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Inside overflow box floating - Help!
- Thread starter SteveP
- Start date
The box is pretty much the design at http://www.reefs.org/library/diy/diy_winner1.html
As for shortening the U tube, I'm not sure that'd help much since the water level seems to be maintained at the height of outflow pipe.. I guess I'll have to extend that, but I was hoping to find some other way since the pipes are already epoxied in place. Guess I should've tested it first. D'oh!
As for shortening the U tube, I'm not sure that'd help much since the water level seems to be maintained at the height of outflow pipe.. I guess I'll have to extend that, but I was hoping to find some other way since the pipes are already epoxied in place. Guess I should've tested it first. D'oh!
I don't want to be the jerk with this one, but if you can't afford to spend the $50 for the overflow box you should think twice about this "hobby". I have also thought about the DIY projects and have chose to buy the stuff instead. You know it's going to work(for the most part)and you don't have to build it! Seriously, how much did u save building that box $20? They are only $50 brand new. I just wouldn't want to jeopardize my tank to save a couple of bucks.
I didn't really decide to build one to save the money, I decided to build one because all the ones I can find locally are upwards of 1300gph.. I've seen some online that are rated at 300gph, but that's still more than I need to turn over a 20g tank. I know you can run them at lower flow, but I worry then about bubbles getting stuck in the U tube causing it to lose siphon.
So to summarize, I'm doing this because it'll work better, and because I like building things and solving little problems like that come up. Not because I can't afford to just buy one.
Sometimes the elitism associated with the costs of this hobby really bugs me. 'nuff said.
So to summarize, I'm doing this because it'll work better, and because I like building things and solving little problems like that come up. Not because I can't afford to just buy one.
Sometimes the elitism associated with the costs of this hobby really bugs me. 'nuff said.
I just happened to notice someone with 176 fewer posts than me, and almost two years newer of an account just told me I shouldn't get into the hobby.
I know that doesn't necessarily speak for lifetime experience, but found it interesting. Anyhow, I'd hate for this to get off topic. sorry.
I know that doesn't necessarily speak for lifetime experience, but found it interesting. Anyhow, I'd hate for this to get off topic. sorry.
I just finished build a DIY overflow box, but I'm having one pretty major problem. The inside part of the box is floating! I wish I had though of this sooner, I'd have made the standpipe in the external part of the box higher so there'd be more water in there. Anyhow, what can I do? I've thought about using suction cups to secure the box to the side of the tank, but if they come loose the box will float and my tank will flood! Anyone had a similar problem? Ideas?
Just because I haven't been on this board dosen't mean I haven't been around for your information. And if you can't figure out how to construct a BOX then maybe you should think twice about building it. Just a thought. And if your incinuating that I am a novice then your off mark. Just because I don't flap my gums over the net with 187 posts or however many you have dosen't mean I am a rookie.
You can easily add a baffle on the outside box to keep the water level higher. It also helps keep bubbles out of the U tube.
Also, how did you connect the inside box that you can't tighten somehting down to keep it submerged? Most setups you buy have slots where the inside box has plastic screws to hold it in place, and can easily be adjusted.
And sometimes people like to make things themselves for whatever reasons that they have.
Also, how did you connect the inside box that you can't tighten somehting down to keep it submerged? Most setups you buy have slots where the inside box has plastic screws to hold it in place, and can easily be adjusted.
And sometimes people like to make things themselves for whatever reasons that they have.
Hammer -
Thanks for your response. A baffle is something I hadn't thought of, but it makes lots of sense. In fact, most commercial boxes I've seen have them.. chalk one up to missing the obvious. I'll give that a shot, thanks!
I do have the inside box screwed with nylow screws to the outside box, but they're not extremely tight so the box still bows upwards a little. Probably not anything that would cause a flood, but enough to make me uncomfortable.
As for the other thing, well.. I'm just not going to talk about it any longer, there's no point.
Thanks for your response. A baffle is something I hadn't thought of, but it makes lots of sense. In fact, most commercial boxes I've seen have them.. chalk one up to missing the obvious. I'll give that a shot, thanks!
I do have the inside box screwed with nylow screws to the outside box, but they're not extremely tight so the box still bows upwards a little. Probably not anything that would cause a flood, but enough to make me uncomfortable.
As for the other thing, well.. I'm just not going to talk about it any longer, there's no point.
I built one of those overflows a year ago. I've found that a wedge between the base of the outer box and the outside wall of the tank tips the entire contraption a bit, so that the inner box is a bit lower in the water. This way, the inner box will have slightly more water than before.
If it's grossly out of whack, then a new standpipe is a must. If you can fit it (I can't), I'd recommend a Durso standpipe, to increase flow.
http://www.rl180reef.com/pages/standpipe/standpipe.htm
If it's grossly out of whack, then a new standpipe is a must. If you can fit it (I can't), I'd recommend a Durso standpipe, to increase flow.
http://www.rl180reef.com/pages/standpipe/standpipe.htm
Thanks everyone for your help. I made a few changes and the box appears to be working. Here's what I did -
- Added a baffle to raise the water level in both boxes. This helped a LOT.. the additional water in the inside box helps it stay put. The baffle is pretty tall, so the overflow water level is only about 3/4" lower than the tank level, but that seems sufficient.
- Added a wedge between the outside box and the glass. This tilts the whole contraption forward a bit as described above, and keeps it in the water a bit more.
These two slight changes together, and it's working fine. I ran it on a test tank yesterday for about 8 hours and it works fine. The only think left to do is plumb my return to insure it doesn't start a siphon in the event of a power outage, and possibly add a spray bar.
Thanks again! You all have been a big help.
- Added a baffle to raise the water level in both boxes. This helped a LOT.. the additional water in the inside box helps it stay put. The baffle is pretty tall, so the overflow water level is only about 3/4" lower than the tank level, but that seems sufficient.
- Added a wedge between the outside box and the glass. This tilts the whole contraption forward a bit as described above, and keeps it in the water a bit more.
These two slight changes together, and it's working fine. I ran it on a test tank yesterday for about 8 hours and it works fine. The only think left to do is plumb my return to insure it doesn't start a siphon in the event of a power outage, and possibly add a spray bar.
Thanks again! You all have been a big help.
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