Nice Cheap DIY Overflow

Covey · 02-04-2005, 11:24 AM

I can't drill my tank because the nice people at Perfecto put one of those sticker on my tank bottom under the glass with silcon over it. The &quot

o Not Drill" or &quot

rill All You Want". I don't know because they smashed the sticker into a little ball before sealing it

So I need a HOB overflow. I priced the CPR overflow and about fell over. $100 for a overflow give me a break! So I started to look for DIY ideas. I saw the $15 PVC overflow from Reef Central. It works but it is a lot of tubing in the tank and kinda of wierd looking. Almost built it anyway but I think I found a design I like better anyway. I found on a Nanao reef forum It looks pretty haus but I might scale it up anyway. It is a much more normal looking design and my Lowe's carries grey PVC so it should look cool. I am going to start builting it next weekend so check back if your interested

Diver_1298 · 02-04-2005, 12:27 PM

http://www.aquacrylics.com/aquarium_filters.htm
$53.49 delivered to your home.
I applaud your decision to make your own overflow. I didn't like seeing the $250 plus price tag on acrylic sumps either so I made one out of a 20 gallon long tank a couple of pieces of glass and some silicone total price about $50. If you decide to finish this project post some pictures. That's one of the reasons I made my own based on some one else's design and pics

Jim

edit: fixed url

dx7fd2 · 02-04-2005, 01:12 PM

I made my own overflow (weir) when I built my tank and sump. The weir uses the whole body for the siphon not just a tube.

I put a page up on my site about the overflow I designed and built for my tank:

http://www.podzilla.us/aquascapeDS/o.../overflow.html

Cost around $25 with the bulkhead!!

Karma to the DIY guys!!! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

Drew

Plan2Build · 02-04-2005, 01:39 PM

Diver,

Could you take a pic of your sump and post it? I am building nearly the same setup with a 20L sump. I am going to put the baffles in the sump for chambering but am unsure of best placement. I would not mind mimicing someone elses design that works....

P2B

dx7fd2 · 02-04-2005, 03:29 PM

Here's a diagram of the 20gal I DIYed, you could leave out the refugium:

http://www.podzilla.us/drewsfugue.html

It's also on this site somewhere but I couldn't find it.

Drew

Diver_1298 · 02-04-2005, 03:35 PM

You have a private message P2B
J

Covey · 02-06-2005, 08:33 AM

Thank for the link DX but I think the acrylic fabrication is a bit be on me right now. The plans up top are in pvc and fex tubing all of which I am comfortable with. There is a little to much acrylic bending on the weir.

ping · 02-12-2005, 07:14 AM

I may be wrong, but this design looks like it will lose its prime when the power goes out. And when the power comes back on. UH oh. Any thoughts out there. I built the one on RC. It is very ugly but never loses the siphon. The pipe size on the one shown on RC has too slow of a flow for me. I am going to build one with bigger piping and see how that goes. Covey when you get it done can you post a pic and let us know how it works. Also what Nano forum was it shown on. Thanks

Covey · 02-12-2005, 07:57 AM

It works the same way as any other HOB design. I am not building that one though because of the same reason you pointed out. 3/4" pipe would not flow enough for my setup. I am making the PVC one that Wanye from Reef Central showed. I am making it out of grey 1 1/4" PVC so it should be pretty sweet. I will post some pics later today.

Covey · 02-12-2005, 12:27 PM

Here it is. It was easier to build than it was to figure out. I tested it in the basement in a tub with water from the faucet. Max out of the faucet was 500gph and the overflow worked fine

. I was shooting for 700gph but I don't have anyway of testing it until I get my pump. I turned it on and off to test the siphon and it worked perfect. I think the grey PVC is going to look good and it only made the budget skyrocket to like around $22 dollars. I will post a pick of it on the tank when I get my pump.