synergy reef overflow placement?

[Steve Maxwell]

I was very scared when I drilled my 75G a couple months ago, but it was very easy. Everybody told me it would be fine, but I had a hard time believing them ;)

 

[john.m.cole3]

lookin clean!

 

[KingTriton]

Word of advice... Never drill while you are angry!

 

[cracker]

Ok Considering my current tank and sump, this has turned out to be more complicated than I thought. Now for the herbie/bean to work properly, I need to a section of the sump with a constant water level (for the siphon line to be submerged at all times).. This old huge wetdry I'm using as a sump doesn't have said section. Also this wetdry isn't wide enough for the skimmer to be best efficient. I need to come up with a better one. So for the time being I will use durso's until I can build a proper sump with partitions etc.
I found the Gmacreef site very helpful.

 

[john.m.cole3]

Dude, I got my ghost in the mail yesterday. It's burning a hole in my floor as we speak. I'm moving next weekend so drilling will probably be postponed till a later date. I already have my sump bought and paritioned off, so I'm good there. Has anyone ever drilled a tank w/ an electric drill? I have a Bosch multi speed deal andwas wonderig if that would work, or if I need a cordless drill w/ a clutch.

 

[KingTriton]

I've done it with electric. Make sure you put it on a GFI.

 

[cracker]

John, I know what You mean. They are nice! If your drill has a slow speed it will be fine. Just start slow at the beginning. If Your hole saw is new it will go right thru in short order. If You can drill outside just use the garden hose with a lite flow of water. Keep it level as possible. It will be fine.
Shoot, As slow as my build is going You will catch up, let us know!.

 

[cracker]

Ya Baby! I tightened the bulkheads ,filled the tank and gave it a run. I'm amazed at how quiet this thing is!! I can actually hear the pump! No leaks so far , Once It's setup very easy to see how it works.
The water line is just barely "over" the trim can't see it . I used two paint sticks between the pattern and trim. I could have used one. Plenty of room between the water line and actual top of tank. No fear of splash over.
This over flow is sweet and worth the cost. I'm using just straight stand pipes. The siphon needs to be a little shorter, I get a small vortex but once the lid is on I can't hear a thing.

 

[cracker]

Here is a pic of what I have. Nice and simple !

 

[john.m.cole3]

legit. I just ordered that drill guide and bit. We re moving his Sunday, so my build is on hold for now. You got me considering going flex tubing though...

 

[cracker]

Hey John , Hope the move goes smoothly for You. As for the flex, I understand for the herbie to work just right. the discharge has to be just properly under a steady water level in the sump. That requires a section in the sump where the water is always the same . The flex tubing will give Ya the flexability to get it just right!" No pun intended" I can cut it to the proper length. IAgain I had the flex left over from old wetdry's. I think You can get similar flex at the pool supply store.

 

[cracker]

Ok Gents, My original post was "Proper placement " of said synergy over flow. I used 2 paint sticks between the guide and the bottom of the "inside" frame. One stick would have been better.( a little higher water level ). any higher then I think I may have had splash over the top.
So now the "placement" question has been answered, I will keep up with the other end of this over flow, Meaning keeping the proper " herbie thing" depth of the outputs into the sump. Thanks for following!

 

[john.m.cole3]

what is a paint stick? Only thing that comes to mind is the stick you use to roll paint on a wall...

 

[Steve Maxwell]

Probably the wood paint stirrers you get when you buy a gallon of paint.

 

[john.m.cole3]

10-4

 

[don_chuwish]

Helpful thread! I managed to get mine so the back box and lid barely fits under the trim. I'm worried about the water line though, judging by the teeth it may be a close call (I don't want to see the water line below the trim). Only way to have gone higher would be to cut the trim - I may regret NOT doing that.
I'm looking forward to how everyone places their pipes inside the box - how high, etc.
Drilling wasn't bad with brand new bits from BRS. I do wish I had a better bit guide than the template but I made it work. Careful trigger control and keeping it slow helped. I found that not much water was needed - no need for a huge watery mess and shock risk.

 

[don_chuwish]

A few more pics....

I used a tenoning jig on the table saw to cut teeth in the emergency drain. Honestly, mostly for fun.

A spacer between the box and the bulkhead gasket would be a good idea, then the box could be placed above the trim. Mine is tight against it.

Hope the water level isn't too low!

 

[cracker]

Hey Don, good job! The return lines are very nice. Thanks for the pics. I was also concerned about having to cut the trim. Again I used 2 paint sticks stacked as a shim. Steve is correct a paint stick is what You get when buying a gallon of paint. I could have used 1 stick. I think if I hadn't used any sticks as shims, I would have had to cut the trim. Any way with 2 sticks the water level is "just" above the trim and not seen. Hope that makes sense. Don, I think You will be fine with the water level. It shouldn't be visible.
As for the height of the stand pipes, (Just my opinion here) 1st don't glue the stand pipes inside the box . The 3 bulkheads ,left to right. 1st was the emergency tallest. I set it at 5 1/4 inches 2nd pipe (center )was the siphon. this was the short one . . I had to take off about an inch. ended up with 2 1/2 inches the 3rd far right was the trickle. Set at 4 1/2 inches. Once you water test You will easy tell if the heights are ok. Personally I won't glue the stand pipes or will I use inverted 90's I will figure out a type of screen. It was lot less complicated than I thought. Now getting the ends of the drains at proper level into the sump took some work also. with the drains right at an inch or so below the water surface in the sump, I can turn off the pump, restart and it immediately goes right back to siphon. I can close the siphon valve and the trickle and emergency drains easily handle the flow. Very nice design.
This over flow is so quiet it's kinda freaking me out. I keep thinking it's not running any water thru it! Just tonight I filled the tank with sand and water every thing is running as advertised . And that's a 1st for me!

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks cracker. Yeah I'll play with the heights inside the box, thanks for your measurements! No need to ever glue them in.
Hoping to get all my plumbing knocked out this weekend but it was slow going today.

 

[cracker]

need to figure how to post a pic