Spill containment stand (SCS)
- Thread starter CWO4GUNNER
- Start date
I was actually thinking of patenting this idea but after a patent seach realized that people with better brains had already come up with much cooler ideas that make mine look like child's concept.
Below a patented tank & stand that allows for a non-visible edge tank where all you see is fish through cascading lens of water that drains continually into the stand containment and back to sump where it is filtered and recycled back to tank. Now that's what I call someones great idea.
Below a patented tank & stand that allows for a non-visible edge tank where all you see is fish through cascading lens of water that drains continually into the stand containment and back to sump where it is filtered and recycled back to tank. Now that's what I call someones great idea.
Well the primary reason I did it was to have one less thing to worry about and in a way that looks good,and share it with those that can see a need for it. I thought of using pond liner and how wrinkled, black and ugly it would look and that idea quickly got a big X in my mind. No this works and looks far better becasue it will allow water to flow quickly on a the hard surfaces to drain. :grinyes:
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
To answer the question about what would cause the tank to overflow instead of the sump... If any of the overflows in the tank become clogged, the pump will continue running until the sump is empty, which in 99% of tanks out there would result in an overfilled tank causing spillage. I love this idea because it is much simpler than anfloat switch. Also if you have monsterfish, they would constanly be shutting the sump pump off because let's face it, big fish make big waves in a tank.
On off on off can't be good on a return pump unlike some powerheads which are designed for rapid cycles(tunze wave box pumps)
On off on off can't be good on a return pump unlike some powerheads which are designed for rapid cycles(tunze wave box pumps)
I was actually thinking of patenting this idea but after a patent seach realized that people with better brains had already come up with much cooler ideas that make mine look like child's concept.
Below a patented tank & stand that allows for a non-visible edge tank where all you see is fish through cascading lens of water that drains continually into the stand containment and back to sump where it is filtered and recycled back to tank. Now that's what I call someones great idea.
There is a store near me with a continuous overflow tank like this they are really interesting tanks.
Let me add that if I were to use this concept on a monster-fish splashy tank where water was more or less overflowing on a recurring basis. Instead of polyurethane I would finish the inside of the containment with fiberglass resin and would even go as far as to lay down at least 1 layer of fiberglass canvas on top of and inside perimeter plywood for true 24/7 water proof exposure endurance.
But Im even thinking of having drains that have T-valves that can carry the water to sump or outside the house through the drywall through holes not much larger then coaxial cable. The sprinkler pipe would tie into the yard springer system where it could feed the plants. With a fiberglass containment you could even do overflow-water-changes, although that is getting a bit eccentric.
But even if you have no sump and just a basic stand drain setup with drains going outside, the worst you would see if a panel seam failed and drained your entire 100 gallon tank while you were not home, is a mess inside the tank instead of on the floor.
But Im even thinking of having drains that have T-valves that can carry the water to sump or outside the house through the drywall through holes not much larger then coaxial cable. The sprinkler pipe would tie into the yard springer system where it could feed the plants. With a fiberglass containment you could even do overflow-water-changes, although that is getting a bit eccentric.
But even if you have no sump and just a basic stand drain setup with drains going outside, the worst you would see if a panel seam failed and drained your entire 100 gallon tank while you were not home, is a mess inside the tank instead of on the floor.
To answer the question about what would cause the tank to overflow instead of the sump... If any of the overflows in the tank become clogged, the pump will continue running until the sump is empty, which in 99% of tanks out there would result in an overfilled tank causing spillage.
It's a part of the tank maintance routine checking and cleaning overflows on a regular basis. Most cases of overflow are a result of NOT setting them up correct in the first place and neglecting the basic maintance all things require. I only use dual overflow boxes which has 2, 1-inch drains to the sump and use 3 u-tubes the odds of all 3 failing at the same time is very very unlikely. I have never had a flood since I have been using wet dry filters I make sure it is set up properly, use the correct size overflow box, use the correct size of return pump for the overflow box, make sure when the tank water level is 1/2 inch lower than the returns the siphion will break and any back flow stops right then. i test it when first set up by starting the system letting it run a few minutes then cut the power to the return pump and make sure the siphion breaks on back flow and the sump can handle the small amout of water that does drain to the sump from the overflow drains and make sure the u tubes are long enough to be underwater in the skimmer box and the overflow box backside so that no air can enter the tubes. then power up the return pump and watch to see that all starts up and runs as designed. if you do this you will not have to worry about a flood from a sump. i use 55G tanks for a sump so there is more than enough room for any back flow and the sump is only at 1/3 full during normal use. i prefer a large sump for all extra equiptment and flood protection.
* a tip for those with large snails in the tank* snails will get into overflow boxes and the large ones can clog a overflow tube which would cause a flood due to tank filling and no water draining to the sump. since i have large apple snails and giant ramshorns in my tanks i stick the bottom intake screen piece off of HOB filters mainly the walmart brand 30-60 size filters and whisper 30-60's they fit perfect in a overflow tube to keep snails from causing a flood. but i do monthly rinse the intake screen piece off it does collect debris at times.
It's a part of the tank maintance routine checking and cleaning overflows on a regular basis. Most cases of overflow are a result of NOT setting them up correct in the first place and neglecting the basic maintance all things require. I only use dual overflow boxes which has 2, 1-inch drains to the sump and use 3 u-tubes the odds of all 3 failing at the same time is very very unlikely. I have never had a flood since I have been using wet dry filters I make sure it is set up properly, use the correct size overflow box, use the correct size of return pump for the overflow box, make sure when the tank water level is 1/2 inch lower than the returns the siphion will break and any back flow stops right then. i test it when first set up by starting the system letting it run a few minutes then cut the power to the return pump and make sure the siphion breaks on back flow and the sump can handle the small amout of water that does drain to the sump from the overflow drains and make sure the u tubes are long enough to be underwater in the skimmer box and the overflow box backside so that no air can enter the tubes. then power up the return pump and watch to see that all starts up and runs as designed. if you do this you will not have to worry about a flood from a sump. i use 55G tanks for a sump so there is more than enough room for any back flow and the sump is only at 1/3 full during normal use. i prefer a large sump for all extra equiptment and flood protection.
* a tip for those with large snails in the tank* snails will get into overflow boxes and the large ones can clog a overflow tube which would cause a flood due to tank filling and no water draining to the sump. since i have large apple snails and giant ramshorns in my tanks i stick the bottom intake screen piece off of HOB filters mainly the walmart brand 30-60 size filters and whisper 30-60's they fit perfect in a overflow tube to keep snails from causing a flood. but i do monthly rinse the intake screen piece off it does collect debris at times.
I wish I had thought of this before I built my first tank stand becasue I only have 1 tank out of 8 Thant have it and so of the other 7 one of them will eventually experiences some form of spill whether its a seal leak or overflow, the odds of probability guarantee it. 20 tanks and the chances go up even further no matter how often you do maintenance eventually you'll be doing maintenance on your floors. I understand now why people have multiple tank fish-rooms in there basement or with central drains, it just wisdom.
I will be retrofitting my older stands without removing the tanks by installing a new extended fully surrounded sealed boarders with drains that eventually lead not to the sump tank but to a central sprinkler pipe that runs along the corner of the floor to outside the house central sprinkler line. Then Ill be doing smart & lazy maintenance on my garden by doing away with fertilizer changes lol. Well that last part isn't quite true yet since leaks, spills and overflows will not be routine, but eventually it may incorporate some sort of drainage line for water changes, but that is a different story altogether. We are talking strictly flood damage avoidance.
I will be retrofitting my older stands without removing the tanks by installing a new extended fully surrounded sealed boarders with drains that eventually lead not to the sump tank but to a central sprinkler pipe that runs along the corner of the floor to outside the house central sprinkler line. Then Ill be doing smart & lazy maintenance on my garden by doing away with fertilizer changes lol. Well that last part isn't quite true yet since leaks, spills and overflows will not be routine, but eventually it may incorporate some sort of drainage line for water changes, but that is a different story altogether. We are talking strictly flood damage avoidance.
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