The overflow noise factor... Arrrrgh.

[HomerJ]

More is more I agree.  But it comes to a point where the plumbing gets bigger than what you put in the tank!  I have a 50 gallons, which is only 36" wide.  I'm a bit concerned about the aesthetics of having something that big in a relatively small tank.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I'll post an update once I've made up my mind on a few options I'm thinking about.  (Additional "safety" drain to be able to run full syphon, bigger plumbing, both).

[jimskoi]

Here is a 50 that I just built.The rock is glued together to the glass and he overflows with the Orca glue..Built the same as I always do an there is no surface scum at all.
Even when I had my 400 set up.I put in 3-2" overflows at the one end and never had problems with surface scum.
Here is a 180 that we just installed a few weeks ago.Same idea.
Everyone has different ways that they like to do things.This happens to be mine and everyone seems to be happy with it.

I have also done the coast to coast.Personally I dont like it much.Takes alot of room out of the display tank.But,hey.Thats just me.
What ever works right for each person is good for them.Its your tank.Your the one that sees it everyday and nobody else.Do what works for you.

Sorry for the babbling.lol.

jim


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[JD]

The question of how much is enough or too much...you can find arguments for what ever side of the equation you want.
I believed that a smaller flow was better...until I noticed one of my tanks looked off from the others. They all have the same water, so I started looking for another reason. I eventually found the water temp in that tank was swinging 7 degrees daily.
This tank did not have enough flow back to the sump to keep the temperature stable with the rest of the system.
In the end, I increased my feed flows on all of the tanks to minimize temperature swings.

[new2salt]

Gentlemen, we are loosing sight of Homer's original topic - overflow NOISE.
Just recently finished a new tank & sump system for my son. 80 gal DT - 37 gal sump - holds about 30 gal
Used 2 - 1 inch drains
Drain # 1 - full siphon w/ball-valve
Drain # 2 - Surplus overflow
Drain # 1 is quiet 00000 noise - the only time there is any noise from drain # 1 is a splashing sound when the water level gets low in the sump(no auto top off). this drain terminates just above the low water line in the sump
Drain # 2 is a Durso style w/minimal flow - just enough to say there is some water flow. This drain dumps into the Fuge side of sump.
NO 90 deg elbows are used on the drain side, only 45's
You could use 90's on the full siphon drain, as you are not breaking a column of air in the centre of the pipe causing the flushing or gurgling noise.

One thing to consider is that low-flow amounts of water will "stick" to the outside edges of the 1" pipe, and allow for a "tube" of air down the center of the pipe.  When this is occurring, the noise can be very small, to none.  90* elbows can get you into trouble for obvious reasons.

As you increase flow, this "feature" of physics (there is a name for it) breaks, but I know that i can get 700-1000gph in a 1.5" pipe, though 1" is quite a bit smaller.

Not 100% sure Hookup, but I think the physics principal you are trying to recall is surface tension or surface adhesion.
Past research has found that 1 in full siphon should drain about 600 gph max for a 3-5 ft head.

This tank is my first build with a sump. It seems to be working for me.
Lots of good advice - like you said Homer - time to make a decision & try something else.
If at first you don't succeed - a S#@T and give up - no no try again
I always get that mixed up