots allow a lot of flow, and as the water rises, more slot area becomes available on the pipe. But I did keep an eye on it, and was planning to add that elbow on the end if necessary.

[mike31154]

While we're on the subject of modifying designs, for adjusting overflow tube height you could add a 'slip union' to the tubing. Here's a picture of my skimmer with one of these unions incorporated into the return line. It's just above the ball valve used to regulate water column height in the skimmer. Using one of these unions will enable adjustment in the neighbourhood of 3 inches on the overflow. Sufficient for most applications.

[Reef Pilot]

Yeah, if you wanted to get real fancy, a slip union would help. But like I said, the inside tank plumbing isn't glued, so some room for adjustment up and down anyway. I still have a good portion of a 20' PVC pipe left over, so no big deal cutting new pieces.

I see you like DIY stuff, too. Good job...

I am setting up another 140g tank downstairs, and trying to figure out all plumbing in my sump room. My current 100g DT is upstairs. I will share the same sump initially, but then will set up another sump into this already tight room. Never ends...

[daniella3d]

My worries were more in case the main pipe would get clogged, lets say if a fish manage to get inside. I guess this is very unlikely anyway. In that case that the main pipe would be clogged inside, no emergency elbow would help. This is why the design with 2 overflow is a bit safer I tought.

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Yes, Mike, a T at the beginning of the slotted tube is even better and I would just put the cap back on the end. You really need only one emergency, as it is big enough to handle any flow that could go through the slots. I would just have a little screen cap or something over it to prevent fish from jumping in.

The beauty, too, of this design, is that the tank side plumbing does not need to be glued, and you can keep making adjustments to fit the tank until you are satisfied with the design.

When I was actually using this overflow as a refugium, I only had the slots (no emergency elbow) and macro algae, chaeto, caulerpa, etc, would collect there, but it never came close to plugging. The slots allow a lot of flow, and as the water rises, more slot area becomes available on the pipe. But I did keep an eye on it, and was planning to add that elbow on the end if necessary.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

My worries were more in case the main pipe would get clogged, lets say if a fish manage to get inside. I guess this is very unlikely anyway. In that case that the main pipe would be clogged inside, no emergency elbow would help. This is why the design with 2 overflow is a bit safer I tought.

That's why I went with the slotted pipe. No fish could get through that. And even your emergency opening can be covered with a slotted cap or something so that a fish can't jump in.

But your design there would work, too, with the 2 pipes. I just think it is a little overkill.

[mike31154]

If the main pipe clogged, even a drilled tank overflow wouldn't prevent a flood. They're subject to the same rules in a scenario like that. Just hope it never happens when you're away for any length of time. Kind of why I'm a bit ok with my current sumpless set up. Although this thread has got me thinking I might get a sump going. I've been waiting to do that with a new set up, but these ideas have me itching to give it a try.

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by mike31154

If the main pipe clogged, even a drilled tank overflow wouldn't prevent a flood. They're subject to the same rules in a scenario like that.

Depends on how you set it up. I have an emergency overflow the same size as my main that will never get a chance to clog with anything until my mainline completely fails. Then my emergency overflow would also have to completely get blocked before any water would get to the floor. I also put a cone shaped strainer on the emergency overflow so a large snail or the like can't completely block the opening either. And just to be on the paranoid side I used an external overflow with the back pane slightly lower and my sump directly underneath it so if there was an overflow problem the water would overflow my external overflow box and drop down into my sump which should catch most of the water. I think something similar could definetely be done with DIY pipe overflow without taking up too much realestate.

[daniella3d]

How did you set up your emergency overflow? Is it a completely independant overflow? or is it connected with the main overflow?

Another thing that worry me is if the return pump fail and the skimmer and heater are in the sump, then the temperature in the tank will drop and it won't be skimmer either. This is why I am worried about putting the heater in the sump. Skimmer is ok since it is ok to run without skimmer for some time.

[quote=intarsiabox;669100]Depends on how you set it up. I have an emergency overflow the same size as my main that will never get a chance to clog with anything until my mainline completely fails. Then my emergency overflow would also have to completely get blocked before any water would get to the floor.quote]

[rayjay]

Here are pictures of the ones I made for some of my seahorse tanks.
DIY Overflow Tubes

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

How did you set up your emergency overflow? Is it a completely independant overflow? or is it connected with the main overflow?

Another thing that worry me is if the return pump fail and the skimmer and heater are in the sump, then the temperature in the tank will drop and it won't be skimmer either. This is why I am worried about putting the heater in the sump. Skimmer is ok since it is ok to run without skimmer for some time.
get to the floor.quote]

The second pipe is in the overflow box but it is completely separate from the main drain. I don't know if it makes a difference but I also made the emergency drain a straight down pipe directly to the return section of my sump with no bends to slow/quieten the water down. As far as heat goes, my display tank is mostly covered as I use LEDs so it would keep the heat for some time without the water passing through the tank. I also have a new controller on order that will apparently email or text me if there is a problem. I've never used one before so I can't comment on how well it works. So far I've never had a heater or return pump quit on me so I really hope there is never a problem. I'm also lucky that my family is close by so if I'm gone for more than a day I get someone to check the tank. My biggest fear is the tank overflowing, not so much for the fish but for myself. My wife would probably drown me in what's left of the water if I destroyed her basement!