PVC overflow question

desertdawg

desertdawg

Member
I built one of the PVC overflows and so far it's working great. I don't have a picture so I'm editing one from somewhere else.

I did this version because I liked the overflow into the big pipe better than having a small pipe skimming the surface.
Mine is a 3 inch pipe with a 1 inch overflow, the 3" is 24" tall and the 1" is 22" tall, over the top then it is 27" tall so that the bottom U is below the bottom of the tank. The T is about 4" above the bottom of the tank.
( I sure hope this makes sense)
My question is, does the T on the outside affect the level of water in the 3 inch pipe?
I'm getting a little splashing from the water falling into the 3 inch pipe, it seems to level off about half way down inside as it's flowing. If I move the T up higher will that also raise the water level in the 3" pipe?
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
assuming the top of the 3" pipe is skimming that top sets the tank water level.
Raising the "t" will also raise the level in the 3" pipe.
in fact you could skip the 3" pipe skimming and raise the "t" to set the tank level. In that case the overflow in the "t" would determine tank level.
my .02
 
desertdawg

desertdawg

Member
I like the 3" pipe, I have adjusted the hieght already to set the tank water level and have a cool grating cover over it to keep critters out, and it skims the surface really good. My problem was the noise of the water falling into it, after I get back from vacation I'll raise the T up to fix that problem.
Thanks for the reply, raising the T shouldn't affect anything else should it?
 
desertdawg

desertdawg

Member
Think of it like this...
While I'm not moving that many GPH, I'm still getting good surface flow.
The circumference of a 3" pipe is 12.75 inches, I'm utilizing about 12" of that to allow water to flow into the pipe, there is a definite surface flow towards the pipe...
 
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