Long Siphon Tube - Aquarium Advice

jbro · 04-14-2006, 10:43 AM

Hi,
I'm replacing my sump with with a sump/refugium and as long as I am doing this, I'm also going to hardpipe my overflow & return lines.
I'd like to modify my external overflow box to hang at the bottom of the tank, but still higher than the sump. This is to to hide the box and muffle sound behind a chair. My aquarium is used as a 3-sided room divider. I'd like to keep the box as opposed to a standpipe for mechanical filtration.

This means that the siphon tube will have to be longer, creating more head pressure in the overflow box. Does anyone see a problem with this? Will I get too much overflow? Has anyone ever done this?

I can make a drawing, if that would explain things better. Thanks.

ezy33 · 04-14-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Will I get too much overflow?

Yes the overflow box need to at the water level of the tank.

BillyZ · 04-14-2006, 11:26 AM

i'm not sure I'm seeing what you're trying to do, a sketch may help.

jbro · 04-18-2006, 08:17 PM

Here's a crude drawing.

Are you sure about too much flow, Ezy?

BillyZ · 04-19-2006, 10:23 AM

sorry, i can't open psd files here, have another file format, such as jpg or gif?

krap101 · 04-20-2006, 01:19 AM

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...6/ef5a861f.jpg

noteworthy · 04-20-2006, 02:39 AM

I do not recommend that. If your drain is stopped your syphon will continue and overflow into the floor. The back box is usually taller than the inside box for that purpose. It creates an equilibrium if the drain is plugged.

BillyZ · 04-20-2006, 11:02 AM

Thanks Krap.

Sorry Jbro, but that won't work. The reason the internal and external boxes are at the same height is to maintain the siphon during changes in flow rate and power outages.

With what you're proposing, if the power went out or your return pump slows for a moment, the water in the long siphon tube would drain out into your sump completely emptying your internal overflow box and break the siphon. Then when the power turns back on your return pump begins to fill the main tank again, but the siphon is broken and so you will overflow your main tank.

czcz · 04-20-2006, 03:11 PM

Instead, you could hardpipe a Durso or Stockman standpipe to the external box to lower noise. http://www.rl180reef.com/180/pages/s...s/stockman.htm

jbro · 04-22-2006, 01:24 PM

Thanks everybody! I'm going to go with the standpipe.

04-14-2006, 10:43 AM	#1
jbro Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Angola, NY Posts: 82	Long Siphon Tube Hi, I'm replacing my sump with with a sump/refugium and as long as I am doing this, I'm also going to hardpipe my overflow & return lines. I'd like to modify my external overflow box to hang at the bottom of the tank, but still higher than the sump. This is to to hide the box and muffle sound behind a chair. My aquarium is used as a 3-sided room divider. I'd like to keep the box as opposed to a standpipe for mechanical filtration. This means that the siphon tube will have to be longer, creating more head pressure in the overflow box. Does anyone see a problem with this? Will I get too much overflow? Has anyone ever done this? I can make a drawing, if that would explain things better. Thanks.

04-14-2006, 11:26 AM	#3
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,622 Images: 6	i'm not sure I'm seeing what you're trying to do, a sketch may help. __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

04-19-2006, 10:23 AM	#5
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,622 Images: 6	sorry, i can't open psd files here, have another file format, such as jpg or gif? __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

04-20-2006, 01:19 AM	#6
krap101 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Roscoe, IL Posts: 3,824 Images: 12	http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...6/ef5a861f.jpg __________________ Wizards first rule-People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true. Wizards second rule-The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Wizards third rule-Passion rules reason. Wizards fourth rule-There is magic in forgiveness the magic to heal! In the forgiveness you grant, and more so in the forgiveness you receive. Wizards fifth rule-Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie. Wizards sixth rule-The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason. Wizards seventh rule-Life is the future, not the past Wizards eighth rule-Deserve victory. Wizards ninth rule-Contradictions don't exist, in whole or in part.

04-20-2006, 11:02 AM	#8
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,622 Images: 6	Thanks Krap. Sorry Jbro, but that won't work. The reason the internal and external boxes are at the same height is to maintain the siphon during changes in flow rate and power outages. With what you're proposing, if the power went out or your return pump slows for a moment, the water in the long siphon tube would drain out into your sump completely emptying your internal overflow box and break the siphon. Then when the power turns back on your return pump begins to fill the main tank again, but the siphon is broken and so you will overflow your main tank. __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

04-20-2006, 02:39 AM	#7
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	I do not recommend that. If your drain is stopped your syphon will continue and overflow into the floor. The back box is usually taller than the inside box for that purpose. It creates an equilibrium if the drain is plugged.

04-22-2006, 01:24 PM	#10
jbro Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Angola, NY Posts: 82	Thanks everybody! I'm going to go with the standpipe.

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