1200gph or 1600gph overflow on 30gal

[camineet]

I want to follow Water Dog's example of matching overflow box drain /w sump inlet size, in my case 1" on the sump. Tank is just under 24" wide.

The Modular Marine offers this 1" drain size in the 1200gph and 1600gph models, which are 12 and 16 inches, respectively.

They're both the same price because the 1" drain upgrade on the smaller one is necessary.

Is it dumb to go so large as 1600gph? Any downsides? I see a lot of posts about coast to coast skimming as a desirable setup. Seems the bigger box would still allow enough room for return holes even on both sides.

 

[X-37B]

I want to follow Water Dog's example of matching overflow box drain /w sump inlet size, in my case 1" on the sump. Tank is just under 24" wide.

The Modular Marine offers this 1" drain size in the 1200gph and 1600gph models, which are 12 and 16 inches, respectively.

They're both the same price because the 1" drain upgrade on the smaller one is necessary.

Is it dumb to go so large as 1600gph? Any downsides? I see a lot of posts about coast to coast skimming as a desirable setup. Seems the bigger box would still allow enough room for return holes even on both sides.

No downsides, imo.
Your not going to run anywhere near the rated flow so your fine.

 

[Billldg]

Yes, their is a downside to oversizing your overflow. You will not be able to tune it in. I have a 2400 GPH MM Overflow on my 225 gal tank, and it was hard. How much actual water volume are you talking?

I have a 225 gal tank and a sump that will hold 50+ gals. I put my actual water volume at 220-225 gals.

 

[camineet]

Yes, their is a downside to oversizing your overflow. You will not be able to tune it in. I have a 2400 GPH MM Overflow on my 225 gal tank, and it was hard. How much actual water volume are you talking?

I have a 225 gal tank and a sump that will hold 50+ gals. I put my actual water volume at 220-225 gals.

Sorry what do you mean by water volume? the tank is 30gal and the sump is this one from Reef Octopus:

Octo Reef Sump 24A

Octo Reef Sumps offer attractive design, the versatility and features you need, and they’re built to last. Each Octo Reef sump is hand-built from solid acrylic for years of trouble-free service. They’ve got you covered with plenty of room for your skimmer and return pump, and they also feature a...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by not being able to tune it in? Why?

Also, what was hard about your setup? For yours, 2400gph is just over 10x overturn for your 225gal. And with head pressure and such reducing the max capacity of the overflow, why was this an issue? Thanks for these details if you're able to reply.

 

[Logical_Plan]

At 1" full siphon you can pull 960 GPH ish under full siphon. Even with a gate valve you only get so much flow control resolution.

Assuming bean animal overflow. Even if you are running 10x flow you are at 300GPH. So to have to restrict primary drain to 240ish GPH so you can set water height with secondary overflow. You might not have enough thread resolution to keep full siphon and secondary drain quiet.

 

[camineet]

At 1" full siphon you can pull 960 GPH ish under full siphon. Even with a gate valve you only get so much flow control resolution.

Assuming bean animal overflow. Even if you are running 10x flow you are at 300GPH. So to have to restrict primary drain to 240ish GPH so you can set water height with secondary overflow. You might not have enough thread resolution to keep full siphon and secondary drain quiet.

I can largely understand these details. Thank you. I suspected there would be an issue with this, and now I'm starting to understand why with these details.

Based on what you wrote about, the size of the overflow box isn't the possible cause of a problem with being able to tune for a low flow in the 200 to 300 range. It's the size of the pipe. Am I right?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I think people are saying on a 30 gallon tank what you are planning would be unused, overly expensive, overkill, in terms of the water volume you will “actually” be able to push through in a practical way. I would agree.

 

[camineet]

Right. Looking to not stupidly overspend unnecessarily. Stupidly overspending on the sump was actually necessary. Have you guys seen those things?

Anyway yeah, looking at the modular marine 800gph to avoid nonsense spending for no benefit.

The original issue with this was to try to match the overflow drain with the sump's inlet so as to avoid a problem that Water Dog surmised about with purging the air for siphon start with upsizing pipe.

Can't I just pipe in the half inch pvc right into the 1" inlet on the sump? It wouldn't be flush, but does that even matter?

 

[Logical_Plan]

Ok so here is some food for thought.

1. Herbie, Durso or Bean Animal overflow.

2. Modular marine boxes have capacity for three drain outputs. Sump has one drain input. How do you plan on reconciling this?

3. Plenty of sumps that run as a glass box without the drain bulkeaded. Is splashing an issue for you?

Make sure siphon drain is not more than 1.5" below water level and air purging shouldn't be an issue.

 

[camineet]

Doing bean animal. Yes, this sump has only one inlet, but I've been watching brs videos that say using these sumps with one inlet is no problem with bean animal. You just put the other 2 drains somewhere. Anywhere. Anything I'm missing here please let me know.

Yes, splashing would be unacceptable. I'll do whatever it takes to have a silent system.

Thanks for these points and questions.

 

[Colt13]

i have the 1200gph, and my sump has 2 1" drains. im just gonna use bushings to reduce the size at the bulkhead.

 

[Logical_Plan]

Doing bean animal. Yes, this sump has only one inlet, but I've been watching brs videos that say using these sumps with one inlet is no problem with bean animal. You just put the other 2 drains somewhere. Anywhere. Anything I'm missing here please let me know.

Yes, splashing would be unacceptable. I'll do whatever it takes to have a silent system.

Thanks for these points and questions.

Maybe have a read here:

Silent & Fail-Safe Aquarium Overflow System | BeanAnimal's Reef

Build the world famous "Bean Animal" silent and fail-safe aquarium overflow system. No noise, no adjustment, no floods. A truly set and forget setup that makes the Durso and Stockman style of standpipes obsolete! Build your own today!

beananimal.com

Maybe a watch here:

I not trying to be obtuse in answering, but I think that you have some decisions to make about how to run your plumbing. The video has to do with head losses, but should give you some ideas about what will happen if you run a 1/2" primary drain, coupled to 1" to fit bulkhead and finishing as 1" into sump.

Consider that in bean animal the secondary drain is always wet.

The EM overflow line should be above the water level and can go anywhere and should be noisy if it is wet.

 

[camineet]

Will do thank you!

 

[DCR]

You might want to reduce the full siphon line size down to 3/4" downstream of the throttle valve for that low flow to reduce the possibility of air getting trapped just below the valve (noise), although I think the 1" would still be OK. Also place the throttling valve fairly close to the sump entrance to minimize the potential for air to get trapped above the valve in the full siphon. The 1" lines on the secondary and emergency drains are fine and should be noise free.

 

[camineet]

Thanks for the guidance guys. I went with the modular marine 800gph unit with just half inch drains.