Which overflow box is best?

thomasp123 · 11/01/2009, 09:29 AM

I have a 75g tank with sump and a mag 5 return pump. I would like to upgrade to a mag 7 and want to be sure my overflow can take the increased water flow. I am using an overflow that I purchased from my lfs and it has no brand name. It looks like a life reef exactly which is rated for 600gph. will I be severely over working it with the mag 7?

Tom

Snakebyt · 11/01/2009, 09:59 AM

after you factor in head loss and loss from bends or anything from plumbing you should be ok. Just make sure and put a ball valve on the return to make sure you can turn it down if needed.

Jared J · 11/01/2009, 10:41 AM

Check out Glass-Holes.com , they are amazing. I drilled my holes with the diamond hole bits they supplied and had very minimal chipout and it was super easy.

sminker · 11/01/2009, 11:06 AM

Inky Box all the way.

jflick345 · 11/01/2009, 11:25 AM

+1 on the ball valve on the return line. Very easy to dial in the proper return rate. If you're looking for another overflow the Eshopps on Drs. F&S are great for a great price.

sjm817 · 11/01/2009, 02:21 PM

You can save some $ and swap in a Mag7 impeller and turn the Mag5 into a Mag7. Be aware that Mag7s tend to be very noisy pumps.

thomasp123 · 11/01/2009, 04:41 PM

I have been having a hard time searching for the inky box overflow and websites for this? also it is only the impeller that is different between the mag 5 and 7?

sjm817 · 11/01/2009, 06:45 PM

The Mag3/5/7 and I think the Mag2 are all the same pumps. Its just a difference in front covers and impellers that determine flow. The Mag5/7 use the same front cover, different impellers.

Never heard of that overflow.

bergzy · 11/01/2009, 07:40 PM

of the three popular submersible pumps out there:

1- quiet ones scare me somewhat as it depends if you get one that starts well after stoppage (ie power failure). it is luck of the draw if you get one that starts up automatically or not. some do some dont from my experience.

2 - mag pumps scare me the most. i have had THREE mag 3's seize up on me without rhyme or reason. i still have two mag 5's that i just use for top off and water changes. i know that a lot of people use mag's without problems...i am one of those unlucky ones that get the (eventually) seized ones, i guess.

3 - eheim pumps are the only submersible pumps i will now use. i have yet to hear one fail during operation or when start up is required after a power outage. expensive? an eheim 1262 costs about same as a quiet one 4000 and mag 9.5...combined...but is it worth it? how much are your corals and fish worth...combined?

oh, for external overflow boxes...the only one i would use is a lifereef. sure you can copy them but for some reason, lifereef makes the best. you can always get a copy...but, again, how much would it cost to replace your flooring when something (like a cheap overflow...hint hint) decides to not start siphoning when the power goes out and your return pump decides to go ahead and keep on pumping anyway. this almost always occurs when you are not home!

IFbettas · 11/01/2009, 09:45 PM

I think the best overflow box is no overflow box. The first (and last) time I used an overflow box I ended up with water all over the floor. It was a lifereef too. I will never buy an undrilled tank again.

If your tank isn't tempered it might be worth drilling holes in the back. Then you never have to worry about the overflow failing. I know a guy who has drilled more than 50 tanks himself with not a single one breaking.

thomasp123 · 11/02/2009, 06:16 AM

IFbetta

I too would like a tank with holes but the current one is full of an active reef. hard to drill that way.

sjm817 · 11/02/2009, 10:53 AM

Yeah, drilling an up and running tank is not a viable option for most. The best HOB out there is a Lifereef. One of the benefits is it unlike most, can actually handle the advertised flow rate.

rustyjames · 11/02/2009, 11:00 AM

I'm using an Eshopps overflow with a Quite one return pump. No issues to speak of, guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

IluvGod'sreefs · 11/02/2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jflick345

+1 on the ball valve on the return line. Very easy to dial in the proper return rate. If you're looking for another overflow the Eshopps on Drs. F&S are great for a great price.

I put a Eshopps on my 55 that I got at DFS, and I really like it. Works very well--really moves the water.

jflick345 · 11/02/2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergzy

of the three popular submersible pumps out there:

1- quiet ones scare me somewhat as it depends if you get one that starts well after stoppage (ie power failure). it is luck of the draw if you get one that starts up automatically or not. some do some dont from my experience.

2 - mag pumps scare me the most. i have had THREE mag 3's seize up on me without rhyme or reason. i still have two mag 5's that i just use for top off and water changes. i know that a lot of people use mag's without problems...i am one of those unlucky ones that get the (eventually) seized ones, i guess.

3 - eheim pumps are the only submersible pumps i will now use. i have yet to hear one fail during operation or when start up is required after a power outage. expensive? an eheim 1262 costs about same as a quiet one 4000 and mag 9.5...combined...but is it worth it? how much are your corals and fish worth...combined?

oh, for external overflow boxes...the only one i would use is a lifereef. sure you can copy them but for some reason, lifereef makes the best. you can always get a copy...but, again, how much would it cost to replace your flooring when something (like a cheap overflow...hint hint) decides to not start siphoning when the power goes out and your return pump decides to go ahead and keep on pumping anyway. this almost always occurs when you are not home!

I will 2nd the comment on the Quiet One. I have a QO 3000 return and while I haven't had any majors problems yet (running only about a month and a half so far) I will say that I've noticed some potential for problems. I accidently tripped the GFCI on the outlet it's plugged into and it took me a few tries of plugging it in and unplugging it to get it restart. It seems like the problem might be while the water is back draining it won't start so if it's just a power blip then it probably won't start on it's own. However, if I waited until all the water finished draining into the sump it started right back up

11/01/2009, 09:29 AM	#1
thomasp123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hadley MA Posts: 345	Which overflow box is best? I have a 75g tank with sump and a mag 5 return pump. I would like to upgrade to a mag 7 and want to be sure my overflow can take the increased water flow. I am using an overflow that I purchased from my lfs and it has no brand name. It looks like a life reef exactly which is rated for 600gph. will I be severely over working it with the mag 7? Tom

11/01/2009, 02:21 PM	#6
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	You can save some $ and swap in a Mag7 impeller and turn the Mag5 into a Mag7. Be aware that Mag7s tend to be very noisy pumps. __________________ - Scott

11/01/2009, 06:45 PM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	The Mag3/5/7 and I think the Mag2 are all the same pumps. Its just a difference in front covers and impellers that determine flow. The Mag5/7 use the same front cover, different impellers. Never heard of that overflow. __________________ - Scott

11/01/2009, 07:40 PM	#9
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	of the three popular submersible pumps out there: 1- quiet ones scare me somewhat as it depends if you get one that starts well after stoppage (ie power failure). it is luck of the draw if you get one that starts up automatically or not. some do some dont from my experience. 2 - mag pumps scare me the most. i have had THREE mag 3's seize up on me without rhyme or reason. i still have two mag 5's that i just use for top off and water changes. i know that a lot of people use mag's without problems...i am one of those unlucky ones that get the (eventually) seized ones, i guess. 3 - eheim pumps are the only submersible pumps i will now use. i have yet to hear one fail during operation or when start up is required after a power outage. expensive? an eheim 1262 costs about same as a quiet one 4000 and mag 9.5...combined...but is it worth it? how much are your corals and fish worth...combined? oh, for external overflow boxes...the only one i would use is a lifereef. sure you can copy them but for some reason, lifereef makes the best. you can always get a copy...but, again, how much would it cost to replace your flooring when something (like a cheap overflow...hint hint) decides to not start siphoning when the power goes out and your return pump decides to go ahead and keep on pumping anyway. this almost always occurs when you are not home! __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

11/01/2009, 09:45 PM	#10
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	I think the best overflow box is no overflow box. The first (and last) time I used an overflow box I ended up with water all over the floor. It was a lifereef too. I will never buy an undrilled tank again. If your tank isn't tempered it might be worth drilling holes in the back. Then you never have to worry about the overflow failing. I know a guy who has drilled more than 50 tanks himself with not a single one breaking. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

11/01/2009, 09:59 AM	#2
Snakebyt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lubbock Tx Posts: 2,141	after you factor in head loss and loss from bends or anything from plumbing you should be ok. Just make sure and put a ball valve on the return to make sure you can turn it down if needed.

11/01/2009, 10:41 AM	#3
Jared J Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 431	Check out Glass-Holes.com , they are amazing. I drilled my holes with the diamond hole bits they supplied and had very minimal chipout and it was super easy.

11/01/2009, 11:06 AM	#4
sminker Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 612	Inky Box all the way.

11/01/2009, 11:25 AM	#5
jflick345 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 884	+1 on the ball valve on the return line. Very easy to dial in the proper return rate. If you're looking for another overflow the Eshopps on Drs. F&S are great for a great price.

11/01/2009, 04:41 PM	#7
thomasp123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hadley MA Posts: 345	I have been having a hard time searching for the inky box overflow and websites for this? also it is only the impeller that is different between the mag 5 and 7?

11/02/2009, 06:16 AM	#11
thomasp123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hadley MA Posts: 345	IFbetta I too would like a tank with holes but the current one is full of an active reef. hard to drill that way.

11/02/2009, 10:53 AM	#12
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yeah, drilling an up and running tank is not a viable option for most. The best HOB out there is a Lifereef. One of the benefits is it unlike most, can actually handle the advertised flow rate. __________________ - Scott

11/02/2009, 11:00 AM	#13
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	I'm using an Eshopps overflow with a Quite one return pump. No issues to speak of, guess I'm one of the lucky ones. __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long