Overflow box

I recently built overflow boxes for my tanks to avoid drilling. They cost about R140 to make

1 plastic cereal Tupperware
2 elbows
3 threaded pipes
1 double male connector
1 intake strainer
2 plastic nuts and washers fish tank kind

These work very well but the flow rate is a bit limited. This can be improved with a bigger outlet pipe.

 

nice - how do you create the initial siphon?

 

You put the Tupperware lid on and suck air thru the out pipe it fills and starts almost instantly

 

And then after you have flow do you open the lid so that the whole thing is not under a vacuum?

 

The cheap plastic Containers I bought don't air seal properly I just give it a big suck to start the siphon and sorted. I suppose if you used better containers it would be an issue.

 

Been thinking about using this instead of the pvc overflow... awesome DIY!