New bean animal set up on new tank

[kkenevan]

Having an issue finding the right way to plumb my over flow.

1- emergency stand pipe pretty self explanatory (good)

2- primary (full siphon)I have plumbed 2 90s to make a u facing back down approx 1/2" from the bottom of the overflow. It will not allow any water down cuz I'm assuming its locked up with air. Has a gate valve.

3- (secondary)same as 2 bug set up just under the water level of the emergency. No gate valve.

I tried it this way but I see so many people drilling holes, adding 1/4" line, ect.
I'm just worried about it starting up and won't siphon.

Which one gets a 1/4 line and where at?
How does the other loose the air then?

Ran to HD to get some more fitting but I'll post pics when I'm back. Any help would be much appreciated and pics. Thanks alot happy new year

 

[fermentedhiker]

Best explanation is here;
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

Personally I found it easier to remove the double 90 degree on the primary and having it lower than the secondary. But that's just me.

 

[KJAG]

Your airline should be drilled and tapped in the cap of the open channel( secondary)

The idea is that if your siphon becomes clogged, you’ll have an airline fixed somewhere below the dry emergency so the open channel will trigger into a full siphon before the dry emergency does when the water level rises. That’s not the sole purpose of the open channel however. It’s there as a failsafe but mainly so the system is self tuning.
There should be only a trickle of water spiraling down your open channel. This can be adjusted via your gate valve on the siphon

 

[kkenevan]

I guess I dont understand how the primary full siphon is not going?

 

[kkenevan]

Primary is middle and secondary is left. I will drill in the 1/4 line in the top of the secondary but what do I do to the primary?

 

[fermentedhiker]

I guess I dont understand how the primary full siphon is not going?

the double 90 you have is airlocked. In a properly working BA setup it will struggle at startup and water will go to the secondary but after a few minutes it should eventually get a siphon established and calm down. That's why I eliminated the double 90 on my primary as I didn't find it was doing anything useful for me.

 

[kkenevan]

the double 90 you have is airlocked. In a properly working BA setup it will struggle at startup and water will go to the secondary but after a few minutes it should eventually get a siphon established and calm down. That's why I eliminated the double 90 on my primary as I didn't find it was doing anything useful for me.

Ok so I'm on the right track I think drilling the secondary and removing the second 90 on the primary

 

[Saveafish]

Wait till you're running two and have to ballance it.

 

[fermentedhiker]

drilling the secondary is correct . Removing the 90 on the primary isn't correct for a true BA setup but it made it much easier to tune for me

 

[kkenevan]

drilling the secondary is correct . Removing the 90 on the primary isn't correct for a true BA setup but it made it much easier to tune for me

Did u run tubing to the secondary or just a hole? I see it both ways

 

[fermentedhiker]

I did just a hole. The choice between a hole and tube would depend on how high the secondary is. If the top of the cap or 90 is below the level of your emergency then a hole is fine IMO as the secondary will go to full siphon if the water level in the overflow backs up to cover the hole. The tube didn't seem necessary in this instance to me, but I won't claim to be an expert in it.

 

[cracker]

Try taking the 90's off .

 

[Silver14SS]

Removing the 90 on the primary isn't correct for a true BA setup but it made it much easier to tune for me

Red Sea and Waterbox agree with you - I believe both use a BA style with 2 straight drains, no 90s.

 

[kkenevan]

Red Sea and Waterbox agree with you - I believe both use a BA style with 2 straight drains, no 90s.

Is that true? Just stand pipes no 90s?

 

[fermentedhiker]

The 90s do serve a purpose, they just make it harder to tune, at least for me. With a straight standpipe like mine you have to have to water level in the overflow a good be above your primary otherwise you'll get a whirlpool suction effect from the surface. Also remember that a true BA is supposed to be self tuning so the flow through the secondary can/will vary from the ideal trickle so the 90s keep it silent(or at least more so). I have a cover on my overflow so it's silent without the double 90s.

 

[fermentedhiker]

This is how mine ended. Not the greatest pic but I think you can get the idea.

 

[Swoody]

I have no pipe at all on my main drain in my bean animal overflow, just the opening on the bottom of the overflow. Never had an issue and it was incredibly easy to set up and “tune” On my secondary which is a 90 pointing down I have a small hole drilled in that with a piece of small airline on it that’s it.

 

[KJAG]

Did u run tubing to the secondary or just a hole? I see it both ways

Yours is an internal Bean so an airline(tubing) isn’t needed. Drill a hole in your open channel and you should be good to go, as long as there’s not some other issue downstream that isn’t shown like a bunch of horizontal runs on your drains. Just realize that if a snail etc crawls over the hole it will trigger the system.
As shown, if you just drill the hole, you should be able to tune it with the gate on your siphon. Also ensure that your drains terminate into your sump no more than about 1/2” or so.

 

[kkenevan]

Thank you all. I'm playing around with these set ups. I appreciate it
It's actually up and running now so I can really tune it
Have a great new year all!