Overflow Box - I took your advice ?

[Dewman]

Hey everybody, I took the advice of some of you and bought my overflow box.
I have to make a trip to Lowes or Home Depot tomorrow and buy my plumbing parts for my valve tree and such.

Now, I took the drain bulkhead apart and took the out-pipe down to HD with me tonight to do some pre-shopping and planning.
I believe it is 1.5 inches inside diameter. What am I supposed to do with this lage of a drain.
If you are unfamiliar with which piece I am talking about, it is the bottom of the stand tube that controls the water level in the outside part of the overflow box.

I bought a Dolphin DP1200 today and the output for that is a 3/4" output and I am afraid that if I use 1.5 inch tubing to drain my tank into my sump, my pump will not be able to put it back in fast enough.
My tank is 4 feet above the bottom of the sump..

There are no standard fittings that will accept the drain size.
What should I do?

 

[reefsRcool]

not being familiar with your origional post, i don't know what type of overflow setup you are making but the drain should only drain what gets pumped in shouldn't it? the setups i have seen waterlevel stay the same in the tank and what gets pumped up from the sump overflows into the box and then heads back down. the drain is bigger so incoming water never exceeds what can flow out. you should be all set i think.

 

[mlundstrom]

reefsRcool is right.

The overflow will only return to the sump what the Dolphin pumps back to the tank. You are all set to go. 8)

 

[SPC]

Dewman, the two above posters are correct with one possible exception, if the pump is too undersized sometimes you can have trouble with air bubbles building in the siphon tube which could lead to loss of prime. I have found that with this type of overflow system it is best to match the pump and overflow GPH fairly close. Some run a powerhead with airline tubing inserted into the siphon tube, this will keep the prime going.

There are no standard fittings that will accept the drain size.
What should I do?

-Could you explain this a bit more?
Steve

 

[Dewman]

SPC, sorry I was not clear I had a to stay late at work yesterday and didn't make it home until 1900, then I still had to mow the lawn (1.5 acres lots of obstacles) so I was sort of spent when I was typing, then I crashed in bed.

What I meant to say was, the drain pipe that is attached to the bulkhead on the bottom of the box, is a wierd size. It is like PVC, but it isn't as thick as the regular stuff. I obviously wasn't thinking straight, or I would have realized that it doesn't matter how big the drain tube is, because there is NO syphon. (tired)

This overflow is comercially made, not DIY. I have no idea who made it but it is not a CPR, I know that much. It is very well made with 1/4 acrylic and beefy nylon bolts. I was impressed.

I still have to find a fitting for attaching my valve tree to my DP1200.

Thanks again guys.

 

[SPC]

Posted by Dewman:

What I meant to say was, the drain pipe that is attached to the bulkhead on the bottom of the box, is a wierd size. It is like PVC, but it isn't as thick as the regular stuff.

-I am sure that it will except flex hose of the appropriate size.

then I still had to mow the lawn (1.5 acres lots of obstacles)

-I hope you have a riding lawnmower :lol: .
Steve

 

[Dewman]

I wish! PUSH MOWER ALL THE WAY BABY!!. I can do it in an hour and a half if I put on my running shoes :wink:

Seriously
Thanks a lot.