Overflow Box Question

Matt0676 · 02/14/2010, 06:31 PM

I am currently trying to find a drilled 125+ gallon tank, however there is not much out there (I have been looking for months). However, there are plenty of tanks that aren't drilled.

My question is, how well do hang-on overflow boxes work? Am I really selling myself short if I buy a tank that isn't drilled? Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Matt

syrinx · 02/14/2010, 06:43 PM

If you use a eshopps overflow it is as reliable as a drilled tank. With others-esp CPR you are asking for trouble. I usually install drilled tanks- but the eshopps is used in other cases- and is dead reliable. I get more calls with drilled tanks and their plumbing than I do with the eshopps u tube type-but drilled tanks many prefer for the asthetic aspect.

iap · 02/14/2010, 09:48 PM

Just buy a tank and drill it yourself. I too was like you and looking for drilled tanks but finally just one. Got a diamond drill bit and drilled 4 1" holes this past week. Really not difficult at all, much less than I thought. Diamond drill bit and a few bulkheads. Much cheaper and nicer looking than a big overflow box.

Rockpile · 02/14/2010, 09:56 PM

Drill it yourself. Get a 1500gph Gl***Ho**s overflow kit with two 1.5 inch drains off the back center and you will be good to go. Their website has a nice video and instructions. Just take your time with the drilling, let the bit do the work.

iap · 02/14/2010, 10:21 PM

Yea it's quite simple. Just check YouTube watch a few videos and go to town on it. And yes go slow, don't apply much pressure.

whowadat · 02/14/2010, 10:41 PM

I never had a problem with my LifeReef overflow on my 40 and have had the electric shut off many times with never a problem having the siphon start again. Water never leaves the U-tube.....

The other tank is drilled, its a bit quieter but anymore I don't even notice the HOB and there's some things you can do to quiet it down.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 02/14/2010, 10:51 PM

As far as the U-tubes, they are reliable, but once in awhile you get a snail in the tube restricting flow, seen this cause one overflow, old roommate, 46bf, I caught it, 2gal on the floor.

I don't love it, but they work well imo.

iamwrasseman · 02/14/2010, 10:53 PM

yes there are many boxes that you can install yourself and usually if they are well known you can find alot of information on the actual installation and drilling of your tank .you can use a hob type also as they are reliable to a point .before one of mine was drilled i used a hob type and i used somewhat of a back up .i simply put a total of three U tubes in the unit so i wasn't depending on the single one supplied .you do have to clear the air pocket every few days or you can use a power head to do that too.do a bit of research but i like glass holes units myself and we have installed over fifty of them , the only tough part is the drilling but they will sell you the bit complete with instructions to help you ,just drill very slow and never force the drilling process . the drills weight is all you need so don't push on it and it may take 10 minutes but its worth the effort.good luck

be sure its not tempered glass first !

Korrine · 02/14/2010, 11:32 PM

I have never read anything bad about live reef and that's what I'm going with.

http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html

90greefman · 02/14/2010, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt0676

I am currently trying to find a drilled 125+ gallon tank, however there is not much out there (I have been looking for months). However, there are plenty of tanks that aren't drilled.

My question is, how well do hang-on overflow boxes work? Am I really selling myself short if I buy a tank that isn't drilled? Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Matt

I have used a hob overflow for 2 years on my 90g reef and have had no issues. If you do go with an overflow I like the single "u" tube for the siphon as the flow is too fast to allow air bubbles to accumulate. The siphon will not break either in the event of a power outage. I just went with a cheap one from eshopps and it works great.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 02/15/2010, 10:02 AM

Be sure to consider a check valve on your return lie however. Maybe $8 at home depot. You want a PVC rubber faced swing check.

Toddrtrex · 02/15/2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nor_Cal_Guy

Be sure to consider a check valve on your return lie however. Maybe $8 at home depot. You want a PVC rubber faced swing check.

I would never trust a check valve. It isn't a matter of "if" it will fail, but a matter of "when". Your sump should be set up to handle any excess water for when the main pump is off.

As for which overflow box, I have both an eshopps and a LifeReef one. The LifeReef one is the only one that I would recommend, been using it for 7+ years and never once had an issue.

Korrine · 02/15/2010, 02:34 PM

newbie question: Why would you need a check valve on the return?

Toddrtrex · 02/15/2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korrine

newbie question: Why would you need a check valve on the return?

You shouldn't. But....

To prevent water from flowing back into the sump when the main pump is off. There are better ways to deal with that. Making your sump big enough to handle the extra water, and having your return line fairly high in the tank -- so that when the main pump is off a siphon break will occur to stop the main tank's water from flowing back into the sump.

Korrine · 02/15/2010, 02:55 PM

ok. That's why I was wondering why it was needed if the other was already planned for.

Thanks

Tomaric · 02/15/2010, 03:39 PM

Most check valves require back pressure to work correctly. If that pressure fails so does the check valve. Just make yor sump large enought to handel the over flow.

02/14/2010, 06:31 PM	#1
Matt0676 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 296	Overflow Box Question I am currently trying to find a drilled 125+ gallon tank, however there is not much out there (I have been looking for months). However, there are plenty of tanks that aren't drilled. My question is, how well do hang-on overflow boxes work? Am I really selling myself short if I buy a tank that isn't drilled? Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Matt

02/14/2010, 10:53 PM	#8
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	yes there are many boxes that you can install yourself and usually if they are well known you can find alot of information on the actual installation and drilling of your tank .you can use a hob type also as they are reliable to a point .before one of mine was drilled i used a hob type and i used somewhat of a back up .i simply put a total of three U tubes in the unit so i wasn't depending on the single one supplied .you do have to clear the air pocket every few days or you can use a power head to do that too.do a bit of research but i like glass holes units myself and we have installed over fifty of them , the only tough part is the drilling but they will sell you the bit complete with instructions to help you ,just drill very slow and never force the drilling process . the drills weight is all you need so don't push on it and it may take 10 minutes but its worth the effort.good luck be sure its not tempered glass first ! __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

02/14/2010, 11:32 PM	#9
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	I have never read anything bad about live reef and that's what I'm going with. http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/15/2010, 02:34 PM	#13
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	newbie question: Why would you need a check valve on the return? __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/15/2010, 02:55 PM	#15
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	ok. That's why I was wondering why it was needed if the other was already planned for. Thanks __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/14/2010, 06:43 PM	#2
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	If you use a eshopps overflow it is as reliable as a drilled tank. With others-esp CPR you are asking for trouble. I usually install drilled tanks- but the eshopps is used in other cases- and is dead reliable. I get more calls with drilled tanks and their plumbing than I do with the eshopps u tube type-but drilled tanks many prefer for the asthetic aspect.

02/14/2010, 09:48 PM	#3
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	Just buy a tank and drill it yourself. I too was like you and looking for drilled tanks but finally just one. Got a diamond drill bit and drilled 4 1" holes this past week. Really not difficult at all, much less than I thought. Diamond drill bit and a few bulkheads. Much cheaper and nicer looking than a big overflow box.

02/14/2010, 09:56 PM	#4
Rockpile Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 62	Drill it yourself. Get a 1500gph Gl*Hos overflow kit with two 1.5 inch drains off the back center and you will be good to go. Their website has a nice video and instructions. Just take your time with the drilling, let the bit do the work.

02/14/2010, 10:21 PM	#5
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	Yea it's quite simple. Just check YouTube watch a few videos and go to town on it. And yes go slow, don't apply much pressure.

02/14/2010, 10:41 PM	#6
whowadat Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Posts: 400	I never had a problem with my LifeReef overflow on my 40 and have had the electric shut off many times with never a problem having the siphon start again. Water never leaves the U-tube..... The other tank is drilled, its a bit quieter but anymore I don't even notice the HOB and there's some things you can do to quiet it down.

02/14/2010, 10:51 PM	#7
Nor_Cal_Guy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NorCal Posts: 300	As far as the U-tubes, they are reliable, but once in awhile you get a snail in the tube restricting flow, seen this cause one overflow, old roommate, 46bf, I caught it, 2gal on the floor. I don't love it, but they work well imo.

02/15/2010, 10:02 AM	#11
Nor_Cal_Guy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NorCal Posts: 300	Be sure to consider a check valve on your return lie however. Maybe $8 at home depot. You want a PVC rubber faced swing check.

02/15/2010, 03:39 PM	#16
Tomaric Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 239	Most check valves require back pressure to work correctly. If that pressure fails so does the check valve. Just make yor sump large enought to handel the over flow.