Nice Cheap DIY Overflow

i built covey's design on the first page yesterday. but i used 1.5 inch pipe, we had it lying around at the golf course. i also made one out of .75 inch pipe.
I also read that the 1.5 seems to build up an air bubble daily inside, but i'll test that out because it was free and free is hard to compete with. if it's true i'll just rebuild later
-chris

 

I have been running two of these DIY overflows on my tank system. I have ~150 GPH flowing thru fuge and have discovered that low flow with 1 1/4 piping will collect an air bubble over time (maybe 2 months) since I have had flooding twice. To solve the problem I have installed a suction pump (TOMS AQUA) on the vent and no problem as of yet. I flow water from 90->30->20 then back to 90.

 

For those of you who are experiencing the bubbles into the sump, use a 3" PVC log to collect the intake fluids. Cut your self some slots all the way around for the water to flow, and then place some frags 2/3rds full, in the tube to help dissipate the bubbles.
If you look closely at some of the DIY sumps from some of these other builders, they make a corner cove as a boxed area just for this purpose.
Since this is a major DIY wier, might as well keep the PVC flowing into the sump.

Maximo

 

update: built mine but it is slow flowing, I have the rio 2100 set at 1/4 output or i flood my tank.
does the pipe on the tank side need to be as long or shorter than the pipes leading to the output?

 

the longer the more force it creates so bigger is better.

 

I made 3 of them so far...The U tube must be the same, the intake
of course need to be just under the water level and the stack vent
bring that to the top of the tank trim..Like Ken said, The longer you
make it the better it will work..I made (my first one) for a 20L and it was
short. it had a hard time keeping up with a very cheap 394GPH pump
then I made one for my 37 gallon and made it as long as I could. I'm
using a Mag 5 and it work great..I also used 1" SCH 80 it has an I.D.
of 1 3/16" I find it works great for my needs...

 

id love to reply but
is there anybody in there right mind going to read 245 returns on this thread before answering, NO.

 

I have read all the posts a few time before venturing on making one... I had one done a week ago and it works brilliantly, unfortunately it is very noisy Any advice please?

Thanks!

 

I would make sure there is no air in the pipe. How does the water flow into the pipe? Do you have a screen, or just the open pipe?

 

Kentanner,

I have a screen (i use the thermometer guard) to stop livestock getting into the overflow, it seems that air suction is unavoidable as I tried different positioning and the only thing that is affected is the water level in the tank.

I have put airline in the air vent and it helps somehow, but on and off the noisy gurgling noise is heard I can of course slow the return pump down, but this would affect the turn over volume of the tank......