Nano Lagoon (DIY Overflow)

[grovetsly]

where did you get the check valve

[iliriano6]

You need a one way valve, that will solve your problem. Look at my box for this.

[KasumiThe]

grate job! realy helped me whit my 10 gal nano freshwatter.

thanks !!!

[wesamswailem1]

Hi.

i am having a water whirlpool in he intake what can i do pls

[cianb13]

what lp/h power pump should i use for the return or does it make a difference??

thanks :)

[cianb13]

should i use 2 of these overflows on my 20 gal tank??

thanks :)

[LordoftheReef]

@cianb13 I don't think you would need two. You want a pretty slow flow through your sump anyhow.

[MsMollyLolliPop]

i still do not understand. I am trying to create one for my 40g tank. Is the black tubes still part of that white ones u showed earlier?

[LordoftheReef]

@MsMollyLolliPop the black and blue was all for aesthetics. It's literally what you see in white, just sprayed with krylon fusion.

[kimowen04]

i have made this overflow for my 10 gal. the prob is getting a return pump that can regulate the water level? i use a ball valve on my over flow and a cheap walmart water pump for a return. but what if a fish or something stops ur suction on ur overflow and the pump continues to fill ur tank? do the make some type of water levl valve on the return pumps so this wont happen???? IF ANYONE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE RETURN PUMPS PLS SEND ME A MESSAGE?

[LordoftheReef]

@kimowen04 if a fish blocks it you are in trouble. This is why I recommend adding some sort of strainer on the intake. Your fish won't get sucked to it unless it is already unhealthy and weak, which is then a problem in and of itself. Another option is making two overflow like this so one works as a backup to the other in case of emergency. Just make sure each pipe is able to take the full brunt of your return.

[reit2094]

Great video! What kind of paint did u put on ur overflow?

[LordoftheReef]

@reit2094 krylon fusion

[217RockStar217]

i too am building a overflow, for a algae scrubber i like your design thanks for the video...

however do you know the flow rate of your design? gph? if you dont no worries

but it will help me decide on 1/2in or 1 inch tubing

thanks again for the video



[LordoftheReef]

@217RockStar217 I don't know exact numbers, but I can tell you that the 1/2" I used originally wasn't even enough to keep up with my maxijet 1200 (which I am using as a return pump).

[lmposible]

HEY. Thanks For the Vid. Im making one for my 29gal reef im making. Do you think I sould shorten the part that goes into the main tank so it doesnt have to go all the way down and all the way up?Like coud you just have it right on the top?

[LordoftheReef]

@lmposible you could do that, I would just worry a little more about the self-priming factor due to the higher chances of air getting in the tubes.

[twizzlerx25]

Ok, I used this design, and it works better. With 1'' PVC tubing, It can displace as much/more water than my pump can put back into the tank with 1/2'' tubing. This design does cause more of a problem with air getting caught in the siphon as opposed to the other design. I have a 55g tank, and my pump does about 330 gph.

[LordoftheReef]

@twizzlerx25 Awesome. Happy the design worked for you! :)

[twizzlerx25]

from what i have found, there are 2 types of siphon/overflow designs (not including the box type) is there a reason you chose this design, which requires more piping to be in the tank, as opposed to a "self-leveling siphon" (youtube won't let me post the link) the self leveling siphon only has one tube in the tank, and the level at which the water overflows is determined by the height of the overflow exit pipe.

[belavet]

@twizzlerx25 my understanding is that the one I used has less of a risk of losing prime or allowing air bubbles through. I have seen the other method you mention and I am sure it works just fine! (this is another account I am answering this from btw).

[ku4mg69]

Very nice, i'll have to give it a try~!!

[ollieflp]

When attaching straight pvc pipe should it always go on the inside even when attaching to overflow box drain?

[DjBriteLite]

the link for the blueprint dont work :( do u have the blueprint?

[LordoftheReef]

@DjBriteLite it works... copy and paste it don't just click on it. Youtube messed up the link and didn't include all of it if clicked on.

[9912699125]

@LordoftheReef what type of cement do you use?

[LordoftheReef]

@9912699125 I just used whatever they had in the PVC section. I was later told that it was too strong but I have had no issues at all.

[9912699125]

@LordoftheReef oh,is it someting like silicone?

[belavet]

@9912699125 no, it is actually a PVC cement. Silicone is a no no ;)

[9912699125]

@belavet why?

[LordoftheReef]

@9912699125 silicone doesn't adhere correctly. PVC cement actually melts the PVC joints together. Not to mention it's even cheaper than silicone. I suppose if you are dead set on silicone, go for it. For the cost of a can of PVC cement (under three bucks), I would recommend just doing it right.

[9912699125]

@LordoftheReef is the cement suitable for plastic tubes?

[LordoftheReef]

@9912699125 I can;t really say if the cement is suitable for plastic tubes because I am not sure what you are using. The way PVC cement works is it actually melts the pvc parts together. It isn't truly a cement. Hope that helps.

[animaloverforever]

ok thanks

[animaloverforever]

how do you get the vacuum started

[LordoftheReef]

That's what the check valve is for. You can also do it by running airline tubing through the plumbing until it end right about where the check valve would be, if you chose not to drill a check valve. On my second build that is what I did.

[BigBlueReef]

Great video!!!.... BTW do you live in Kentucky?

[LordoftheReef]

Thanks much. Iowa actually.

[dylandabomb230]

what kind of silicone is aquarium safe???

[LordoftheReef]

I used GE, buy you basically want to use something that is 100% silicone and does not have additives. usually the stuff made for kitchen or bathroom use will have antifungals and that is what you don't want in there.

[dylandabomb230]

ok so silicone 2 100% silicone bioseal kitchen and bath willl work for a sump?

[LordoftheReef]

I wouldn't use the stuff that is labeled for kitchen and sink in fear that is has some sort of anti-mildew additive. The stuff used for windows and the like is what I went with.

[dylandabomb230]

its ge silicone 2

[gprime22]

@dylandabomb230 usually the stuff they sell in aquarium/fish stores is all aquarium safe.

[gpwnedable]

aquarium silicone is.

[ZurichONE95]

Nice, do you have the blueprints, I cant seem to find them , I have the 20L and a ten gallon sump, and a return rated for 565 gph. Would 3/4 inch be good, I'l have ball valves like crazy on everything, return, overflow, plus a Y coupling for splitting the return to provide equal flow throughout my tank. Great vid, thanks---Alex

[gprime22]

links in the sidebar about half way down on page one, i built this too you can see it in some of my videos (:

[ZurichONE95]

@gprime22 hey hope its not too much trouble but could you send me the link, I looked forever and still couldnt find it?? Thanks

[ZurichONE95]

I built mine yesterday, i only superglued it, then siliconed it, juts in case I bought the wrong glue. I wont paint it for the same reason I used 3/4 inch , then in the T fitting it has the 2 3/4 and the bigger 1 inch drain, then a ball valve and the barb fitting to 1 1/4 inch tubing to the sump. I am going to get a Y fitting, so I can split the return to the tank to spread out flow, both with ball valves, thanks for the help

[Darkice1291]

mines simaler but its working just built it

[huntawunta]

Just want you to know your vid helped me a lot :) Built an overflow & spray bar like the one you made after seeing your vid in July. Very well explained. Currently installed in my 75g tank+20g sump. Works great! Highly recommended :)

[LordoftheReef]

I am happy to hear that. You should do a video response to this one to show your system working :)

[huntawunta]

Done!

[gprime22]

what size tubing/pvc does your return use?

[LordoftheReef]

1 inch

[gprime22]

so your return is bigger then your overflow? is that the way its supposed to be?

[LordoftheReef]

It actually doesn't matter, but I did misread your initial question. Overflow is 1 inch, return is 1/2 inch.

[jasonkirchman]

i made one of these, ran for about an hour and sucked up one of my fish. be careful i reccomend a guard!

[LordoftheReef]

Check out some of my later videos. You will see I had the same problem and added a strainer ;)

[101MrMom]

Nice! I am doing a lot of research on the overflow methods and I like this idea. Main thing I don't care for is like you said the small area that gets skimmed. Maybe use a lateral tube for your intake instead of a Vertical? Anyway very nice. What is the GPH? And how did you figure it out so you could get the right size return pump?

[LordoftheReef]

reefcentral has a calculator based on the diameter of your plumbing. If you are having doubts I would overplumb it because you can't have too much overflow but you CAN have too much return.

[lordvad3r]

i couldnt see the tank properly but ill check ur other vids i swear ur sump is bigger than ur tank lol !:P

[LordoftheReef]

LOL! The sump is actually the same 10g tank as the display. Got both from Walmart for 13 bucks and change (each)

[anthonymovies5]

What is that long white thing that u bought from a hardwarestore to make a over flow box?

[LordoftheReef]

I didn't make an overflow box. I made a pvc overflow and it is all made of pvc. Through trial and error I had to make it from 1 inch pvc instead of 1/2 inch, but it ends up being the same build nonetheless.

[1mkwiet]

cool, I look forward to seeing your idea. With the end cap I haven't lost any surface skimming though. it seems to be working just the same which is a nice surprice. Think the trick is lots of holes of varried sizes. Plus the 1" pvc helps with a lot of suction.

[1mkwiet]

Well 2 days ago it happened. One of my snails went missing, I thought it was dead, in the overflow or the shrimp ate it. Finally I seen it down inside the pvc overflow. So I turned off the pumps and went to work. When I got home it was back in the display. So I had to make a guard, and the one I made is simple and works fantastic. I just took a PVC end cap that fits my pipe drilled some holes in the top, and put in on. Done and Done, problem solved and the overflow still works great.

[LordoftheReef]

The only thing I don't like about that setup is the loss of surface skimming. I have an answer, I just need to get a video up of what I did :)

[hotvws3]

very cool idle.5*