|
03/05/2015, 07:26 PM | #8026 | |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
Then try it out. With a reduction in necessary water volume to fill up the 1" siphon line, this may solve the water volume issue...
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
|
03/05/2015, 07:39 PM | #8027 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
Quote:
If i can get it running with the water in the box just at the top of the elbows for long enough is it safe to say that will be the "running water level" for the drains in the sump? I'm trying to figure out how best to accurately cut the drains. |
|
03/05/2015, 07:40 PM | #8028 | |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
What I figured is the rate of rise of water in the box based on the footprint of the external box and the influent water flow rate. This actually cause me to make the external box larger for a system running a higher flow rate. One thing that I had to take into consideration was the relative level of the external box. For a rimmed tank, you have to put spacers on the box to allow it to clear the trim and be level with the tank. Otherwise, the top of the box is below the trim and this can set you up for an issue. Say the siphon line clogs and the water starts to rise. If the E and OC kick in fast enough, you're fine. If not, the external box can overflow if it is built too shallow. With the external box even with the top of the tank the water level in the box will rise quickly, but when it reaches the water level in the tank, it will slow because the tank water level is now rising with it. With the E drain 2" from the top of the box, this allows plenty of time for it to kick in and take on the excess flow not taken up by the OC before it kicks in. With the P trap hole open (plug removed) as soon as you get a good amount of water over it, that will quickly purge and flush, then the process will repeat (as the OC is not tuned, it will likely cause a cyclic flushing) So the issue of the small box must be accounted for by total water volume of the box, i.e. height. This can also be done by making the box deeper, and putting the plumbing down low, but this is really hard to do because placing pass-thru bulkheads higher relative to the operating water level required with such a setup means the water is crashing out of them into the box and this doesn't work. I know this from experience. The result is that you have a deep box with high bulkheads and the timing of the water level rise to a level necessary for the start-up process to happen and result in quiet operation is too fast, and the box overflows. I'll let you guess at how I found that out. The pass-thru bulkheads must be underwater for the system to be silent and have a bubble free operation on the siphon line in the sump. This generally means you have to have the external box tall enough to cover the necessary rate of rise, which means it has to have the top even with the rim of the tank.
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
|
03/05/2015, 07:41 PM | #8029 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
oh btw, the air line was just a hair under the bottom of the cap. Was that too low?
|
03/05/2015, 07:44 PM | #8030 | |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
The other thing that you will want to do while you are replacing the siphon line is to put the gate valve at the lowest point possible. A long vertical run under the gate valve will let the water free-fall and could be letting air intrude or rather prevent air from quickly purging out. This also causes a long start-up cycle.
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
|
03/05/2015, 07:47 PM | #8031 | |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
So if you have a desired water level of say 3/4" from the rim, put it at 1" below the rim (1/4" below the maximum). So when the water level in the tank starts to get to the point where it will start rising, that's your "oh-cr-p" point and you want the OC to convert to a siphon before that happens. But check the OP just to make sure....or Uncle will correct me
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
|
03/05/2015, 09:44 PM | #8032 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
Air vent line should be attached just below the trim lip inside the tank. Look back through a few pages, and you will find an image that shows said lip. Trying to translate that to an external box could be a bit tricky. Again, it is not rocket science, you just don't want it occluded during start up, ever, but you want it to trip before the tank/external box starts overflowing, (with some wiggle room,) which ever would occur first.
Easy way to set it, is to run the system without it, until you get the system up and running properly. Then when you restart it, note the high water level and set the air vent line inlet a little above that.
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
03/05/2015, 10:35 PM | #8033 |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Never caught this, but in the one I set up I just snaked the airline down the emergency drain. It stablizes so fast though, and since I have the OC about 1" higher than the siphon, even if it does kick over to siphon it won't suck the box dry which allows the siphon to continue purging and the OC opens back up again.
Uncle can you see a potential issue with doing it like that?
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
03/05/2015, 11:39 PM | #8034 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
Yes I can see it occluding before the siphon purges. Water should flow in the dry emergency during start up. (Usually anyway, every system is different to a point.)
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
03/06/2015, 12:54 AM | #8035 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lake Jackson, Tx
Posts: 548
|
Quote:
|
|
03/06/2015, 05:58 AM | #8036 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,450
|
Good morning all!
I cranked up my new system for the first time last night and I need a little help troubleshooting my drains. My problem is that I am getting some "running water" noise from the gate valve on the full siphon line. Everything is glued except the connection into the male adapted that is screwed into the bulkhead. I have some theories as to what may be wrong, but I wanted to check before i start chasing fixes if they are not related: My siphon line is too high in the overflow. Just made some poor calculations here. I can switch to slip bulkheads and reduce the height significantly. The gate valve for the 2nd drain is full open - I only adjust the main siphon. I realize now that I did not need the extra gate valve, but whatcha gonna do The main siphon line runs straight into the sump. It is submerged about 2 inches. I realize that 1/2" is optimal (just did not pull it yet). Could this be the culprit? Thanks in advance! Shawn
__________________
No, honey - that's been in the tank for a while Current Tank Info: 240g Custom In Wall |
03/06/2015, 06:06 AM | #8037 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,450
|
Here is a quick vid - it doesn't sound as loud in the video, but I swear it is, lol.
http://youtu.be/JubuTYv8YaU
__________________
No, honey - that's been in the tank for a while Current Tank Info: 240g Custom In Wall |
03/06/2015, 09:18 AM | #8038 | ||
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
Now that I understand that you can run the OC and Siphon at the same level, I can see how this variant is different though. Quote:
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
||
03/06/2015, 09:34 AM | #8039 | |||
Either busy or sleeping
|
Quote:
So you could friction fit a P trap into the thread/slip fitting and reduce the height a little, but not much. With the external box you don't need the cap for cleaning access, you can just remove the plumbing part (For reference, 3 years and I haven't had to do this yet). What you could do is cut the slip side of the fitting down bit so that the double-elbow can be lower in the box. Again it doesn't have to be water-tight but does need to be air tight (so seal with TFE paste is fine) because the siphon line can pull air in through a loose joint (resulting in air in the sump outlet, not a big deal, just an annoyance) Or, you could change the BH to slip on flange and friction fit everything in. Quote:
My latest trick - which works fantastic if you are using 1.5" pipe, is a single-union ball valve from Lowes. 100% plastic (no metal screw) Best part, it's less than $10. http://www.lowes.com/pd_146171-185-0...ductId=3130791 This one has a nut on one side that works just like the internal nut on a dual-union $40 valve like you get at BRS. The difference is that the nut both tightens down on the ball, and serves as the means to take apart the device. This valve is completely useless in any other application except maybe hot tubs from what I understand, because you can't shut it off and then disconnect it with water on the other side - the ball slides out when you take it apart. BUT - we don't need it for that! We just need fine control and the ability to lock it down. So you set it up nut-down and submerge the bottom outlet (which sticks out 1/2" or so) and loosen the nut. Start things up, adjust the ball (which spins freely) then tighten the nut when you get it tuned, and it won't budge at all. If you ever need to fine-tune it, loosen it a good amount, make your adjustment, then tighten it down again. Quote:
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
|||
03/06/2015, 10:42 AM | #8040 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 2,727
|
Quote:
One other thing I noticed... There seems to be some small bubbles being created as water goes over the weir. If these are sucked into the siphon they could be the source of the noise. As the system matures and grows some slime coat the bubbles might go away. Smoothing the weir path would also help. You should be able to see which drain is getting the bubbles. Might be easier to see w/o the socks. BTW you really only need one sock - on the siphon. It will carry 95% of the flow. I like Floyd's P trap but you can also use two street ells. If you trim some off the male end of a street ell, it will sit lower in the OF box. That plus a small trim on the slip side of the slip-thread adaptor will lower the siphon if you need to. And lastly, my pet peeve... Video doesn't like 'portrait' mode. You just loose lots of visible area. Turn your camera 90 degrees! End of peeve...
__________________
John DT 120G. mixed reef w/ lots of automation + assorted FW and SW tanks. |
|
03/06/2015, 10:47 AM | #8041 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lake Jackson, Tx
Posts: 548
|
Mine was a corner overflow with the holes drilled through the bottom. I didn't have anything screwed into the bulkhead. When I would turn the water off the entire drain would empty, and when I would turn it back on, it would slowly rise the water level over around 60 seconds till it reached the open drain. What was nice, was if I ever got crud settling in the bottom of the overflow, I would just open my main drain all the way and the water level would lower, stirring the bottom and sending it down the drain into the filter sock. I could see where this wouldn't work with a normal C2C where it is drilled through the back and the water barely covers the bulkhead, but with one of the bottom drilled bulkheads it would be fine if not preferable to not install anything on that bulkhead. The only advantage I can see to installing a P is that when you shut off the pump, the water won't completely drain out of the box in a power outage. But ya'll are advising against gluing the p traps anyways, so over time it will still drain down.
|
03/06/2015, 10:51 AM | #8042 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lake Jackson, Tx
Posts: 548
|
As far as what to name the different variants of overflows, I vote for:
Internal C2C (Original Bean Design) External C2C (Type used by adova) Dual Chambered Overflow (Ghost style) All with a 3 piece drain system of course! |
03/06/2015, 10:54 AM | #8043 | |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,450
|
Quote:
And, yes - I am no videographer, lol
__________________
No, honey - that's been in the tank for a while Current Tank Info: 240g Custom In Wall |
|
03/06/2015, 10:54 AM | #8044 |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Ah, I see what you are saying jug
On the external box with nothing in the siphon bulkhead, the issue is that makes it easy for a snail to go down and block the line. Also an open drain at 3000 GPH will likely vortex the surface and you will get a sucking sound unless you have to 'just right' The P trap or double elbow allows you put the inlet very close to the bottom of the box it is in, which reduces what can get into the siphon line, as well as eliminates the vortex issue.
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
03/06/2015, 10:57 AM | #8045 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lake Jackson, Tx
Posts: 548
|
That makes sense. I don't really like snails walking on my glass and my bulkhead was 21" below the water surface, so I didn't have issue with either at the time. This new system might draw in air with only 3 " of water over it.
|
03/06/2015, 11:08 AM | #8046 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lake Jackson, Tx
Posts: 548
|
Floyd, another thing I was thinking about your p-traps with clean out is that you could let air out of the top of the siphon line after you get it first started up and stabilized by just opening the top then screwing it back on. The whole drain would have to be underwater for it to work or the siphon would break, but I could see that being useful to people who aren't using high volumes of water flow. I would bet if you used a clear drain you could see that most of the systems running have some air trapped in the top of the p-trap.
|
03/06/2015, 11:13 AM | #8047 |
Either busy or sleeping
|
Well that fitting only comes in 1.5" and 2", so for a lower flow system you would just use a double elbow as the trap might never clear.
Also I use one without the cap for the siphon, and the one with the cap for the OC.
__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
03/06/2015, 01:49 PM | #8048 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
Quote:
References to "as designed" or "per the original design" point to the standpipe/drain line design, not the box that contains them. That design refers to the siphon, open channel, and dry emergency, or as you put it "3 piece drain system." The operation of the system does not change, according to which type overflow box you happen to want to use. It works the same. There is no need to modify the design according to which box it is going in, unless you are shoving it in a small box, and then it needs to be "herbieized." The current craze over the "ghost overflow" concept, which was originally marketed with a complete BA drain system, being an example of stepping the hobby backwards instead of forward. Back to the RR model of small inefficient toothed overflows, that the Calfo C2C made obsolete.
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
|
03/06/2015, 01:59 PM | #8049 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
Quote:
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
|
03/06/2015, 04:31 PM | #8050 | |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,450
|
Quote:
Question: why do I really need the secondary drain? just protection? Even a little flow in it (with my elbows and such) it ruins the silence for me.
__________________
No, honey - that's been in the tank for a while Current Tank Info: 240g Custom In Wall |
|
Tags |
beananimal, plumbing |
|
|