Re-plumbing my tank

That would suck... man thats all I really have to say is that would suck..

 

I vote to simplify the whole system... if that's possible. :

 

I vote the same. Im trying to figure out if it is possible. First thing I am going to do is get the right sized pump for my system. Mine is currently pumping 1090 GPH. overkill I believe. If I did the math right I would need like a rio 14 that would pump about 700 GPH ?

 

Exactly right.

Starfish, the drain that is split and has 2 ball valves on it, is running in a "continuous siphon" during normal operation. Meaning it is siphoning water from the overflow box, and not draining it by gravity. The amount it siphons is being dictated by how opened or closed the 2 valves are. The second drain pipe is simply gravity draining whatever water is leftover that the siphon isn't getting. This is how a bean animal works, but a bean uses a third "emergency" drain, in case one of the first 2 cant keep up. Which will almost ALWAYS happen on a restart. Since it takes a few minutes for the continuous siphon standpipe to purge itself of air and actually start to fully siphon.

If it were me, I would add the third hole and make it a bean animal and then you would never have to worry about it again. If that's not an option at all, then we may be able to figure out a comprimise.

 

That makes so much sense now haha man I really really love 3reef... its pretty marvelous. thank you guys so much. I could probably add a third line I have no experience drilling or anything (obvoiusly) Why would it have been plumbed this way? that doesn't make sense really!

 

I think its possible to do it with 2 standpipes. It's called a "Herbie" style system. You just lose one of the backup features. I've gotta get off of here for tonight, but when I get more time I'll do a little research and see if I can come up with a way to do it with 2 standpipes. The second standpipe would need a vent tube coming out of the the top of the cap on the tee. You run this back to the overflow box at a higher height than the normal water level in the overflow. So in normal operation that 2nd standpipe is just a gravity drain, but if water in the box rises and covers the vent tube, it will convert that standpipe to a full siphon and rapidly lower the water level in the overflow box. That way normally you have the full siphon running, and a gravity drain with a vent tube that has the capability to convert to a full siphon if needed.

 

That sounds exactly like what the "little siphon thingy" is lo when the water level rises to it it creates a siphon. well thank you so much for your help!