DIY overflow. Problem no one has posted.

[Robbs]

Hi guys. This is my first post and my first view on this forum. It seems to have lots of activity.

My problem.
I made the pvc overflow that has a big pipe standing in the tank with only one pipe over the topp.

Works great but when the power shuts of the big pipe starts to float.
Waterlevel inside the pipe is 200mm when power is off. Level in tank 480mm.

It has a pretty strong lift so i dont trust silicone or rubberpluggs(dont know the name in english).
I think of making a lid on the pipe so it hits the acrylic i made for the pipes when power goes out.

Any advise from you guys would be awesome.

 

[Reeferdood]

Perhaps cut a few slots near the bottom of the bigger pipe to allow the water level in the big pipe to be the same as the level in the tank.
And, welcome to the forums!

 

[Retro Reefer]

Maybe attach suction cups or magnets to hold it against glass, seems strange it would float enough to be a problem.

 

[Robbs]

Perhaps cut a few slots near the bottom of the bigger pipe to allow the water level in the big pipe to be the same as the level in the tank.
And, welcome to the forums!

Hi. And thank you.
I dont think my sump can take all that water. Then the waterlevel drops down to where i drill the holes. But thank you for the reply.

 

[PaulPerger]

Perhaps cut a few slots near the bottom of the bigger pipe to allow the water level in the big pipe to be the same as the level in the tank.
And, welcome to the forums!

I agree with this... Let us know what you do and what works!

 

[Robbs]

Maybe attach suction cups or magnets to hold it against glass, seems strange it would float enough to be a problem.

There is the Word. Suction cups When i have used it it seems to get harder over time?
Well the big pipe (75mm dia) has a plug in the lower end. Otherwise i would empty the tank if the power goes out. And it is 500mm long. Pretty god floating ratio that i didnt think about.

 

[Robbs]

I agree with this... Let us know what you do and what works!

Yes If it was that simple but i would empty the tank when the power goes out. To where the holes are.

 

[PaulPerger]

Yes If it was that simple but i would empty the tank when the power goes out. To where the holes are.

I would silicone it to the bottom of the tank and or put some silicone along the pipe where it meets the glass in the corner. I don't know why, as it is pretty obvious, but I didn't think about you using that as an overflow... I feel silly.

 

[Robbs]

I would silicone it to the bottom of the tank and or put some silicone along the pipe where it meets the glass in the corner. I don't know why, as it is pretty obvious, but I didn't think about you using that as an overflow... I feel silly.

Does silicone stick to pvc?
Only tried with acrylic and that didnt go well.

I have done a lid for the overflow pipe just now that will put the pipe close to the acrylic in the topp. The acrylic is drilled and i used zipties to stick it to the rim.

And maybe silicone in the bottom.

Will let you know how it works out when i come home.

 

[Retro Reefer]

On the one I made I zip tied my weir to the return pipe, not because it was floating but to just keep it all together for simpler installation and removal.. not sure if you can see in this picture but maybe you can do something similar, use a couple zip ties through the teeth of your weir and around the overflow pipe to hold in place.

 

[Robbs]

On the one I made I zip tied my weir to the return pipe, not because it was floating but to just keep it all together for simpler installation and removal.. not sure if you can see in this picture but maybe you can do something similar, use a couple zip ties through the teeth of your weir and around the overflow pipe to hold in place.

Thx that can work also. Will try when i get home.

Here is a pic of my sump i made. Its a trigon tank. And i dont whant to make a new stand.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Thx that can work also. Will try when i get home.

Here is a pic of my sump i made. Its a trigon tank. And i dont whant to make a new stand.

Some great DIY skills

 

[Pntbll687]

Does silicone stick to pvc?
Only tried with acrylic and that didnt go well.

I have done a lid for the overflow pipe just now that will put the pipe close to the acrylic in the topp. The acrylic is drilled and i used zipties to stick it to the rim.

And maybe silicone in the bottom.

Will let you know how it works out when i come home.

Yes silicone will stick to pvc.

When I used a diy overflow I siliconed it to the bottom no problem.

Post some pics of the while thing when you have it running! I like diy projects and might go back to diy overflow on my next tank

 

[George Lopez]

Don't cut slits!!! This would cause you to continue to siphon until your tank drains to the slit depth more than likely causing a flood... bad idea

Silicone it or weigh it down with something like a dense rock zip tied to it but being a large pipe I would let it float and hit the acrylic top you have there. Once power returns it will sink again.

 

[crusso1993]

@Robbs - First off; Welcome to R2R! Happy you're here!

Secondly; looks like you already received a couple of good suggested fixes. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Robbs]

Some great DIY skills

Thank you im trying

Yes silicone will stick to pvc.

When I used a diy overflow I siliconed it to the bottom no problem.

Post some pics of the while thing when you have it running! I like diy projects and might go back to diy overflow on my next tank

Ok so pvc is better than acrylic with silicone?

Silicone it or weigh it down with something like a dense rock zip tied to it but being a large pipe I would let it float and hit the acrylic top you have there. Once power returns it will sink again.

Only problem is that the waterlevel has to come up higher before it goes in the overflow. But with the lid i made it should stay put.

@Robbs - First off; Welcome to R2R! Happy you're here!

Secondly; looks like you already received a couple of good suggested fixes. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Thank you and will do

 

[Robbs]

I thought i should make something to hold it in place. If the pipe is all the way in to the glas it sits on the silicone. Im not happy with that.

Left side on the pic, pvc spacer and acrylic that will sit at the bottom of the pipe and to the glas.

Right side, the lid to hold it down if power goes out.

Thank you guys for all the comments.

 

[Robbs]

So now i just wait for it to dry. Hopefully i can test it tomorrow.
Thx guys.

Few pics.

 

[Reeferdood]

Hi. And thank you.
I dont think my sump can take all that water. Then the waterlevel drops down to where i drill the holes. But thank you for the reply.

Yeah,
I wasn't sure if the outer pipe was just a sort of cover for the pipe inside or not. It is hard to see exactly what you have put together for that overflow. Hopefully with the other suggestions you can come up with a good success story to share with everyone.