horizontal PVC Pipe overflow

[Nick Rose]

I will be finally adding a sump to our 50 gallon backup/emergency tank. The overflow that I will be doing is a horizontal PVC style. Similar to this one: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1251168 . I will be cutting it in half so I can put the return line in the middle of the back. So I will have 3 bulk heads. Two will be for the overflow one on each back corner and the other one will be the return in the middle back. I have a 950gph pump laying around. What size drain lines should I do? Is 1" good or should I go with 1 1/2".

 

[Brad Miller]

Horizontal gravity drain lines need to be oversized.
The bigger the better in my opinion.

 

[Nick Rose]

I have mostly finished the overflow. The one thing that will be changed is the weir. The slots are cut close to half way or more the diameter of the pipe I think it should be more like 1/3. Does anyone have any suggestions for improvements? Anything that might be changed. I will be putting on a gate valve where the ball valve is.

 

[unchaotic]

This idea just popped into my head this morning. Are you still running with this overflow?

 

[Nick Rose]

Yes I am. Still works great. It does make noise but since it’s in the garage it’s not a big deal.

 

[unchaotic]

Yes I am. Still works great. It does make noise but since it’s in the garage it’s not a big deal.

Have you identified where the noise is primarily coming from? The weir in the tank or somewhere in the standpipes? Did you add gate valves to just one standpipe or both?