HOB Overflow box Vs. Drilled OverFlow

kernyboy · 11/30/2008, 10:57 PM

I was considering drilling and overflow in the back of my tank and installing an overflow box from glass-holes.com, but I came across a CPR made hang on back overflow with continuous siphon located here:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ry~FIOFEB.html

what are the pros and cons of a drilled overflow versus a hang on back model? or is it all in the same? The CPR over flow box is 300gph and can work on up to a 60 gallon tank. I have a 55 gallon, in your experience, is 300gph enough flow or should I go higher? Thanks

aries70 · 11/30/2008, 11:10 PM

with a drilled tank you don't have to worry about it loosing it's siphon or restarting after power loss, drilling is more reliable

Jerry W · 11/30/2008, 11:39 PM

If you can drill, do it, for the reasons mentioned above, and also to eliminate the overflow box hanging in your tank. If you use a hang on, please consider a LifeReef over the CPR. IMO, the CPr is a poor design, and they do fail without the use of the supplemental aqualifter. The LifeReef is a U-Tube siphon and will not fail you. I used a CPR for a few years and had a lot of trouble with it. Switched to LifeReef and love it. Wish I would have saved my money to begin with.

jdmcivicek9 · 11/30/2008, 11:43 PM

i second jerryw...either lifereef or eshopps HOB overflow

kernyboy · 11/30/2008, 11:57 PM

im gonig to attempt to drill, but im terrified of breaking this thing lol. wish me luck!

ZoaFan08 · 12/01/2008, 12:04 AM

IMO HOBs are way less trouble that drilling. My drilled tank is a PIA while my other tank which has been running a eshopps HOB for a year has been problem free.

mike126 · 12/01/2008, 12:34 AM

I used the pro clear HOB on my 55 gallon and they worked great.. they are almost identical to the life reef ones except for half the price..

Tswifty · 12/01/2008, 02:37 AM

Drill your tank... HOB overflows fail... botttom line. Some just have better track records than others.

I drilled 11 holes in a 220g tank, it's simple.

stanlalee · 12/01/2008, 06:18 AM

U-tube style hang on backs never fail. not even my two $39 egay models(its kind of hard to mess the design up. all that needs to happen to prevent failure is make sure the U-tube stays in water which is what the from and back boxes are their for. you have to physically lift the tube out the water to break the siphon. Drilling however LOOKS much better. CPR style hang on backs are a disaster waiting to happen.

sjm817 · 12/01/2008, 06:44 AM

Drill it. Its a lot easier than you think. If you dont, get a quality U Tube overflow, not a CPR.

cdness · 12/01/2008, 09:45 AM

drill it...

matthewscars · 12/01/2008, 09:49 AM

I have a U tube for 3 years. Yeah, it never failed - but every single day that I woke up or came home from work right before Id open the door id think 'is this the day it fails?'

Peice of mind always wins. Drill it.

11/30/2008, 10:57 PM	#1
kernyboy Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MA Posts: 470	HOB Overflow box Vs. Drilled OverFlow I was considering drilling and overflow in the back of my tank and installing an overflow box from glass-holes.com, but I came across a CPR made hang on back overflow with continuous siphon located here: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ry~FIOFEB.html what are the pros and cons of a drilled overflow versus a hang on back model? or is it all in the same? The CPR over flow box is 300gph and can work on up to a 60 gallon tank. I have a 55 gallon, in your experience, is 300gph enough flow or should I go higher? Thanks

11/30/2008, 11:10 PM	#2
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	with a drilled tank you don't have to worry about it loosing it's siphon or restarting after power loss, drilling is more reliable __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

11/30/2008, 11:39 PM	#3
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	If you can drill, do it, for the reasons mentioned above, and also to eliminate the overflow box hanging in your tank. If you use a hang on, please consider a LifeReef over the CPR. IMO, the CPr is a poor design, and they do fail without the use of the supplemental aqualifter. The LifeReef is a U-Tube siphon and will not fail you. I used a CPR for a few years and had a lot of trouble with it. Switched to LifeReef and love it. Wish I would have saved my money to begin with. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

12/01/2008, 12:34 AM	#7
mike126 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 122	I used the pro clear HOB on my 55 gallon and they worked great.. they are almost identical to the life reef ones except for half the price.. __________________ WHY YOU MAD!!? Current Tank Info: 4ft 120g 4x54w aqua c skimmer

12/01/2008, 02:37 AM	#8
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Drill your tank... HOB overflows fail... botttom line. Some just have better track records than others. I drilled 11 holes in a 220g tank, it's simple. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

11/30/2008, 11:43 PM	#4
jdmcivicek9 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 39°N, -108°W AKA Somewhere in Colorado Posts: 578	i second jerryw...either lifereef or eshopps HOB overflow

11/30/2008, 11:57 PM	#5
kernyboy Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MA Posts: 470	im gonig to attempt to drill, but im terrified of breaking this thing lol. wish me luck!

12/01/2008, 12:04 AM	#6
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	IMO HOBs are way less trouble that drilling. My drilled tank is a PIA while my other tank which has been running a eshopps HOB for a year has been problem free.

12/01/2008, 06:18 AM	#9
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	U-tube style hang on backs never fail. not even my two $39 egay models(its kind of hard to mess the design up. all that needs to happen to prevent failure is make sure the U-tube stays in water which is what the from and back boxes are their for. you have to physically lift the tube out the water to break the siphon. Drilling however LOOKS much better. CPR style hang on backs are a disaster waiting to happen.

12/01/2008, 06:44 AM	#10
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Drill it. Its a lot easier than you think. If you dont, get a quality U Tube overflow, not a CPR. __________________ - Scott

12/01/2008, 09:45 AM	#11
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	drill it... __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

12/01/2008, 09:49 AM	#12
matthewscars Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 657	I have a U tube for 3 years. Yeah, it never failed - but every single day that I woke up or came home from work right before Id open the door id think 'is this the day it fails?' Peice of mind always wins. Drill it. __________________ A plane passed silently overhead, the streetlights, and the buds on the trees and the night, were still. Current Tank Info: 90g Reef/35g Sump with Foam Rock Wall. 10g Propagation Reef. 55g Goldfish Tank.