Overflows / Standpipes

A solution was suggested to me, use a solid stand pipe with a submerged intake. This solution solved all my problems - [Details]

Dogs Reef Pages - (Photo Diagrams) - [Details]

This is more of a totally differnet idea then a modification to my design. The concept of a submerged water intake with controlled air-intake concept is the same, the method of solving the problem is totally different and impressive. - [Details]

Overflows and sandpipes work because the water flowing out of the tank is in direct proportion to the water flowing into the tank and the water flowing out of the tank is directly dependent on the water flowing into the tank. - [Details]

Construction Steps - [Details]

I just had to have me a sump, I hated the look of a hang-on filter. No way I was going to drill a hole in my new tank! All the designs and do-it-yourself ideas called for a skimmerbox. "If I'm going to spend my time and money making my own filter why on earth would I only want to suck the water off the top?" I mean if I have a pump capable of moving up to 600 gallons per hour, just how many times would that top-water need to be filtered? Exactly how many gallons are on the top layer anyway? If my 55 gallon tank is 21 inches high and I filter the top 1inch of it, that means I am filtering about 2.54 gallons of water ... 226 TIMES AN HOUR. What about the rest of the tank? - [Details]

A Reefer in Dubai! (not in English) - [Details]

This article explains the basic concepts of how an Overflow/Syphon box for a Wet/Dry filter works. It also gives you an idea of how mine is built. Note that I did not build my own because I had an old one on-hand. But it's basic acrylic construction. You need to be very precise on the outside box if you are building your own, because if that part leaks, your floor gets all wet! - [Details]

This is more of a totally differnet idea then a modification to my design. The concept of a submerged water intake with controlled air-intake concept is the same, the method of solving the problem is totally different and impressive. - [Details]

Peter Z's Fishline - (Photo Diagram) - [Details]

Surface skimming of the water from the main display tank of a reef system is advantageous. It allows more efficient removal of surface active compounds to the sump, and hence the skimmer. This function is explicitly obvious when you compare the appearence of the water surface between a tank that has a surface skimmer and one that doesn't. - [Details]

For many who are using a hang-on back skimmer like CPR BakPak/SeaClone, etc, and those of who don't have/use an overflow box (ie. mini/nano-reef people), have probably overlook the importance of a overflow box (for surface skimming). After an hour of work, I've made myself a small but quite effective overflow box, which fits perfectly with the powerhead that drives my HOB SeaClone skimmer. This plan should also work on CPR BakPak skimmers, but some modification to the water intake tube on the skimmer may be necessary. I hope this DIY plan will be helpful. - [Details]

Some modifications I made to the bulkheads on Reef 1 and Reef 2 to allow surface skimming despite having the bulkheads in the back pane of the tank. - [Details]

This page shows the concepts of how an Overflow/Syphon box for a Wet/Dry filter works. It also gives you an idea of how mine is built. Note that I did not build my own because I had an old one on-hand. But it's basic acrylic construction. You need to be very precise on the outside box if you are building your own, because if that part leaks, your floor gets all wet! - [Details]

Peter Z's Fishline - (Photo Diagram) - [Details]

Another simple surface skimmer idea. - [Details]

The air flowrate through a Stockman style of standpipe needs to be adjustable to ensure that a siphon does not form. Here is some simple modifications to a PVC cap and piping to enable easy adjustment of the airflow. - [Details]

The Krib - (Text File) - [Details]

An inexpensive surface skimmer that anyone can make. - [Details]

The Krib - (Text File) - [Details]