I am SO OVER the CPR overflow

ahullsb · 03/20/2008, 03:40 PM

This thing is a piece of $*&#. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Can anyone help me figure out the problem here? Every few months, for no apparent reason, it loses it's siphon. The aqualifter pump is sucking water just fine when I put the tubing under water. As soon as I connect the tubing back to the top of the overflow...nothing. It won't suck the air out of the top. It sounds like it's running, but I can literally see it adding air and not reducing it. I have the intake and outflowon the proper sides. Does anyone know what is going on, or have had a similar problem? I even took the pump apart, and it looks fine internally.

OneReef · 03/20/2008, 03:48 PM

I have always heard that those CPR style of overflows are headaches. I got a Lifereef to be on the safe side, as people talk highly about them.

mystikdragon7 · 03/20/2008, 03:57 PM

I had one of those for about two years and I came home to so many floods in my living room because it would lose its siphon. I have no clue why I kept using it for so long, it gave me so many fist pounding headaches. Check this out and all your headaches will go away.

USC-fan · 03/20/2008, 03:58 PM

Sell it and buy an u-tube type overflow. I brought one for like $60 at my LFS.

micheal.F · 03/20/2008, 03:59 PM

I stay away from external overflos like those after my Americle overflowed years ago.

seapug · 03/20/2008, 04:43 PM

the U-Tube ones are very reliable. I've been running one for 1.5 years and it's never lost siphon. If you need to clean it they are quite easy to restart as well.

SkyPapa · 03/20/2008, 05:04 PM

I have a Lifereef on order but have been using a CPR for 3 yrs.
I've never had an overflow,'cause of the way I'm plumbed, but it's a bear to clean the top of the siphon.
Ahullsb, get a small piece of wire and run it through the air outlet on the cpr.
Mine would get clogged up often.

TWallace · 03/20/2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ahullsb
It won't suck the air out of the top. It sounds like it's running, but I can literally see it adding air and not reducing it. I have the intake and outflowon the proper sides.

Your aqua lifter pump sounds like it may be shot. I've read that they only last about a year. I rigged mine up to be powered by my skimmer pump instead. Just attach airline to the top of the overflow, and stick the other end into the intake of your skimmer or return pump, or a powerhead if you have one with a venturi. It will occasionally shoot bubbles out, but not very often once the siphon is running.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/20/2008, 05:32 PM

Jeez, $119 seems like a lot! I wonder if I could make one

Husky_1 · 03/20/2008, 05:48 PM

I was using one of the U-Tube types and it would still loose siphon. After a few times, especially when I was out of town, I decided that I should just drill my tank..

monti1 · 03/20/2008, 05:51 PM

by a life reef and be done. They are pricey but they rock. I can sleep and not worry about waking up to a flood now. I too had a cpr....it made its way to the dumpster

jsf668 · 03/20/2008, 05:55 PM

Lifereef..Well worth the money if have to have an external overflow. You wont be disappointed, they are very well made and the slimline has a very low profile in the tank.

ahullsb · 03/20/2008, 06:44 PM

I agree. It's about that time. I was just hoping I could "patch" this thing for awhile longer. I don't understand why CPR is still in all the local fish stores considering the problems they have. I'll price the life reefs now...

ahullsb · 03/20/2008, 09:57 PM

I'm still going to find another overflow, but in the meantime it miraculously started working again...for no apparent reason...again. I've had two overflows now that have done this, and I've been through two aqualifter pumps in less than a year, and continue to have problems with it.

03/20/2008, 03:40 PM	#1
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I am SO OVER the CPR overflow This thing is a piece of $*&#. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Can anyone help me figure out the problem here? Every few months, for no apparent reason, it loses it's siphon. The aqualifter pump is sucking water just fine when I put the tubing under water. As soon as I connect the tubing back to the top of the overflow...nothing. It won't suck the air out of the top. It sounds like it's running, but I can literally see it adding air and not reducing it. I have the intake and outflowon the proper sides. Does anyone know what is going on, or have had a similar problem? I even took the pump apart, and it looks fine internally. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

03/20/2008, 03:57 PM	#3
mystikdragon7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mill Creek, WA Posts: 1,051	I had one of those for about two years and I came home to so many floods in my living room because it would lose its siphon. I have no clue why I kept using it for so long, it gave me so many fist pounding headaches. Check this out and all your headaches will go away. __________________ Patience is a vitrue Current Tank Info: 60gal reef, 2 175 watt MH, 2 95 watt VHO Actinics, 20 gal sump; 30gal FOWLR, pair of B&W baby perculas

03/20/2008, 03:59 PM	#5
micheal.F Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In my tank Posts: 21	I stay away from external overflos like those after my Americle overflowed years ago. __________________ ........................ Micheal Current Tank Info: 110gl

03/20/2008, 04:43 PM	#6
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	the U-Tube ones are very reliable. I've been running one for 1.5 years and it's never lost siphon. If you need to clean it they are quite easy to restart as well. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/20/2008, 05:32 PM	#9
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	Jeez, $119 seems like a lot! I wonder if I could make one __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/20/2008, 03:48 PM	#2
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	I have always heard that those CPR style of overflows are headaches. I got a Lifereef to be on the safe side, as people talk highly about them.

03/20/2008, 03:58 PM	#4
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	Sell it and buy an u-tube type overflow. I brought one for like $60 at my LFS.

03/20/2008, 05:04 PM	#7
SkyPapa Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 994	I have a Lifereef on order but have been using a CPR for 3 yrs. I've never had an overflow,'cause of the way I'm plumbed, but it's a bear to clean the top of the siphon. Ahullsb, get a small piece of wire and run it through the air outlet on the cpr. Mine would get clogged up often.

03/20/2008, 05:48 PM	#10
Husky_1 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 1,541	I was using one of the U-Tube types and it would still loose siphon. After a few times, especially when I was out of town, I decided that I should just drill my tank.. __________________ Out of the hobby, but thinking of rejoining Current Tank Info: 92 Reef, 10 Reef

03/20/2008, 05:51 PM	#11
monti1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 352	by a life reef and be done. They are pricey but they rock. I can sleep and not worry about waking up to a flood now. I too had a cpr....it made its way to the dumpster

03/20/2008, 05:55 PM	#12
jsf668 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 401	Lifereef..Well worth the money if have to have an external overflow. You wont be disappointed, they are very well made and the slimline has a very low profile in the tank. __________________ All the great lessons of life are learned the hard way... Current Tank Info: 210g-50g Sump/Refugium, SWX Extreme 250 Skimmer, Geo Kalk and Calcium Reactor, 3 Vortech MPw40's

03/20/2008, 06:44 PM	#13
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I agree. It's about that time. I was just hoping I could "patch" this thing for awhile longer. I don't understand why CPR is still in all the local fish stores considering the problems they have. I'll price the life reefs now... __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

03/20/2008, 09:57 PM	#14
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I'm still going to find another overflow, but in the meantime it miraculously started working again...for no apparent reason...again. I've had two overflows now that have done this, and I've been through two aqualifter pumps in less than a year, and continue to have problems with it. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics