anyone use CPR siphon overflows??

stingers81 · 02/13/2006, 03:58 PM

Hi
Im thinking of getting the CPR 800gph siphon overflows from marinedepot instead of drilling my tank....It will pretty much cost me the same amount to drill the tank and put in internal overflow boxes and the whole hassle.....
I never had a siphon overflow...are these guys safe? Do they ever lose their siphon? my return pump is 700gph....will that be ok with the 800gph?
any feedback would be nice
Cheers!

sjm817 · 02/13/2006, 05:17 PM

(Good) Siphon overflows are safe, but not the ones made by CPR. But...if the tank is new and not set up yet, you are better off drilling the tank. Adding a HOB overflow is more for when you have an up and running established tank.

Hi Bebo!

DHyslop · 02/13/2006, 06:37 PM

I'm with sjm. The CPR uses a small pump to make sure that air bubbles don't accumulate in the siphon tube. That may sound like a good idea at first, but it means that's one more piece of mechanical equipment to fail and flood your tank.

I'd go ahead and drill it. You can get the hole saw on the internet for $10 and a nice internal overflow for $25. It isn't nearly as difficult as you might expect.

Dan

c.rob · 02/13/2006, 06:53 PM

If you put a float switch in your sump that breaks the power to the pump when the water gets low you will
A. save your pump
B.not flood your floor!

monkey61672 · 02/13/2006, 07:50 PM

I have a CPR and that stupid airlifter pump is a giant hassle. I wish I had drilled my tank.. Does that help??? LOL

roader247 · 02/13/2006, 07:56 PM

I've run CPR for years with no problem they start back up if you lose your power, low cost for the lifter pumps to me they work great. But a drilled tank is better/ Good Luck

Untamed12 · 02/13/2006, 08:02 PM

I've been running a CPR overflow for 3 years now, and have not had any problems with it losing siphon.

I run a RIO600RVT on the siphon airline. The RIO shares a power circuit with my auto-top off system. When the system needs water, it also gets a suck on the siphon. So the pump runs off and on, removing air every now and then should the air happen to be there.

There's an added bonus in this configuration that I hadn't planned. When/if the tank level starts to rise, the level of the sump falls. That triggers the auto-top off, which triggers the siphon powerhead, which pulls hard ensuring the siphon starts.

I agree with everyone else though, a drilled tank has got to be more reliable.

ufans · 02/13/2006, 08:33 PM

The story is consistant. The CPRs work, but they require some maintenance. Drilling is what everyone is going to recommend but there are risks. Then again....once you add up the costs over a year or two the costs of a new tank (in case of crack during drilling) is nothing.

I have a CPR and like it pretty well. I have had a few problems but the aqualifter is a good pump. Be sure to buy several pumps though.... they are very cheap.

The one thing that really allows me to sleep at night is the fact that I installed a float switch in my display that shuts off the return pump if the display starts to overflow. Rather simple and it lasts vertually forever. My gallery (photos) has some shots of my float system and schematic.

DHyslop · 02/13/2006, 08:46 PM

I still recommend drilling. Drilling my tanks was the best thing I ever did. It was definately worth draining them and finding space for 75 gallons of water!

Having a pump suck bubbles out of the siphon is a bandaid fix to a mediocre design. Yes, it makes it safer than otherwise, which is the definition of a bandaid.

Using the float valve in the display does make it that much safer...but it is still a bandaid over a bandaid.

My pump sits on a glass shelf in my sump. If both my overflows were to clog, or a PVC line was to open, my pump would run dry before enough water was transferred to flood the main tank. I'm willing (hoping?

) to sacrifice my Mag Drive before getting my floor wet.

If you don't drill, I would go with one of the very highly recommended Lifereef or AMiracle overflows over the CPR or the SOS. They have U-tubes which are less susceptible to catching bubbles.

Dan

sjm817 · 02/13/2006, 09:09 PM

For a new tank:
Best = drilling
2nd = quality HOB overflow such as Lifereef
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V
Worst choice, unreliable overflow such as CPR

stingers81 · 02/14/2006, 12:05 AM

thanks for the replies guys
I will definetly not get the CPR...I'm leaning towards the lifereef now...this is going to be a new tank because my old one just cracked few days ago and had a flood....I live in an apartment so it gets super messy when i have to do any drilling or such....a reliable HOB overflow would be nice and quick...

natex · 02/14/2006, 12:25 AM

i heard that clear siphons have a problem with algae acumulation. Is this a problem with the life reef? Is the life reef easy to disasemble?

I am looking to do away with a marineland over flow and switch to anything else. The marineland one sucks.

I was also thinking about going to a HOB filter like the emperor 400. I have had good luck with HOB filters on smaller tanks and was hoping to use one on my 100 gallon FOWLR. Wanted to do some hearty softies. This is my GFs tank by the way, I just end up doing all the maintnence.

sjm817 · 02/14/2006, 06:29 AM

LR has 3 pieces. Skimmer box, drain box, U Tube. The U Tube lifts out, the skimmer box comes off with one wing nut. Yes, you want to keep algae buildup to a minimum in the U Tube. My tank has a canopy and I run T5 lights. I made up a plastic shield that blocks direct light from the U Tube. Making up something like that should be pretty easy.

02/13/2006, 03:58 PM	#1
stingers81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 393	anyone use CPR siphon overflows?? Hi Im thinking of getting the CPR 800gph siphon overflows from marinedepot instead of drilling my tank....It will pretty much cost me the same amount to drill the tank and put in internal overflow boxes and the whole hassle..... I never had a siphon overflow...are these guys safe? Do they ever lose their siphon? my return pump is 700gph....will that be ok with the 800gph? any feedback would be nice Cheers! __________________ "Success is a Journey, not a Destination". Current Tank Info: 90g, 20g sump,asm g3 skimmer, fowlr, crappy lights

02/13/2006, 05:17 PM	#2
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	(Good) Siphon overflows are safe, but not the ones made by CPR. But...if the tank is new and not set up yet, you are better off drilling the tank. Adding a HOB overflow is more for when you have an up and running established tank. Hi Bebo! __________________ - Scott

02/13/2006, 07:50 PM	#5
monkey61672 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Newburgh Ny Posts: 258	I have a CPR and that stupid airlifter pump is a giant hassle. I wish I had drilled my tank.. Does that help??? LOL __________________ scott http://www.mahopac.k12.ny.us/mhs/teachers/rizzos/coral%20research%20project.htm Current Tank Info: (1) 75gl reef, (1) 55 gl fish only

02/13/2006, 09:09 PM	#10
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	For a new tank: Best = drilling 2nd = quality HOB overflow such as Lifereef \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| V Worst choice, unreliable overflow such as CPR __________________ - Scott

02/14/2006, 12:05 AM	#11
stingers81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 393	thanks for the replies guys I will definetly not get the CPR...I'm leaning towards the lifereef now...this is going to be a new tank because my old one just cracked few days ago and had a flood....I live in an apartment so it gets super messy when i have to do any drilling or such....a reliable HOB overflow would be nice and quick... __________________ "Success is a Journey, not a Destination". Current Tank Info: 90g, 20g sump,asm g3 skimmer, fowlr, crappy lights

02/13/2006, 06:37 PM	#3
DHyslop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,085	I'm with sjm. The CPR uses a small pump to make sure that air bubbles don't accumulate in the siphon tube. That may sound like a good idea at first, but it means that's one more piece of mechanical equipment to fail and flood your tank. I'd go ahead and drill it. You can get the hole saw on the internet for $10 and a nice internal overflow for $25. It isn't nearly as difficult as you might expect. Dan

02/13/2006, 06:53 PM	#4
c.rob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 430	If you put a float switch in your sump that breaks the power to the pump when the water gets low you will A. save your pump B.not flood your floor!

02/13/2006, 07:56 PM	#6
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	I've run CPR for years with no problem they start back up if you lose your power, low cost for the lifter pumps to me they work great. But a drilled tank is better/ Good Luck

02/13/2006, 08:02 PM	#7
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I've been running a CPR overflow for 3 years now, and have not had any problems with it losing siphon. I run a RIO600RVT on the siphon airline. The RIO shares a power circuit with my auto-top off system. When the system needs water, it also gets a suck on the siphon. So the pump runs off and on, removing air every now and then should the air happen to be there. There's an added bonus in this configuration that I hadn't planned. When/if the tank level starts to rise, the level of the sump falls. That triggers the auto-top off, which triggers the siphon powerhead, which pulls hard ensuring the siphon starts. I agree with everyone else though, a drilled tank has got to be more reliable.

02/13/2006, 08:33 PM	#8
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	The story is consistant. The CPRs work, but they require some maintenance. Drilling is what everyone is going to recommend but there are risks. Then again....once you add up the costs over a year or two the costs of a new tank (in case of crack during drilling) is nothing. I have a CPR and like it pretty well. I have had a few problems but the aqualifter is a good pump. Be sure to buy several pumps though.... they are very cheap. The one thing that really allows me to sleep at night is the fact that I installed a float switch in my display that shuts off the return pump if the display starts to overflow. Rather simple and it lasts vertually forever. My gallery (photos) has some shots of my float system and schematic.

02/13/2006, 08:46 PM	#9
DHyslop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,085	I still recommend drilling. Drilling my tanks was the best thing I ever did. It was definately worth draining them and finding space for 75 gallons of water! Having a pump suck bubbles out of the siphon is a bandaid fix to a mediocre design. Yes, it makes it safer than otherwise, which is the definition of a bandaid. Using the float valve in the display does make it that much safer...but it is still a bandaid over a bandaid. My pump sits on a glass shelf in my sump. If both my overflows were to clog, or a PVC line was to open, my pump would run dry before enough water was transferred to flood the main tank. I'm willing (hoping? ) to sacrifice my Mag Drive before getting my floor wet. If you don't drill, I would go with one of the very highly recommended Lifereef or AMiracle overflows over the CPR or the SOS. They have U-tubes which are less susceptible to catching bubbles. Dan

02/14/2006, 12:25 AM	#12
natex Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 110	i heard that clear siphons have a problem with algae acumulation. Is this a problem with the life reef? Is the life reef easy to disasemble? I am looking to do away with a marineland over flow and switch to anything else. The marineland one sucks. I was also thinking about going to a HOB filter like the emperor 400. I have had good luck with HOB filters on smaller tanks and was hoping to use one on my 100 gallon FOWLR. Wanted to do some hearty softies. This is my GFs tank by the way, I just end up doing all the maintnence. __________________ -How much to drink the skimmer sauce? Current Tank Info: 2 in progress, 1 reef in the works, and a planted fresh

02/14/2006, 06:29 AM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	LR has 3 pieces. Skimmer box, drain box, U Tube. The U Tube lifts out, the skimmer box comes off with one wing nut. Yes, you want to keep algae buildup to a minimum in the U Tube. My tank has a canopy and I run T5 lights. I made up a plastic shield that blocks direct light from the U Tube. Making up something like that should be pretty easy. __________________ - Scott