Week 5: Plumbing, Overflows, and Return Pumps | 52 Weeks of Reefing

It's Week 5 of 52 Weeks of Reefing, and this week we are plumbing the #BRS160! This week we are going to talk about the four types of overflows, give you some tips on installing a custom overflow including drilling the glass, various plumbing pieces, return pumps and then plumb our Reef Savvy Ghost Overflow to the sump.
An overflow is used to get water from the aquarium safely down to the sump and they come in a few different types. Your typical reef ready tank comes with an overflow already installed, you can buy a hang on overflow or install a custom overflow for standard or non-reef ready tanks.
There are three main ways to plumb your overflow, all of which are designed to help make it silent, safe and prevent gurgling. All three are named after the reefer who made it popular with the Durso, Herbie and Bean Animal.
The Durso standpipe uses a single overflow standpipe with a vent hole and adjustable air valve in the top. This allows you to fine tune a small amount of air into the overflow. Without the air vent the pipe would pull a full siphon which will continually start and stop with a ton of really loud gurgling.
Hobbyists have worked to further improve on that to make it safer and even quieter with the Herbie overflow . The Herbie uses two overflows; a primary and an emergency. Rather than use air to control the water like the Durso does it uses a gate valve to fine tine the flow of water to a complete siphon with no air getting sucked in which basically makes it completely silent. The second emergency overflow is required just in case something like a fish, snail or chunk of algae gets sucked into the main overflow and reduces flow.
To step that up one more notch the bean animal combines both of these together to achieve something that is ultra silent , ultra safe and really easy to tune. The bean animal uses a gate valve on the primary overflow, a secondary stability overflow with a hole drilled in it which is capable of accounting for small fluctuations in water flow while never creating a full siphon, and an emergency overflow which will handle the water it something happens to the other two. The bean animal is really the gold standard these days and what most of us want to use if we can.
Legal Stuff
The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

[@joshpitts25]

Love Brstv. Hey Spears Manufacturing makes thousands of fittings no kidding. I work there and seriously they can make any fittings known to man and probably more than I know. Top notch fittings. 👌

[@Jordan-se3gv]

The BRS updates are a highlight of my week. Great video and I'm looking forward to the next one!

[@omarjawad587]

I hate to complain but one video a week is simply not enough. Step it up guys! :) Seriously, I love the series and look forward to my Friday wind down while watching the series.

[@joelb9143]

I really like the look of the blue and gray plumbing. It looks really clean.

[@mariosky]

Great tutorial, gives a lot of advice and choices. Thank you.

[@ibinyth5866]

Probably the cleanest plumbing job I've ever seen.. I've watched this video in particular 3 times for some reason

[@Migrant2011]

Awesome, can't wait for the next episode! Great job...

[@TheWincod75]

Nice job explaining the different types of over flow methods and how they relate to one another; in addition to a concise overview of plumbing do's and don'ts. Great reference for the Ghost Overflow, just ordered one myself for my next build, can't wait to set it up!

[@one350z]

Thank you for producing this video, very well done!

[@reconnaissance7372]

Going back I would change out the rigid braided tubing for PVC. I think I was just very excited in the beginning and it seemed like the easiest option.

[@mr.dpfaquariums4560]

very informative ...I feel very comfortable about starting my reef tank I've been a fresh water (Cichlids) for 20 yrs.

[@GENISIS1TWENTYONE]

Learned some new things about hard plumbing. The plumbing turned out great and looks very sleek.

[@Beetlesgonefishin]

Wicked series guys , I have a 180 gal tank sitting in my lounge room ,EMPTY, so I plan on following the build step by step so I reckon I will have one awesome tank when its done

[@tannerlee6297]

Really liking this build so far..

[@gmacreef]

Thanks for featuring my website in the video! Been a fan and customer of you guys for years. You made my day!

[@markthomas3730]

WELL DONE, VERY PROFESSIONAL.

[@maineway1999]

Love this series so far, hope to see updates on life once this reef is made!

[@mikejanelatimerhardy8840]

You guys are so helpful, NZ

[@GamePlay-nf5uv]

Thank for all the info! This video helped me a lot

[@briansfishtanks]

Great info!