What's the preferred overflow style? Is Bean Animal still the go-to option?

[Daniel@R2R]

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I had to research overflow styles. Is bean animal still the one most people prefer? Which one do you think is best?

 

[JumboShrimp]

3 pipes and 3 valves gives me the control I like to tune things in nicely— with a variable pump, of course— so personally I would say “Yes”.

 

[CodyBot]

To answer the question, yes, this is the best method. Silent and your back up has a back up. Unless there’s a new invention to gravity like LEDs were to light, this chapter is closed.

 

[MaddyP]

Well, you could always go with a single drain and modulating ball valve to control flow.

 

[ZoWhat]

We talking overflow box H.O.B.?

Or the use of what holes you have available inside the mfgr builtin overflow(s)?

I would prefer buying a tank with overflows already builtin.

Say, like on my dual corner built-in overflows with 3/4 and 1" holes in each overflow.... I have ALL 4 holes draining. Actually two, one on each side with the 1"ers and the two 3/4"ers as backup. All returns coming back OVER the tank with loc-line ends.

Put this in the category of "doing your research before you buy"


.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Oh yea I beaned it up and have been thankful twice since. Modular Marine for the win

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Yes

 

[CodyBot]

Well, you could always go with a single drain and modulating ball valve to control flow.

Which corals are you going to put in your tank? Maybe a nice $500 torch? Like that JF homewrecker? Let’s just say a few thousand in corals. How much do those laminate floors cost? A few thousand? You’re entire tank and floors rests on a single mechanical valve, that with fail with time, same as any other piece of equipment. Even if the valve fails and you don’t flood, well now your filtration, top off, and temperature control is isolated from your display….all because you literally put all your eggs in one basket, and your corals won’t have the life support that they need.

 

[MaddyP]

Which corals are you going to put in your tank? Maybe a nice $500 torch? Like that JF homewrecker? Let’s just say a few thousand in corals. How much do those laminate floors cost? A few thousand? You’re entire tank and floors rests on a single mechanical valve, that with fail with time, same as any other piece of equipment. Even if the valve fails and you don’t flood, well now your filtration, top off, and temperature control is isolated from your display….all because you literally put all your eggs in one basket, and your corals won’t have the life support that they need.

Thanks for the positive vibes!

Yes it’s a calculated risk but well thought out with many different failsafes in place. If the valve fails open then the pump kicks into a PID loop to maintain display level. If it fails closed the pump turns off once display level reaches a certain level. Redundant ultrasonic sensors monitor water level in both sump and display tank to maintain these PID loops. No matter which way it fails there is a fallback which won’t end in a catastrophic loss, at least no more than any other tank.

 

[CodyBot]

Thanks for the positive vibes!

Yes it’s a calculated risk but well thought out with many different failsafes in place. If the valve fails open then the pump kicks into a PID loop to maintain display level. If it fails closed the pump turns off once display level reaches a certain level. Redundant ultrasonic sensors monitor water level in both sump and display tank to maintain these PID loops. No matter which way it fails there is a fallback which won’t end in a catastrophic loss, at least no more than any other tank.

Good deal! I wasn't being a brat for the sake of being a brat. I've been in this hobby for about 15 years, and the side that fascinates me the most is the building side. I'm glad you thought through the series of failures. Just wanted to play the devil's advocate for a minute

 

[TnFishwater98]

Thanks for the positive vibes!

Yes it’s a calculated risk but well thought out with many different failsafes in place. If the valve fails open then the pump kicks into a PID loop to maintain display level. If it fails closed the pump turns off once display level reaches a certain level. Redundant ultrasonic sensors monitor water level in both sump and display tank to maintain these PID loops. No matter which way it fails there is a fallback which won’t end in a catastrophic loss, at least no more than any other tank.

The vacation boogie man is fierce and unpredictable. I’m sure you have remote access to Parameters /alerts for your tank. I have learned for peace of mind while away I need to be able to connect to a camera to make sure fish room is silent. Recent small upgrade for me. As long as you get live alerts by smart controller app or a live feed camera picking up new sounds while you’re away to can relax on vacation. If you realize something is up give someone a call that can get to your tank & be instructed to fix.
******Spellchecked ! Lol

 

[MaddyP]

Good deal! I wasn't being a brat for the sake of being a brat. I've been in this hobby for about 15 years, and the side that fascinates me the most is the building side. I'm glad you thought through the series of failures. Just wanted to play the devil's advocate for a minute

No worries! Really I wanted to design a tank with no visible plumbing just to see if I could. Since it’s a 12 gallon focused on zoas and flower nems I’m not too worried about a failures. It’s more an experiment than anything else. So far, I’m super happy with how it turned out.

The vacation boogie man is fierce and unpredictable. I’m sure you have remote access to Parameters /alerts for your tank. I have learned for peace of mind while away I need to be able to connect to a camera to make sure fish room is silent. Recent small upgrade for me. As long as you get live alerts by smart controller app or a live feed camera picking up new sounds while you’re away to can relax on vacation. If you realize something is up give someone a call that can get to your tank & be instructed to fix.
******Spellchecked ! Lol

Once I have all aspects of the controller built out I’ll have full remote access with alerts. The great thing about building my own controller is the ability to include more features than might be available on commercial controllers.

 

[TnFishwater98]

No worries! Really I wanted to design a tank with no visible plumbing just to see if I could. Since it’s a 12 gallon focused on zoas and flower nems I’m not too worried about a failures. It’s more an experiment than anything else. So far, I’m super happy with how it turned out.



Once I have all aspects of the controller built out I’ll have full remote access with alerts. The great thing about building my own controller is the ability to include more features than might be available on commercial controllers.

Build me one ..lol

 

[MaddyP]

Build me one ..lol

Once I have the UI widgets finished I’ll publish it all for anyone who wants to use it. I might even put together a tutorial.