DIY MAME overflow pipe.

[jello]

As some of you know i have been talking about building one of these overflows. finally got some time and sat down to build it. the actually design is built for a nano type tank and is built using 3/4 in pvc pipe. i built mine out of 1in pvc. after i first built it i had to make the down pipe a little longer to get the suction drain working properly. it is taking up less space in the tank, i have the perfect water level, running a rio2500 as the return and 3/4 pvc for the return line and no ball valve chocking it down. also its very quiet. heres some pics.
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1032.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1033.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1034.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1035.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1036.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1037.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1038.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1039.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/jello_pic/diy%20stuff/100_1040.jpg

[Bettabreeder]

nice! i love DIY projects.

[zhouluyi]

I've been researching a failproof syphon for my aquarium, and decided to go with something along the lines of Mame Overflow. I also want to scale it to 40mm tubing (1 1/2") and get the venturi from return line working.

I pinned down most of the requirements, have you been able use the venturi action? Are you using a check valve?

The original Nano design don't use a check valve, but I see no reason to not using one other that using a bigger hose for airline and venturi.

[jello]

no check valve. i actually ended up covering up the hole on that cap, took a few times of kicking on the pump to get the pipe filled and ready but man it works good. with 1in pipe im getting about 500gph right now and could probably get a little more out of it if i put a bigger pump on it.

[niko]

Someone educate me what is "MAME"?

I made an overflow looking like that from 1" pipes some time ago. It worked just fine. I decided not to use it because I'm paranoid about air accumulating in the pipes over time. A clear PVC would be a better choice, at least for me, but I didn't pursue the idea.

--Nikolay

[zhouluyi]

The hole on the cap is needed to make the syphon works even after a power loss, otherwise it would be just like a closed tube and a direct syphon (breaking on power loss) instead of a restartable syphon.

How are you priming it, venturi on power head or overflowing the return line to the syphon? I want to be able to get syphon working within 60 seconds tops after a power loss.

[jello]

like the original mame design i have an air line going from the return line up top over to the overflow. with the hole closed off it gets more of a suction going, it will flush for about no more than a minute then gets completely silent. the hole would be more of a tuning thing. you would need to work a little on the tuning before you have what you want i think.

[zhouluyi]

But your airline is working by overflowing excess water to the syphon or does it have a venturi on it (thus sucking air and water from the syphon).

About the hole, with the hole closed it is the same as just having a single U-tube direct syphon (without the restart and safety features). Thats why the flow is greater, you are just having a direct syphon with fancy curves. The function of the hole is to prevent another syphon to be forming on the last curve.

[jello]

the airline is only pumping water over to the overflow and filling it up. i shut if off and allowed all backflow to stop then restarted it several times. worked great every time. with the hole uncovered it would only fill the tank and wouldnt actually get a good siphon going on the overflow. im still messing with it and fine tuning it but so far im loving it, very quiet.

[dcacjc]

Looks good Blayne, I might just have to try my hand on one. Which tank are you using this on?

[jello]

its on the 75gal reef. that tank isnt drilled and i hate those loud HOB overflow boxes.

have had it running for a while and its so quiet that at night i wake up thinking that something quit running and have to go check on it...lolroflmao. once i get used to the no sound, i may be able to get some sleep again.

[Typical Tony]

do you have any pics of the sump? Im thinking of doing this, how much was the cost?

[jello]

i am surprised but no i dont have a pic of the sump....hmmm:confuzeld:. i will have to take one.

the overflow has been working well, i do want to rebuild it and make it a little bit different with bigger pipe because im shooting for a whole lot of flow through there. also will be building a scaled down version of it on my 30cube. just finished building the sump for that tank last night. but it only cost no more than $15 to build it(thats cause i had to buy new glue, mine was gone).

[Typical Tony]

i am surprised but no i dont have a pic of the sump....hmmm:confuzeld:. i will have to take one.

the overflow has been working well, i do want to rebuild it and make it a little bit different with bigger pipe because im shooting for a whole lot of flow through there. also will be building a scaled down version of it on my 30cube. just finished building the sump for that tank last night. but it only cost no more than $15 to build it(thats cause i had to buy new glue, mine was gone).

let me know when you are ready to build another one, maybe i could swing by and learn from you. Im thinking of building one for a 20L with either a 20L sump/refuge or a 10g one.

[dcacjc]

Blayne where are the pics of that small sump??

[jello]

let me know when you are ready to build another one, maybe i could swing by and learn from you. Im thinking of building one for a 20L with either a 20L sump/refuge or a 10g one.
i say go as big as you can. anytime you want to come over just let me know, bring your stuff, and we will build it. it dont take long actually.
Blayne where are the pics of that small sump??

didnt take any yet, i will probably do that tonight and go ahead and start that build log for that tank.

[oaksw12]

Looking good. I just did something similar to your zip-ties for a surface skimmer to keep film from building up rather than for overflow purposes. I had to paint it black though, can't stand the look of white pvc.

[jello]

Looking good. I just did something similar to your zip-ties for a surface skimmer to keep film from building up rather than for overflow purposes. I had to paint it black though, can't stand the look of white pvc.

well thats all it basically is is a surface skimmer. but without the tank being drilled, its hard to keep a siphon without some kind of surface skimmer on the overflow. can you post pics of what you did?

[Typical Tony]

i say go as big as you can. anytime you want to come over just let me know, bring your stuff, and we will build it. it dont take long actually.

Wish I could do big but the foundation of the house won't support it and 20L is perfect for me to try out an LED set up on.

What all do I need? Can you give me a list so I can start buying it.

[jello]

Wish I could do big but the foundation of the house won't support it and 20L is perfect for me to try out an LED set up on.

What all do I need? Can you give me a list so I can start buying it.

i meant as big as you can put in your stand. i take it your going to build a sump out of a 10gal that will be used on a 20L?

basically the only things you will need is the tank, enough glass(can use acrylic on smaller tanks but i still prefer glass), and either aquarium silicone or just go get a tube of GE silicone2 i think it is. i will double check my tube when i get home.

[Typical Tony]

i meant as big as you can put in your stand. i take it your going to build a sump out of a 10gal that will be used on a 20L?

basically the only things you will need is the tank, enough glass(can use acrylic on smaller tanks but i still prefer glass), and either aquarium silicone or just go get a tube of GE silicone2 i think it is. i will double check my tube when i get home.

Oh ok, yea I was thinking a 20L for a 20L would be great. What all would I need in order to do the mame overflow?

[jello]

for the 20L you shouldnt need anything bigger than a 10 gal really, i just built a 5gal sump for my 30gal cube. for for the overflow just get the pieces needed, all you need are 3/4" pieces for the overflow and 1/2" pieces for the return. thats exactly what im gonna use for my 30gal.

[oaksw12]

well thats all it basically is is a surface skimmer. but without the tank being drilled, its hard to keep a siphon without some kind of surface skimmer on the overflow. can you post pics of what you did?

I couldn't get a good picture, but here's one from my cell phone - I'll see if I can do better with my real camera. And yes it's clogged with some trimmings :)

http://i.imgur.com/izBZG.jpg

It's just a 1/2" PVC pipe in a U shape with the top right open and the top left going to my filter. I cut about 8 2" slots on the opening with a jigsaw and then drilled a bunch of 1/16" holes in the pipe towards the bottom of the tank in case the water line drops below the top of the intake (I'm bad about water changes and topping off sometimes).