PVC overflow assembly - Aquarium Advice

dskidmore · 09-09-2005, 10:02 PM

Ok, I made this assembly from 1" [acronym:568e8f9790="Plastic pipe"]PVC[/acronym:568e8f9790], with a 2" inlet strainer. According to calculations I got elswhere, it should have been able to take around 600 [acronym:568e8f9790="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:568e8f9790]. I'm actually getting around 90 [acronym:568e8f9790="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:568e8f9790]. Any ideas what went wrong?

P.S. Concept drawing attached now too.

greenmaji · 09-09-2005, 10:06 PM

could you give us a picture from the other side? is there a hole in he plumbing on the 5th elbow?

dskidmore · 09-09-2005, 10:25 PM

You can just barely see on the first picture in the back left the T that is the siphon break. There is no other leak/opening.

Here's a couple more views from my crummy camera.

dskidmore · 09-09-2005, 10:27 PM

I just knew I should have built it from threaded parts...

greenmaji · 09-09-2005, 10:31 PM

I seem to thing that all those 180 degree turns have a poor effect on those designs.. but there are some other members that have worked on these.. Hope you can get some help.. From what Ive read there has been some trouble working with these..

the only issue I can think of is all the turns and that maybe the syphon break isnt at the exact level to keep flow as high as it could be.. sorry I cant be more help on this one..

dskidmore · 09-09-2005, 10:37 PM

It's only $13 worth of parts, as opposed to the $80 for the professional one. Even if I have to try again it's worth it, and I've learned something too.

Next one is made from threaded parts, so I can add in more length to the pipes when necessary.

At least the temporary filter is holding the ammonia and nitrites at 0. (Bucket of gravel, lift tube, air pump. Looks mighty unsightly in my aquarium.)

greenmaji · 09-10-2005, 06:27 PM

links to discussion threads on this type of project....
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=13892
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=21243

09-09-2005, 10:27 PM	#4
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	I just knew I should have built it from threaded parts... __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

09-09-2005, 10:37 PM	#6
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	It's only $13 worth of parts, as opposed to the $80 for the professional one. Even if I have to try again it's worth it, and I've learned something too. Next one is made from threaded parts, so I can add in more length to the pipes when necessary. At least the temporary filter is holding the ammonia and nitrites at 0. (Bucket of gravel, lift tube, air pump. Looks mighty unsightly in my aquarium.) __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

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09-09-2005, 10:06 PM	#2
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	could you give us a picture from the other side? is there a hole in he plumbing on the 5th elbow?

09-09-2005, 10:31 PM	#5
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	I seem to thing that all those 180 degree turns have a poor effect on those designs.. but there are some other members that have worked on these.. Hope you can get some help.. From what Ive read there has been some trouble working with these.. the only issue I can think of is all the turns and that maybe the syphon break isnt at the exact level to keep flow as high as it could be.. sorry I cant be more help on this one..

09-10-2005, 06:27 PM	#7
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	links to discussion threads on this type of project.... http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=13892 http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=21243