DIY PVC overflow (or not?)

[douglime]

Hi all,

I'm not a reef guy but the reef2reef DIY community is noticeably more active and competent than other sites. Hopefully you'll help a lowly fresh water guy anyway =P

Two part question:
-Are the KingofDIY's Hang on PVC Over Flows designs (either the weir or non-weir style) reasonably reliable stop start without losing prime?
-Do they usually work properly on the first try, or should I expect lots of troubleshooting, there are unaddressed nuances.


The video shows 12" long 1" diameter PVC with 2" weir works and a 200-300gph pump works fine. But will slight changes have minimal effect or just make it not work. stuff like:
one came out 1/2" longer, wider diameter pipe used, all the pipes were much longer,the T-fittings was higher/lower the joeys, the overflow came out a little sloped, etc


I prefer a PVC overflow over the eshopps box, but if this is going to eat up days/weeks to get right. I wont bother

 

[ambientaquatics.adam]

It's what I use for now. Make sure you taper, prime and glue all fittings. I have some pics on my build thread I posted for someone else.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/75-gallons-of-no-excuses.564581/

 

[ambientaquatics.adam]

The worst part was the initial prime I will say. Had to recruit my girlfriend to help cover the bottom while I used a piece of spa flex to start a siphon. Everyday it get shut off for feeding and it restarts Everytime.

 

[BeejReef]

This what you're referencing?

 

[Storm Trooper Reefer]

Used mine for 3 months, worked 90% of the time. Have to prime for water changes. Used the eshopps for 4 months, more reliable, but still had to prime after water changes. Then new tank, so no longer using, but I have both in a box in the back if anyone wants them.

 

[Larry L]

I prefer this style:

 

[douglime]

Wow lots of responses, Thank you.

Extrapolating from all these responses.
-One person had to restart the syphon for water changes, but eshopps box was marginally better.
-Everyone else whoss used this had it work fine.
-Nobody has said that they had to troubleshoot the build or start over. So the performance (good or bad) was consistent from the start.
-I'm sure you all read up on this forum more than I do if theirs a lot of horror stories with these, it would have been brought up by someone.
So looks like Im going for it.

The worst part was the initial prime I will say. Had to recruit my girlfriend to help cover the bottom while I used a piece of spa flex to start a siphon. Everyday it get shut off for feeding and it restarts Everytime.

My trick is to connect clear pvc tubing to barbed pvc adapters to PVC pipes, I gets a clear smoth arched U tube, super easy to prime buy running a long airline tube through the intake, sucked out the air from the high point until you dont see any air bubbles. Takes the guess work out of priming,

This what you're referencing?

HOW TO: $10 DIY aquarium overflow - UPGRADED and MODIFIED TUTORIAL

Yes, that video and the previous design. I think, Id rather go with the older version first.

I prefer this style:

I made one of these for water changes . with a 3/4" U pipe, 1.5" sleeve. Its very reliable but the flow is slow (150gph)

Used mine for 3 months, worked 90% of the time. Have to prime for water changes. Used the eshopps for 4 months, more reliable, but still had to prime after water changes. Then new tank, so no longer using, but I have both in a box in the back if anyone wants them.

out of curiosity what was your pump flow rate and pipe diameter?

 

[Even Further]

My recommendation is to scrap the idea of using a tank that cannot be drilled for a DIY or ghost style overflow. Personally I would not mess with a over the top type overflow. If I had a tank that was non-reef ready, with tempered glass, I would sell it and use that money toward a tank that is reef ready or non-tempered back glass so I could drill it.

 

[douglime]

.. Personally I would not mess with a over the top type overflow... I would sell it and use that money toward a tank that is reef ready ...

EF, since you're the strongest opposed to over the top overflows. Could you explain why (not trolling, really want to know)?
Are hob overflows significantly less reliable on a sump than they are on a canister filter?

 

[Larry L]

I think HOB overflows can be useful, but IMO it's not a matter of if they fail, but when. I used to run CPR HOB overflows with Aqualifters to try to suck out the inevitable air bubble that forms in the siphon and can eventually stop it. Unless you are totally anal about maintenance eventually something will cause a problem (Aqualifter fails, blob of algae stops up the suction port, etc.). After a few mishaps, I gave up on them. So out of HOB overflow, drilled overflow, and canister filter, I'd rank the HOB overflow last.

I don't understand the arguments against canister filters, IMO they are about the most reliable pieces of equipment I've run. One of my freshwater tanks has an Eheim that I think is going on 25 years old. But on saltwater tanks I prefer overflows to canisters because sumps make things easier to maintain.