Modular Marine Bean Animal - plumbing input needed

[Smite]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how to plumb my 180g tank. Its getting fitted with a Modular Marine 2400gph external overflow box. My sump is 42" long and centered in stand. I'd like all three drains to fit on the right side of my sump and in order to do that the farthest will have a couple 90 degree elbows in the run.

Would it be best to make the run with the most 90 degree elbows my full syphon line to reduce noise?

 

[Smo]

Well, why do you want all three drains to go to one side? I have my emergency drain dump straight into the refugium area of my sump (roughly in the middle) so I can hear it making noise if it starts flowing. Only the full syphon and open channel (Durso) go to a chamber overflowing into the filter socks.
While folks suggest avoiding 90 deg elbows it worked fine for me on a smaller 40 B where I was constrained by available space to plumb.

 

[ca1ore]

Consider using flex PVC - that’s all I use on my system now.

 

[Smite]

Consider using flex PVC - that’s all I use on my system now.

I really like the look of hard plumbing under the tank, but I am considering transitioning to braided tubing/or flex pvc up the back of the tank. With three 1.5" drains I'd like to have some hard plumbing to strap and relieve some weight off the overflow box.

Well, why do you want all three drains to go to one side? I have my emergency drain dump straight into the refugium area of my sump (roughly in the middle) so I can hear it making noise if it starts flowing. Only the full syphon and open channel (Durso) go to a chamber overflowing into the filter socks.
While folks suggest avoiding 90 deg elbows it worked fine for me on a smaller 40 B where I was constrained by available space to plumb.

Good to know. Its mainly just to keep a clean look and avoid some of my manifold valves near my refugium. When it comes down to it I'm function over aesthetics so that'll be my option 2 if I can't make the bends work with the space I have. I did plan on having the E-drain drop between my bubble trap so a problem would be noticeable right away.

Is you system still pretty quiet with the elbows?

 

[TaylorPilot]

I prefer to split my drains to opposite sides of the sump. It keeps the middle completely open.

 

[dugthefish]

I've got 90s on mine. Works just fine.

 

[TaylorPilot]

I've got 90s on mine. Works just fine.

Yep. Unless you are running right up the limits of your plumbing, it doesn't matter much. I would probably use 45s on the return lines though.

 

[Saveafish]

Mine goes in the basement. But here is mine on a 400g.. 45deg fittings will work bette than 90deg.

 

[Fin]

Mine all go to the left side of the sump, because that is where the sump is drilled for the drains. Here is how I am doing mine. Still not completed yet.

 

[ca1ore]

I really like the look of hard plumbing under the tank, but I am considering transitioning to braided tubing/or flex pvc up the back of the tank. With three 1.5" drains I'd like to have some hard plumbing to strap and relieve some weight off the overflow box.

LOL, I gave up on sump aesthetics decades ago. You should be supporting plumbing regardless of what form you choose. I’d avoid vinyl tube - barb fittings are flow destroyers.

 

[Smite]

Great looking systems everyone! What is everyone's overall opinion of the modular marine overflows? Also, how about some pics of inside the box? This is my first external overflow so it'd be great to get idea for that

Im thinking I'll separate the e drain but open to opinions

 

[Fin]

Great looking systems everyone! What is everyone's overall opinion of the modular marine overflows? Also, how about some pics of inside the box? This is my first external overflow so it'd be great to get idea for that

Im thinking I'll separate the e drain but open to opinions

I think it looks really nice and neat. You can put the emergency drain anywhere you want it. It will only be needed if the other two clog, which will hopefully be never. It should be someplace where the splashing coming from it can be audible enough for you to notice that something is not right though.

 

[FishingLovingSons]

My buddy has his E Drain go to return section of sump... when I asked he said the bubbles showing up in display is great notification of a problem. Wish I had pics/vid of it but he showed me by blocking the siphon and Durso; sure enough tank starting filling with micro bubbles as the e drain dumped straight over the return pump and they were shot back into the DT. I will be doing the same

 

[TARHEEL78]

Gonna resurrect this dead thread.

Great looking systems everyone! What is everyone's overall opinion of the modular marine overflows? Also, how about some pics of inside the box? This is my first external overflow so it'd be great to get idea for that

Im thinking I'll separate the e drain but open to opinions

I would also like to see what everyone else did internally. There isn't a ton of room inside the box so I'm wondering how to tackle it. I'm hoping to start plumbing tonight so any pics would be appreciated.

 

[TheHarold]

Gonna resurrect this dead thread.



I would also like to see what everyone else did internally. There isn't a ton of room inside the box so I'm wondering how to tackle it. I'm hoping to start plumbing tonight so any pics would be appreciated.

Same here- tank just arrived.

I am no plumber, but I THINK it’s supposed to be something like this. One main siphon (I have strainer on it) that has a ball valve to adjust, one herbie drain that gets a trickle, and then one emergency drain.

I have no idea about the heights though...

 

[TARHEEL78]

I just put three straight pipes in and adjusted the flow on the main siphon so it didn't empty the overflow as soon as water came in. It's not silent but its not loud enough to bother me. I'll quit being lazy eventually and add some additional plumbing pieces so I can turn the flow back up some.

 

[dugthefish]

@TARHEEL78

Mine is pretty much this, although I used two 90s and left out the airline from the secondary.

For heights, you have to play around with it as every system will be different.

I set emergency drain about 1/2" below the rim of the overflow (checked to make sure it would handle full volume and it gets about 1/8" from the top).

Secondary drain was adjusted to keep a trickle coming down, with waterline 1/4" from top of emergency.

Primary is just a stub with a strainer.

 

[TaylorPilot]

Add another 90 to the durso so that it remains under water, and loose the airline tubing. It isn't needed in this setup.

 

[Silver14SS]

Add another 90 to the durso so that it remains under water, and loose the airline tubing. It isn't needed in this setup.

That's the secondary drain, this setup is more like a Bean Animal than durso.

My primary is 2 90s, secondary is 2 90's with the airline, emergency is open pipe.

 

[TaylorPilot]

@Silver14SS A durso is a type of stand pipe. You can use either a durso or a stockman in either setup. Yes, what you are describing is a bean animal setup with a siphon, open channel and emergency. You want to add another 90 to the open channel, so that the end is under the water, and remove the tubing. It is not needed, although you do need to keep the hole. The tubing was only needed in the very early setups where the t and cap were outside the tank.

I do prefer to use the two 90's as well. The T takes up too much space, and forces you to run the open channel lower.