HOW TO: DIY Aquarium Overflow PVC TUTORIAL
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
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Video shows a step by step process on the PVC pieces need to construct a DIY overflow. Also shown is how to put it together, and how to get it running!!
Be sure to also watch the sequel to this video to find out how it works, expected cost and gallons per hour these can handle depending on pipe size, as well as why you would use one.
How it all works ► goo.gl/L1Fg7M
The modified and upgraded version ► goo.gl/ZGRtXj
Have an issue? cant get it to work? HERE IS THE FIX: I have been answering questions on this project for years now.. and no longer will. Its the same answer again and again... the #1 answer that solves 99% of all issues is this: PAY ATTENTION TO THE VIDEO. 99% simply do not follow the instructions or build it the same way, yet expect it to still work. The other 1% have an air leak somewhere. Find it. Seal it. Sorry, but i simply do not have the time to keep answering the same questions, when they all result with this same solution. IF YOU MUST get help, POST A PHOTO to my fan page so i can at least SEE what the problem is. I will not be able to help otherwise. / uarujoey
Original video ► goo.gl/4EU9ZX
How it all works ► goo.gl/L1Fg7M
The modified and upgraded version ► goo.gl/ZGRtXj
![DIY Aquarium PVC Overflow [Tutorial] - English subtitle now available [15-1-2022]](/img/n.gif)
Still need this video and it’s 2023! Joey thank you for your dedication to the fish keeping community. We love you. ❤
I was reluctant to DIY a sump, but thanks to your video I’m about to build one. Thank you, detailed and simple enough to understand 👍🏼‼️
20 mins of watching this= endless hours of searching for overflow design online. Thanks a bunchhhhhh
9 years later and this is still worth a million a minute
You know what I found out if you put it together correctly😂
It actually works perfect 🤣🤣🤣
I set up a 2.5ft Double Decker tank and I have this Setup so I have just one Heater and One External Filter. I used 21.5mm pipe and it's more than edequate for a 1000 lph Filter and much more. I lined it all up got all the sizes right tested it then Solvent glued it. Waited a day or 2 for the solvent to air off the bits I could not wipe off from the inside. I was a bit cautious of it failing and emtpying the bottom tank. I Expoxied the one way Valve to the top pipe directly and cable tied it on to , but once primed i think it can be dissconnected and have goriila tape over the hole. This is an Amazing Video Well Done.
this is the only video that has ever been able to explain this concept to me. congratulations
This is a gigantic help for me as I am about to start my first saltwater tank. I am living in an apartment so I am terrified of the posibility of flooding by using a sump. So bad, in fact, that I was going to get all cluttered by using a canister and all the extra stuff. This is perfect for me! I appreciate it!
Thank you Joey. By reading all your posts and watching all your videos. I manage to make the overflow works! Its amazing. It costs me $70 in total since Thank you Joey. By reading all your posts and watching all your videos. I manage to make the overflow works! Its amazing. It costs me $70 in total since i did 1.5inches one. But hell is much better than overflow box...i did 1.5inches one. But hell is much better than overflow box...
I have this setup on my 75g with 20g refugium. I watched this video about a yr ago and built an overflow in about 10 min has worked great ever since, one addition I did add a ball valve for fine adjustment and shutoff. Awesome video, thanks Uaru
I just finished making the same pvc overflow from this video. At first it wouldnt maintain flow.. but i discovered that my drain outlet was attached to a 1 in line leading to my sump.. Once i changed this to match the 1/2 inch pvc that i used to make this overflow, it workded just fine, Make sure that the drain line is the same size as the rest of the overflow and that its also submerged into the sump/ wet dry tank atleast 2 inches. This video is the best one out there... so dont blame him
I used this video to make the same set up but with 3/4" PVC going into 1" PVC for the intake and then 3/4" for the return on a 55 gallon project I did about 8 yrs ago, had the system running for about three years with no problems. What I did learn from it was to not glue the pipes that are in the water, and I also used a 1" ball valve towards the end of the intake to regulate the flow, also don't go cheap on the return pump.
I went cheap and used a pump that wasn't d/c current and it hummed something fierce, also I used PVC all the way to the pump and didn't use a short section of rubber hose so that did contribute to the constant hum coming from the sump, other than those few things I'd have to say it was a great affordable way to make up your own sump system, if I remember it cost me about $100 total for all the parts to make up everything including the 10 gallon tank, a few pieces of Plexiglas that I used as baffles form the 10 gal/sump, all the PVC piping and fittings and the cheap pump.
I been contemplating making up another sump system for my 125 gal I currently have running with two FX6's, but this time I won't go cheap on the return pump and will be using a 55 gal as the sump itself.
joey, I'm building another one tonight. figured id stop by and say thanks again for the inspirations over the years
I subscribed just to say thanks and 'cause several of your videos have been so helpful. My $130 canister filter from a manufacturer failed, and I was loathed to get another for my 60-gal tank. Thanks to this video and several others related ones, I was able to build a full functioning system for less than $20 (I already had a pond pump) and it works beautifully-- and much better than the manufactured one. I can't thank you enough for making my aquarium beautiful again within my lowly budget.
Man have you come a long way with your videos. Nice job sticking with it.
Hey Joey, I made a similar aquarium overflow but the desire was to create an overflow from my 20 gallon fry tank into my 10 gallon fry tank and basically treat the two aquariums as one with only one filter. Made some adjustments to your design in this video and the setup came out great. I added an HOB filter in between the two tanks with the aquarium overflow transferring water the opposite way.
This is my 1st DIY mini aquarium overflow project and to my surprise, i manage to assemble it in less than 30minute. It works like wonder for my fish tank and not to mention that it cost way cheaper then buying a ready-made overflow system. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderfull step by step guide, very practical!
Dude, I just wanted to say you are the SHIZNIT!!!! I think many will agree when I say it. You saved me more money than I would have saved by switching to Geico. Oh the wife said thanks, because of your videos we went from a free fish my daughter won at a fair to a 5gal, 10gal, 55gal, which I'm making my wet dry sump and my ultimate 6 foot long 150gal tank sitting on my custom homemade stand. LOL. I appreciate it, keep it up
Joey, thank you very much for so many helpful videos. I prefer to do things myself and you have saved me a lot of time and money. I was going to drill my tank but this is a much better route in many ways. If I decide to move up to a larger tank someone will be more likely to buy a tank with no holes.
Have an issue? cant get it to work? HERE IS THE FIX: I have been answering questions on this project for years now.. and no longer will. Its the same answer again and again... the #1 answer that solves 99% of all issues is this: PAY ATTENTION TO THE VIDEO. 99% simply do not follow the instructions or build it the same way, yet expect it to still work. The other 1% have an air leak somewhere. Find it. Seal it. Sorry, but i simply do not have the time to keep answering the same questions, when they all result with this same solution. IF YOU MUST get help, POST A PHOTO to my fan page so i can at least SEE what the problem is. I will not be able to help otherwise. facebook.com/UaruJoey
Original video ► goo.gl/4EU9ZX
How it all works ► goo.gl/L1Fg7M
The modified and upgraded version ► goo.gl/ZGRtXj
Fair enough,that would get so annoying answering same thing all the time lol
Where do you run the check valve air line?
its on the video ....
Thanks your vidio to help me aplikations bioflok sistem
The king of DIY
Tried it and works well. A little bit of noise but muffled the breather stand pipe and couldn't be happier. Thankyou!
Hi I just finished building your upgraded version with the wier , have to say this is probably one of the best tutorials I've used on youtube , many thanks for an excellent idea, this is going to make water changes so much easier and a hell of a lot faster , I've made it removeable so that just the wier remains in the tank , I intend painting the wier green and then planting a few stands of tall aquatic plants to hide it , and it also fits beautifully in my wife's goldfish pond / waterfeature , once again thanks for sharing the knowledge
Finally made mine out of 1" PVC I have an overflow box but I have always wanted to do this plus I needed a little more flow my pump was pumping more water then it was getting second overflow worked perfect thanks for the video for those of you having problems the inside outside pipe does not have to be exactly the same also when priming the out take has to be in the water to your sump I read someone earlier saying it didn't work
Great video!
The modified and upgraded version: czcams.com/video/UZytENJZtJw/video.html
For 1" how long do I have to blow in the check valve? It's just making noise.
The king of DIY w07909904397
this is the best diy overflow video on youtube in my opinion, has helped me a lot with ideas for my 10 gallon sump on my 25 gallon nano reef, thank you!!
Hey Joey, just wanted to thank you for this awesome video.
I followed your instructions and built one myself. Initially it didn't work properly, only pumping water for a few seconds and then stopping. I then found out that I had an air leak (I'm using PVC pipes which are screwed together rather than being glued together). So i used some teflon tape on all my joints, and now it works like a charm !
Just made my overflow with 1-1/4in" PvC sch40. I'm going to try and build a sump out of a 20g aquarium over the next few weeks. Never done anything like this before. Just tested the overflow in my 75g.... wholly moly does that thing pump out some water when it equalizes. I had some Tupperware bowls and didn't have enough bowls to handle all the water flow, haha, my carpet is soaked. Can't wait to get my mag 9.5 next weekend to test the flow rates. Thanks for the DIY's Joey, having fun!
I did this for my tank and its been working fantastically for 6 months now! Thanks
tested mine yesterday and it works very well! Gonna clue and paint my overflow today. Total cost for me was around 10 bucks. I went with .75 pvc for my 28 gallon. thanks Joey!
You use 3/4 inch pvc pipe for 28 gallon tank? What is your flow rate in gallons per hour? Is it enough flow?
This actually gave me a great idea on how to drain the water from my tank during water changes! Thanks so much!
Fantastic!thanks so much,I need one of these for my tanks so I'm off to hardware store and getting the stuff I need to make several.the overflow set ups I have seen for sale on line are so expensive(unless I have been looking in wrong places) so this will save me heaps.love your vids,cheers
For more videos, pictures and updates: facebook.com/UaruJoey
Nevermind, figured out something. I jammed a check valve into a hole I made in the pvc. Silconed around the connection for good measure. Then I connected a piece of air hose to the check valve. Not sure if this was the right way to do it, but it works!
Hi everyone, I've made 4 of these so far and only used an air valve on 2 of them while the other two were started just the same way you start a siphon with a hose. The two WITHOUT the air valve have been working perfectly for 6 months now while the other 2 have been scraped. Based on this... DO NOT drill the elbows!!!!!
Just sharing my experience with this type of overflow.
I'm putting mine together right now. What do you think went wrong? Would it just stop overflowing on it's own, or were you not able to prime it? I won't drill mine for the time being. Thanks!
you were leaking air... simple fix.
***** I kinda figured that must have been the problem. Okay, back to drilling! :) Thanks Joey!
great vid! i made two 1/2" overflows for my 10 gallon saltwater tank, they work really well
Someone knows how long the tubes on the left are, please tell me 🙏🏻
@@user-eb6hk6se6s it's on the size of the tank
@@aniketpatil1452 what is an Overflow for I’m new to this
Me too. Works great!
Your videos are top quality and I have manage to build the auto water changing trip system as well as the overflow device and they work like wonder, thanks a lot and keep up the good work.
Ps. I don't understand your video has dislike, haters gonna hate. Don't let that affect you in any way!
After I got the dang pieces cut it took a minute or two to put two of these together. .75 for a 20 gal cost $4 for everything, 1.25 for 55gal was about $7. Thanks Joey!
I made one this afternoon, total cost $11.32! It works great, even though the "U" in the aquarium is only 8" beneath the rim (in my 18" 55 gallon). Plus, the PVC will fit my pump, so I can use the extra (I have over 5' of PVC left) for the input of the sump and the return to the tank. Thanks for the design!!
DUDE Thanks alot i searched the inter net and found nothing as awsome as this thanks alot great job .................
If you liked this video, you will LOVE my book: thekingofdiy.com
Great as usual and explaining on how you do your work. Just one important thing missing regarding this DIY video is how you install the air hose/non return valve? as in water tight/air tight, or it will fail which is a nightmare, hope you can explain that part. Thanks!
Just built a 1 inch pvc overflow yesterday thanx joey.
couldn't be more clear thanks for the help and the class make sure you do more videos your very clear in explaining it. I just learned how to do an overflow thank's a lot
Just built the overflow system and the wet dry works awesome great video bro
I did this today with 15mm pipework working well, one tip put a airline pipe in the end cap to reduce noise
Amazing this is 9yrs ago..still big thanks too you Sir
Idk where u get ur ideas but man they are awesome just did the overflow but made it a dual overflow. Next project is the algae scruber. Man appreciate the vids keep em comin.
i just did the wet dry from this guy and now im gonna try this overflow
this dude saved me money =)
You my man have the best video on CZcams regarding a DIY overflow tutorial thanks buddy cheers!
Someone knows how long the tubes on the left are, please tell me 🙏🏻
The answer to tampered glass tanks. Thanks again Joey!
This looks really Nice and easy to make,
Marvelous Idea you have here,
My question is, does it loose the syphon over time and if it does how would I prevent this? Please help
To prevent the return pump from continuing to pump when the siphon break would cause it to pump all of the water out of the sump you can put the return pump on a water level controlled switch. There are lots of videos on how to do automatic water level controls, just adapt that to the sump.
the quality on your videos has really gone up!
Someone knows how long the tubes on the left are, please tell me 🙏🏻
I personally used one of these overflows it worked great never had an issue with it happy reefing
hey joey, ur overflow design works beautifully. I build 2 out of 3/4 inch- I hooked both together that drain to my crab tank. Only one prob- I tryed to make my first one out of 1/2 inch. But gravity fed 1/2 inch won't carry 60 gph much less 92gph.
Love the videos . very helpful for my projects. When I run into something. First thing I do is go on your channel . thanks !
Someone knows how long the tubes on the left are, please tell me 🙏🏻
I have seen other DIY overflows and they always use colored glue. Either two step orange or one step yellow (cpvc) or blue (pvc) It always looks bad. My advice to all is to use clear glue. On cpvc, pvc, and abs you can use whats called "all purpose cement" If you are using PVC use the medium or heavy duty clear. No need to use purple primer it looks bad also. In this application, as long as your using clean pipe, purple primer is not necessary. The "all purpose cement" wil dry milky colored and the clear will be clear. And for the record the blue rain or shine glue for PVC that cost more does not mean it is a better glue. It has to do with application. The blue glue is for glueing pipe that is wet or that has water pouring out of it and needs to be pressurized very quickly. Just a little tip from a plumber. Nice video.
also,, you mention a spray paint to use to conceal the pvc in the tank, but you didnt speak clearly when you mentioned what kind of paint,, thanks,, and great videos by the way,, very informative !! alread subscribed!
Watched your video again. Now I understand it better. It's a system that will start the siphon on it's own. Hope I can replicate right. Thanks
This is exactly what I've been looking for. I have a 400 gallon outdoor tilapia tank with a very expensive pond liner that I don't want to cut a uniseal hole into. This is exactly what I need. Probably gonna use 2" PVC since I have a 1000 gph pump.
It is OK but I am afraid that it could be a risk of overflow. It may happen if the overflow pipe will be sucking air bubbles and they build up inside the top elbows over the tank's frame. The overflow pipe will become clogged by built air and the pump will overflow tank. I would add a cut-off switch.
i Have searched 2 years for this finnaly i got my 90 running like a boss.
Works fine altough I use a wet and dry filter :D
1. drawer filter cushens
2. drawer filter wool
3. activated carbon and bio balls
4. filter wool/sponge filter :D
Great..i have been looking for this kind of vid for so long ..finally .. Very good explanations..
Hmm, I assumed so. Thank you for the response.
I'm thinking about hybridizing this method for a wetland vivarium.
@TNTDSOL1 most likely.. the hole in the end cap is a vent for air to come in and allows the water to flow down if no hole in the end cap you are just creating a straight syphon and it wont re-start .. if build right these overflows do not need to be re-primed. i havent primed mine in over 8 months and i even drained and moved my tank across the room and still never had to re-prime it.
@uarujoey true... sorry about the flak, i was pretty intoxicated the first time i watched this, so i felt it would also be funny to poke fun at Canadians, which i really have no problem with. Anyway I actually came across several of your other videos and they are all very helpful. Thanks for all the time you spent sharing your knowledge.
Thanks, I think I just tried to over think it. For a 120 gallon tank will a 300 gph pump be compatible with the exit pipes being 1"diameter? Thanks again for your time, your videos are some of the best on CZcams!
awesome. Why does the last piece need to be 1-2 inches higher than the tank (the pipe that is going upwards from the last T)? I'm planning on a building a large version of this for my 240g tank.
If you want to suck water from near the bottom, simply place another piece of PVC with approx double diameter, open at both ends, over the intake. Make sure this piece is long enough so the top is above normal water level. The water will enter at the bottom of this piece, then flow up and out the intake as per normal. A warning with this method tho - if a fish or gunk blocks the bottom of this pipe, water will then rise to the top of this pipe, so don't make it higher than the edge of your tank.
Can you do this setup with multiple tanks? Without having a problem with vacuum brakes between the additional tanks?
awesome video buddy, very detailed explanation to what you are doing. Not a lot of people will give this much detail. I love your videos man, keep up the good work.
1st off, I just found your channel and I love It! I know this this a really old video, but maybe my question will get answered, or maybe not. My question is: how well do you think this will work on a system that will not have constant flow into the display tank? I'm setting up an aquaponic growing system with my fish tank, I want the water from the sump to pump into the ebb & flow grow bed, then from the grow bed back into the display tank, with the overflow draining into the sump. So, the water will be rushing down fast for a minute or two every so often (1-3 times an hour depending on flow into the grow bed) I'm not at all sure yet what the flow rate from the grow bed will be until I get it going, the grow bed holds about 40-50 gallons of water. Another key feature is that the sump is on the side of the display tank. The DT is a 75 Gal, the sump a 55gal that is slightly lower that the DT. Water level in the sump (which is just a plain, mostly empty tank to hold water) is not real important. I understand I'll have to make the outlet side of my DIY PVC overflow higher than pictured, so that it can be above the water level in my 55gal sump, for gravity to do it's thing. I'm wondering if there is anything else I'm overlooking?
hi there buddy....
i shown this video to the plumbing store so they give me the exact items- i went home and did it....which i thank you for.....i got one question- what kind of pump do i use to return water to tank? any powerhead or something desinged for sumps?
Stupid question as I am still new to this, but what's the main point to doing this? Is it so you can have your clutter of filters on the sump? To have extra water? To overstock on fish, since the sump is extra water? Please let me know. Super good video. Thanks
I am getting items ready now to build this. You mentioned the paint. I believe I will try applying aquarium sealant to the pipes and rolling them in crushed coral. Over time it will look just like the rest of the coral. What do you think?
Thanks this was a great help although I don't know if I will keep the overflow a it make a noisy.
As for the the tube where you need to suck out the air to prime the overflow. I but the thin pipe though the entire overflow this way I didn't have to drill a whole in the pvc
Joey can u make a video on a dual overflow for a 40 gal tank. Or give a suggestion on how to hake one.
sorry lol but it made me chuckle when u said "as u can SEE it is quite silent" and btw i love your videos and share my love for aquariums. i am planning on getting around a 500gallon tank and having a decently sized grained sand as a floor. i hope it works out well. oh and do u know if having a baby musk turtle in a aquarium would have a effect on it or anything else??
Oh and Joey
i like that you explain everything very well
it's always very very clear ^^
and you always let us see how things are working
this is my favorite channel so far :D
Perfect made and up and running in a jiffy only cost £6 sump level perfect now cheers :-) simply and very cost effective
cool to see this vid from 9 years back. i addes some extra flow to my reef tank so gonne use the idea in my overflow box of my reef tank to feed my reactor
Real nice looking one, How reliable would this be, what if this looses the syphon? This will flood the floor or something.
I tried to make sure I paid attention to the whole video and read the comments so I did not waste your time with a stupid question; how do I match the speed of water moving out of the pvc vs's the pump I'm using to put it back into the tank? Should the hose going back into the tank be the same size as the water hose coming out of the tank? Can you have to powerful of a pump going into the fish tank? Is it bad for the pump to not have enough water in it to work properly? Can I use a bilge pump?
it will work fine. provided it fits in the space u want it to. but next time measure twice cut once.
en todo youtube no pude encontrar un video mejor que el tuyo, de verdad te lo agradesco, por mas videos que veia no entendia, me gustaria que pusieras la opcion para cambiar subtitulos, lamentablemente no entiendo el ingles... te lo agradeceria bastante.
Your tank can flood like Joey said, but most sumps have baffles in them that limit the amount of water the return pump has access to. So if you know how much water is in the return pump area, you can allow enough space in your display tank to be able to deal with a siphon break and not have to worry about it overflowing (if it does happen you very well may end up with a broken return pump though, but better than water damage in your home).
What if you have something small, duckweed or newborn baby fry, at the water's surface near your intake? How would you prevent them from getting sucked in as it skims? Maybe attach panty hose or netting over the intake?
I am looking to build a DIY filter out of a 5 gallon plastic bucket, and was going to make an overflow for it, will the overflow be collecting enough of the water to properly clean it just from the surface, or should I make the straight pipe along with the overflow (90 deg. bend a bit higher)? I will also not be adding substrate, so will this help with "stuff" at the bottom of the tank, or will that need to be sucked out manually?
I just installed it in a 55gal and used about 7 feet. I wasted some with trial and error. But you do not need to be super exact with lengths. A lot of eyeballing was used.
thanks for the links in the description Joey.
Since the water is draining at the water level of the tank, how does it filter the entire tank (with the waste sitting in the bottom)? I also assume you would need to switch over to sinking pellets, if you don't want to shut off you overflow every feeding time. Another concern I had was with the valve placed on the pump, doesn't this restrict the pump from working and thus can damage it motor, due to build up of pressure? Answers and comments are appreciated , thinking of installing one thanks!
drill the smallest you can and keep building up until its a snug fit without slipping out, if un sure silicone it in once you have it as close as you can get
Sure you can
you can use every type of pvc you want But.....
make sure you have a ball valve to regulate the water flow :D
or just use a very strong pump
and put the ball valve onto the pump
glad to help :D
hey joey, i made your overflow and it works great for my 29 gallon tank and 10 gallon sump. my only complaint is the constant, loud, draining noise. is there any way to silence it?
Hey man, I got it working very well. Thanks to you.
Thank you very much I'm trying to set up a marine fowler tans and didnt understand the basic principal s ov how it all worked thanks a lot
Nice video, I have a tall tank that isnt drilled so I made this. It works, its just sometimes the syphon will catch up or will "stop" for a second then resume causing a rise in water level. Also the syphon noise is quite loud, is this due to the tall pipes? They are about 3 feet long.
Didn't catch this in the vid, but do you put a mesh on the opening of the overflow? What's to stop the smaller fish from getting in if they jump?
Thanks for putting in the time to do this much appreciated. Was wondering if I had a power head filter with air bubble tubing running straight to where the check valve is would this be better for power outages?
quantity of air in the pipe not expunged by the air valve nor pushed downward to the external upward exaust pipe. a solution : consider increasing the sumption area/circumnference by installing a reversed holed cone at the internal sumption pipe end, the italian word for the stuff is "imbuto", you'll want to install one and retry. Ciao
What i have done was lower my canopy and make the water level an inch lower than the rim incase of flooding. My siphon has gone out over 5 times and i have never had my tank flood. I am running a 20 gallon sump to. 55 gallon reef.
It is. I have a clear 2" tube coming down from the 1 1/4 PVC overflow, that goes into a 2" 90 degree PVC, then reduced to a 1 1/4 ball valve and then a 1 1/4 PVC "T".... top part of the T extends above water level - bottom and middle is underwater.