DIY High Flow - Syphon Overflow

[Randy]

First off, this is an siphon overflow design for my wifes' turtle tank. She loves her turtles and I couldn't stand seeing the look on her face when her project started turning GREEN, cruddy, and inevitably unhealthy . She has a 75 gal all glass tank only filled about 2/3 the way up. I knew she needed a sump and the only way to get the water there (without drilling) was with an siphon overflow.

This design is very basic and truely works, is cheaper than dirt, and has been proven by time. I would like to than Lowes, God I love that store.

I am not claiming to take credit for anything specific in any of this design; in fact most ideas were found online (just not exactly), I just chose ABS plastic pipe to be the main body of this overflow because it is black and more attractive (to me) than PVC. I'm not sure about the long term UV resistance to ABS, but PVC can be used instead.

Much of this design (if not all) is easily adjustable. For instance the length of the siphon tubes, height of the Durso standpipe, etc...

Drawing Of System:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...30057870&idx=1

My 3/4" Dual Durso Standpipe:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...30241368&idx=6

Standpipe with Syphon Tube:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...30241368&idx=3

If you notice in the diagram, there is some "Weight" inside of the inner overflow compartment. If the electricity goes out, the inner and outer compartments equalize. If you do not have the weight, the inner ompartment becomes boyant and wants to float upward, you loose siphon, and when the electricity comes back on your sump runs dry

I have yet to find a clearer/larger way to display the first immage above.

[afishybusiness]

If you take the turtles out and feed them in a tub of water, that will keep the water much cleaner. Turtles eliminate as soon as they eat, thus feeding them in a tub will keep water quality higher.

[Randy]

That's true but for simplicity and much higher water quality I use RO/DI, my overflow, fine filter socks, and the UV sterilizer. The water is crystal clear all the time.

[scubadude]

Nice design.

My question is do you have the sump baffled? water from overflow goes into one baffle where the rio pump is (pumping water through UV) then water goes into the other baffle which is fed to your external pump and also the output from the UV goes there?

From the looks of your diagram you just have everthing dumping into the sump?

[Randy]

Good question... This sump is just a small all glass tank (not baffled) which is ok. The overflow leads down to the sump and dumps right into the filtersock . The rio pump is in the sump - through the UV - and also put in the sock.

You're probably thinking Everything must be geting blasted!

Nope ... the filter sock eliminates turbulance, everything is calm, and nothing gets blasted. Now I usually shut off my pump when I go to change the filter sock for this reason. You may be thinking "what if I don't want a filter sock in all of the time"?

With Filter Sock:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...30057870&idx=3

Without Filter Sock:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...30057870&idx=2

I have even used an empty 2 liter bottle with the top cut off just to rig a temp baffle.