Just a thought

newsalt · 08-19-2004, 04:50 PM

Is it possible to use an Aquaclear filter box as an overflow? I was thinking that you could use the u-tube/strainer and motor that come with the Aquaclear. Have the motor suck in the water from the display tank as it typically would. Then, instead of having the water spill back into the display tank as in normally would, you could put a bulkhead fitting in the return side of the filter box and pipe it down to the sump. The remainder of the sump could be as it typically is...baffles, return pump, etc.

I thought this might be a good idea because if there was a power failure, the motor on the a aquaclear would stop and the only water that would continue to the sump would be what was contain in the aquaclear and in the piping to the sump. If you wanted to get fancy, you could put an electric solenoid valve in the piping to the sump. If you got one that would fail closed, during a power failure, the valve would close.

Any thoughts on this concept?

wooddood · 08-19-2004, 05:44 PM

my concern would be not enough water to the sump. how big a tank we talkin about?

dave.

newsalt · 08-19-2004, 10:01 PM

Spooda420 · 08-19-2004, 10:05 PM

cant hurt to try. post a pick so I can edit it with my massive MS paint skills.

we'll see what kind of monster we can come up with.

Spooda420 · 08-19-2004, 10:06 PM

BTW Dave I never told you this but your pic looks like a young teenager, and no Im not drunk, you just look young.

newsalt · 08-19-2004, 10:28 PM

Here's a sketch I made using Excel.

Witfull · 08-19-2004, 11:32 PM

i believe a syphon would be created. flow is created on the filter when water is pushed up and over the top by the motor. when power is cut the motor stops pulling in water therefore flow stops. but is a hole is put in the bottom of the filter, even when power is cut, water will still be pulled through the u-tube and down the drain. the motor will not stop the flow.

newsalt · 08-20-2004, 09:48 PM

That's what the valve is for. The valve would be electric... fail closed. If power is cut, the valve closes.

Witfull · 08-20-2004, 11:00 PM

id rather just buy an overflow.

fidojoe · 08-21-2004, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Witfull
id rather just buy an overflow.

Me too... Ebay ~$50 or less. There's a guy on ebay that makes and sells them for like $53 for the dual, and has singles for less. They really don't lose siphon, and they don't need a fail-prone pump to help them to keep siphon. I got the dual, but the pump I got was way too big for my tank, and the dual size box was kinda bulky (wish I woulda got the single), so I just decided to sell the stuff to a local reefer, and got my $$ back.

BoomerD · 08-21-2004, 06:03 AM

Quote:

id rather just buy an overflow.

No kidding. Much less hassle, actually designed for the task, the better made ones are nearly foolproof, and would probably be cheaper than some electric valve that could fail on you for a number of reasons...Why jump over dollars to try to save a dime...Just get the right tool for the job and quit tryin to be fancy...

08-19-2004, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Just a thought Is it possible to use an Aquaclear filter box as an overflow? I was thinking that you could use the u-tube/strainer and motor that come with the Aquaclear. Have the motor suck in the water from the display tank as it typically would. Then, instead of having the water spill back into the display tank as in normally would, you could put a bulkhead fitting in the return side of the filter box and pipe it down to the sump. The remainder of the sump could be as it typically is...baffles, return pump, etc. I thought this might be a good idea because if there was a power failure, the motor on the a aquaclear would stop and the only water that would continue to the sump would be what was contain in the aquaclear and in the piping to the sump. If you wanted to get fancy, you could put an electric solenoid valve in the piping to the sump. If you got one that would fail closed, during a power failure, the valve would close. Any thoughts on this concept? __________________ Equipment 120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump Setup August 2006

08-19-2004, 05:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	my concern would be not enough water to the sump. how big a tank we talkin about? dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

08-19-2004, 10:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	50g __________________ Equipment 120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump Setup August 2006

08-19-2004, 10:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 484 View Gallery Karma Komment	cant hurt to try. post a pick so I can edit it with my massive MS paint skills. we'll see what kind of monster we can come up with. __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

08-19-2004, 10:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 484 View Gallery Karma Komment	BTW Dave I never told you this but your pic looks like a young teenager, and no Im not drunk, you just look young. __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

08-19-2004, 10:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here's a sketch I made using Excel. __________________ Equipment 120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump Setup August 2006

08-20-2004, 09:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	That's what the valve is for. The valve would be electric... fail closed. If power is cut, the valve closes. __________________ Equipment 120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump Setup August 2006

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