Overflow Plumbing
- Thread starter toosalty
- Start date
toosalty
Member
Yea it was pretty late when I wrote that. Let me try to explan a little better. I see in a lot of peoples pictures where they use a pvc connection instead of a drain hose(from the overflow under the tank) and use ball valves going two different ways under the tank to do multiple things.
Example: One line going to sump the other line going to a reactor.
Hope that helps if not ill jsut take a picture and show you what I mean.
Example: One line going to sump the other line going to a reactor.
Hope that helps if not ill jsut take a picture and show you what I mean.
scsinet
Active Member
Well generally a drain from the tank can do one of two things. It can either drain in to the sump or into a recirculating skimmer.
A reactor is pretty much always a pressurized application, and the gravity feed from the drain isn't sufficient to power them.
You can usually run pipe directly into the bulkhead fitting, which is sized according to the size bulkhead you have. You can then go into a "T" fitting into either same size or smaller pipes. For example, my tank has 1" bulkhead drains. These drop directly into 2" PVC using reducing fittings, where they then go through a "T" fitting which reduces them down to 1.5" PVC where they drain into two compartments in my sump, the heater compartment and the fuge compartment.
A reactor is pretty much always a pressurized application, and the gravity feed from the drain isn't sufficient to power them.
You can usually run pipe directly into the bulkhead fitting, which is sized according to the size bulkhead you have. You can then go into a "T" fitting into either same size or smaller pipes. For example, my tank has 1" bulkhead drains. These drop directly into 2" PVC using reducing fittings, where they then go through a "T" fitting which reduces them down to 1.5" PVC where they drain into two compartments in my sump, the heater compartment and the fuge compartment.
chilwil84
Active Member
not wanting to go against scsi on the mechanical side of a tank some people do use there overflow to power a reactor but they have the reactor in the basement along with the sump not just in the stand under the tank so unless you have this kind of setup you need a pump to power your reactor
toosalty
Member
I was using the reactor as a example, but you get my point. Thats what im trying to find out. What size bulk head I have on my overflow. Maybe I have a 2 inch bulkhead. Arent they the standard size for a overflow? Is there anyway I can find out? I would hate to buy all this extra pipe to experiment to get the right size if I don't need to.
I bought the overflow from a LFS as a complete set.
I bought the overflow from a LFS as a complete set.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2917279
No, overflows are not a standard size. I will venture that most of the time, they are 1", but not always.
Why not just grab your bulkhead fitting that came with it and head down to Lowes, Home Depot, etc and just try and see which size pipe fits it?
agreed.
I've had 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 2", 3", and 4" bulkheads over the course of my career.
If you start with a 1" bulkhead, use 1" pipe. If you start with a 1 1/2" bulkhead use 1 1/2" pipe, simple as that. You don't want to restrict your flow at all. And the water isn't going to drain any faster if you upscale your pipe either. lol.
http:///forum/post/2917279
No, overflows are not a standard size. I will venture that most of the time, they are 1", but not always.
Why not just grab your bulkhead fitting that came with it and head down to Lowes, Home Depot, etc and just try and see which size pipe fits it?
agreed.
I've had 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 2", 3", and 4" bulkheads over the course of my career.
If you start with a 1" bulkhead, use 1" pipe. If you start with a 1 1/2" bulkhead use 1 1/2" pipe, simple as that. You don't want to restrict your flow at all. And the water isn't going to drain any faster if you upscale your pipe either. lol.
scsinet
Active Member
Okay if you don't want to take the bulkhead off the tank, then you'll need to figure it out a different way.
With bulkheads, the pipe or fittings always slip or sc_rew into the fitting. Observe the attached photo.
Usually, when mounted, part "F" is where the overflow fittings inside of the tank fits. The bulkhead has a locknut that secures it in place. The locknut is usually located on the outside of the tank. Does this description match yours?
Part B is where the drain hose or plumbing connect to lead down to the filter. These parts (F and B) may be threaded, or they may be smooth to allow a pipe to be cemented directly in.
Is your part B threaded or smooth?
With bulkheads, the pipe or fittings always slip or sc_rew into the fitting. Observe the attached photo.
Usually, when mounted, part "F" is where the overflow fittings inside of the tank fits. The bulkhead has a locknut that secures it in place. The locknut is usually located on the outside of the tank. Does this description match yours?
Part B is where the drain hose or plumbing connect to lead down to the filter. These parts (F and B) may be threaded, or they may be smooth to allow a pipe to be cemented directly in.
Is your part B threaded or smooth?
