Visited with Rich yesterday and saw the set up. He then came to my shop where we examined and discussed my Modified Durso with Muffler. See below for some pics.
It would take some extensive work to make the return go up the outside back of Rich's tank to allow an emergency drain in the overflow. Without an emergency drain the tank has flooded a few times due to the small screen getting clogged that sits on the top of the standpipe above the gate valve. A larger screen would really help but the amount of hair algae in the system really needs to be addressed to make the drain screen obsolete.
I really enjoyed my morning with Rich. He is awesome. He left my shop to go back to the drawing board with lots of good information, tips and even AA and AC for reducing nuisance algae and addressing other issues. Rich is an Architect by trade and a fellow tinkerer in the hobby.
Modified Durso top view. The Air Hole can be seen in the center of the cap. This was my coral farming tank in 2005-2007
Below is a pic with the Cap removed to show 4 posts that hold the cap in position, at the proper height, so water can flow under and up past the lip of the cup and then down the standpipe. Note that there is no drain screen. I have found it to be unnecessary.
As seen above, the top of the standpipe has been delicately cut away to leave four posts. It is preferred to use a bushing to run larger pipe for the top of the standpipe. The usual 1" can be easily bushed up to 1.25" or 1.5". This significantly enlarges the spillway allowing more volume of water to fall unobstructed down the sides of the standpipe. The cap is sized 0.5" diameter larger than the standpipe. The Modified Durso is more compact and easier to work with than the standard Durso and because of the larger unobstructed spillway it can handle more water and is generally quieter too.
Here is a old pic of the Muffler/Silencer that I made for a skimmer that also works for the Durso. The longer distance of drain piping to the sump in another room or the basement means that the falling water pulls more air with it, requiring the Durso to have a larger Air Hole and a Muffler. A stubby piece of stiff tubing connects the bottom of the Muffler to the Air Hole in the Cap of the Durso device.
Here are pics of the Modified Durso on the system currently running at my shop. This is a 30 gal breeder that was previously drilled in the bottom back center directly underneath this tanks center brace. That location would not have been my first choice but it worked out well because the Cap can be positioned perfectly over the standpipe and then slid sideways periodically to allow surface scum to go down the drain.
Aloha, Mark
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