Hazzard Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Im just in the process of setting up a new 4ft tank. Im about to fit a weir for the overflow to feed the sump. My question is can i feed the skimmer directly from the overflow with a spare pipe for the excess that the skimmer cant handle? Im trying to avoid running a pump to feed the skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tee-em Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 What sort of skimmer you thinking of using? Overflows will also often have air bubbles in the flow so direct use may be an issue. Why not just use an in sump skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzard Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Not really sure of brand yet, best i can afford when the time comes. I was just hoping to avoid yet another plug and cord from a pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Yes you can, but you would need to run two overflow pipes. Like my one if you remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I run two over flows in to one pipe which goes to my sump. I then tee off this pipe to my skimmer. I learned the hard way how to do it right. There are two problems, water surge and air bubbles. The tee off to the skimmer must come from the bottom of the pipe to stop the air problem and have a tap on this pipe to control the water flow. Mine is good but not purfect. A pump is the best way but this works well. Also good to skim the water stright from tank and retuirn it to your sump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 You can sort most of those problems out by having one as a syphon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzard Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Thanks guys, was hoping i could do this. Hey TM need to talk to you about making and hooking up two small sumps, will call you tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 No worries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazymranch Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 If you put a ball valve on the weir output then you can eliminate bubbles and that awful sucking sound right at the source Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 No need, just put two in and have one syphon. To much of a risk to do it the other way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 You can sort most of those problems out by having one as a syphon thats exactly what i told him when i was over there. would have elliminated his noise problem, faster flow rate and he would have still had an spare (safty!) second overflow box in case something went wrong with the syphon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 thats exactly what i told him when i was over there. would have elliminated his noise problem, faster flow rate and he would have still had an spare (safty!) second overflow box in case something went wrong with the syphon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelifaxNZ Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Yeah but Cookie, he needed to hear this from a Cantebrian and not from a Jaffa! :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazymranch Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Hey Tim (or Chris), What do you mean by this? No need, just put two in and have one syphon. To much of a risk to do it the other way I have 2 outlets in one of the 2 weirs I have going to my sump. How do I set one up as a siphon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I'm pretty sure they mean that you have two pipes... One is a full siphon and is adjusted until it keeps the water level stable. The other pipe is just a backup, so that if things go wrong it will take the water, (it doesnt normally have any water going down it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazymranch Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I have them both as full siphons. If there are 2 holes in the weir then how would I keep water from draining down one of them? I would have to see a picture of what they are talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDM Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 have one stand pipe higher than the other, use a ball valve to control the water level and flow down the shorter pipe. if anything was to block the shorter stand pipe, water level will rise and drop down the longer (unrestricted saftey) pipe before it rises over the top of the tank and floods your floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazymranch Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Aaaah, I see. I have sponge filters over each inlet so they can't get blocked and less crap gets into the refugium where they drain to. I clean them weekly. I like the idea of having one inlet running full out and one unused at a higher level as a safety. I'll give it a go. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Aaaah, I see. I have sponge filters over each inlet so they can't get blocked and less crap gets into the refugium where they drain to. I clean them weekly. I like the idea of having one inlet running full out and one unused at a higher level as a safety. I'll give it a go. Thanks. You got it. You will find it quiter to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 have one stand pipe higher than the other, use a ball valve to control the water level and flow down the shorter pipe. if anything was to block the shorter stand pipe, water level will rise and drop down the longer (unrestricted saftey) pipe before it rises over the top of the tank and floods your floor. This is what I have too, and it works very well. Interesting side effect: if the safety does get used due to a primary blockage, it's really loud. Made my hair stand on end once coming home and hearing that noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazymranch Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 You got it. You will find it quiter to It's completely silent now, but I have to adjust the ball valves to get it that way , which means that if the power goes out and then the return pump restarts again it will overflow the main tank a bit until the weirs equilibrate with the pump. I'll try it this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDM Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 It's completely silent now, but I have to adjust the ball valves to get it that way , which means that if the power goes out and then the return pump restarts again it will overflow the main tank a bit until the weirs equilibrate with the pump. I'll try it this weekend. thats what the safty stand pipe is for, if the one controled by the ball valve cant keep up, then the safey will prevent the main tank overflowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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