Show us your "Ghost" or "Shadow" style overflow plumbing!

revhtree · Nov 16, 2016

Would love to see some member photos of how you plumbed your Ghost or Shadow overflow or that same style overflow. Looking for shots of the inside and outside!

revhtree · Nov 16, 2016

mpjmeyer · Nov 16, 2016

following. Thinking of selling my Lifereef overflow that I've never used for one of these

Terry4505 · Nov 16, 2016

These are from when the tank was first being set up over a year ago, plumbing goes to the basement now:

mpjmeyer · Nov 16, 2016

I just placed my order for the shadow overflow with the drill bit

. My tank is somewhat similar when it comes to the plastic bracing around it...Is your water level above the black trim that wraps around the tank?

Terry4505 · Nov 16, 2016

Yes, the box is like 1/4" below the trim, and the water level is hidden behind the trim.

revhtree · Nov 16, 2016

Terry4505 said:
These are from when the tank was first being set up over a year ago, plumbing goes to the basement now:

Why do you have one air line drilled in one and not the other?

Terry4505 · Nov 16, 2016

revhtree said:
Why do you have one air line drilled in one and not the other?

One of the elbows is drilled, so that it does not become a full-siphon unless it is submerged. I removed the airline since then. It works completely silently when I have it tuned correctly. One downside is that because the sump is in the basement, if I make any adjustments, I have to run up and down stairs to correct it, unless I can convince my daughter to help me.

john.m.cole3 · Nov 20, 2016

straight stand pipes not glued in outer box

tankaholic · Nov 20, 2016

john.m.cole3 said:
straight stand pipes not glued in outer box

hey john... heheheh are you running only 1 return line line back in tank?
I'm still not happy with my 40b setup...just need to dial a few more things in...
I got a pair of baby clowns like maybe 1in in length...and these things don't want to swim around...maybe its the clowns....lol
anyway was going to make a couple posts today on here about a couple things...will yell at ya on my other ghost thread...lol

tankaholic · Nov 20, 2016

here's photos of my ghost install...

mixer911 · Dec 3, 2016

Here are a couple quick pics of how we plumb the shadow.

italquam · Jan 9, 2017

mixer911 said:
Here are a couple quick pics of how we plumb the shadow.

Is it best to plumb those straight to sump without any bends or elbows? Also, does it matter if they are plumbed to 1.5 inch drains or 1 inch drains on the sump?

mixer911 · Jan 9, 2017

italquam said:
Is it best to plumb those straight to sump without any bends or elbows? Also, does it matter if they are plumbed to 1.5 inch drains or 1 inch drains on the sump?

Elbows and 45's don't hurt anything as bad on the drains. Not like return plumbing where it causes head loss with elbows. So you can pretty much plumb it as needed. The overflow is going to run quieter when plumbed with 1.5" all the way to the sump. This is why we design all of our sumps to accommodate 1.5" drains. You can reduce them down to 1" though.

italquam · Jan 9, 2017

Thanks Rick, as usual you are on point. I like the idea of 1.5 inch drains on the sump.

gus6464 · Jan 9, 2017

mixer911 said:
Here are a couple quick pics of how we plumb the shadow.

So which is the correct way the bulkheads go in the box? Mine came with the head facing outside but in this picture I see it's the opposite? I would think the head facing outside is better as you wouldn't have to cut the pvc to replace the bulkhead? Or the method in this picture only for the Shadow unit and not the older version?

mixer911 · Jan 9, 2017

gus6464 said:
So which is the correct way the bulkheads go in the box? Mine came with the head facing outside but in this picture I see it's the opposite? I would think the head facing outside is better as you wouldn't have to cut the pvc to replace the bulkhead? Or the method in this picture only for the Shadow unit and not the older version?

You can use this method for the old models as well. To answer your question about the bulkhead orientation, they need to be flipped after you received it. We reverse them for shipping so they fit in the shipping box. The smooth side should be inside the rear box and the nut on the outside bottom.

gus6464 · Jan 9, 2017

mixer911 said:
You can use this method for the old models as well. To answer your question about the bulkhead orientation, they need to be flipped after you received it. We reverse them for shipping so they fit in the shipping box. The smooth side should be inside the rear box and the nut on the outside bottom.

So if I set mine up already with how it came in the box will I have issues long term?

mixer911 · Jan 9, 2017

gus6464 said:
So if I set mine up already with how it came in the box will I have issues long term?

No you shouldn't have any issues. If it is running fine now it will be perfectly fine. The only reason to flip them is to allow for the inside plumbing to be lower in the box. Some flow rates require this to be quiet.

gus6464 · Jan 9, 2017

mixer911 said:
No you shouldn't have any issues. If it is running fine now it will be perfectly fine. The only reason to flip them is to allow for the inside plumbing to be lower in the box. Some flow rates require this to be quiet.

K so that explains perfectly why I had to lower my flow rate to be super low so the setup would stay quiet. I'll send a PM to keep the thread clear.