Hang on overflow or no

rrkk123 · 04/22/2013, 04:53 PM

I don't want to attempt drilling my tank.
So I was thinking of buying a hang on overflow.

But a couple of people seem to not like the Idea
Any info on why or why not would be nice

Cheers

ThreeMoneyJ · 04/22/2013, 05:19 PM

I've been using a lifereef overflow for a long time and i'm very happy with it. I was in the same boat with an undrilled tank and it kept it simple for me.

Wills612 · 04/22/2013, 05:34 PM

I've had hob overflows for 5-6 years of multiple sizes. Never had a flood caused by them. I've only used the u-tube style, which I would recommend.

rrkk123 · 04/22/2013, 06:13 PM

Thx

That's what I'm worried about flooding since I have a store under me

How are Eshopps there is one on Kijiji for $100

greech · 04/22/2013, 08:20 PM

I use the Eshopps and have for 4 to 5 years. No problems on this end either. The eshopps is the same design as the lifereef but for whatever the reason the U tube does'n goes as deep into the baffle area. I solved that problem with a couple of this strips of velcro to lock the U tube in place. Works great!

Drae · 04/22/2013, 08:51 PM

The cpr is the ONLY one I'd use with the aqualifter pump to start it back up after a power outage.

jr_83 · 04/22/2013, 09:10 PM

I have an eshopps PF-800. It's been perfect for me. $100 seems kinda high for just the box though.

I would prefer to have a predrilled tank but wasn't that lucky so the box had to do and I couldn't be happier with it.

TimeConsumer · 04/22/2013, 09:14 PM

I use a Lifereef and trust it with my 70 year-old wood floors. I have a hard time trusting the CPR because if the aqualifter fails, the weir will build up bubbles until the siphon fails. With a properly designed U-Tube a power outage won't break the siphon, and bubbles never build up. I start and stop my return pump 2-3 times a day and have never had it fail to restart a siphon.

Wills612 · 04/22/2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

I use a Lifereef and trust it with my 70 year-old wood floors. I have a hard time trusting the CPR because if the aqualifter fails, the weir will build up bubbles until the siphon fails. With a properly designed U-Tube a power outage won't break the siphon, and bubbles never build up. I start and stop my return pump 2-3 times a day and have never had it fail to restart a siphon.

X2, the u tube is always under water so how could it break siphon with a power outage?

Ron Reefman · 04/23/2013, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drae

The cpr is the ONLY one I'd use with the aqualifter pump to start it back up after a power outage.

+1
I have 2 drilled tanks but no 'emergency' drains. So I added CPR siphon overflows and aqua lifter pumps. They work great. I have the pumps on timers so the run for an hour and are off for 3 hours (6 on/off cycles every day). In that 3 hour period they rarely even get a small bubble. Very happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

I use a Lifereef and trust it with my 70 year-old wood floors. I have a hard time trusting the CPR because if the aqualifter fails, the weir will build up bubbles until the siphon fails. With a properly designed U-Tube a power outage won't break the siphon, and bubbles never build up. I start and stop my return pump 2-3 times a day and have never had it fail to restart a siphon.

You are completely wrong about the CPR and aqua lifter. As stated above, I turn my pumps off 6 times a day for 3 hours at a time and have zero issues. Any siphon overflow set up improperly will get bubbles in the tube. Most any siphon overflow set up correctly will work just fine with a bit of regular maintenance.

FlyPenFly · 04/23/2013, 06:57 AM

The CPR overflows seem like disasters waiting to happen to me. The major risk in U tube siphon overflows is if your flowrate sucks and bubbles build up. This can take weeks and you'll surely notice it if you keep your U tube clean. Personally, I wouldn't trust a WORLD of Financial HURT to a $15 pump with poor QC made in China.

The lifereef overflows are incredibly well made and a bit more rugged than the eshopps version. My eshopps version came with cracked parks and messy cuts here and there.

j tavares · 04/23/2013, 07:02 AM

I have used both lifereef and eshopps on multiple tanks and they ALL work well w the eshopps much cheaper in price

wildman926 · 04/23/2013, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wills612

I've had hob overflows for 5-6 years of multiple sizes. Never had a flood caused by them. I've only used the u-tube style, which I would recommend.

x2.

I would never use an over flow that required a pump as they can easily fail The cpr also does not allow cleaning as well, so over time, it will have blockage.

I have never lost suction on utube style with the proper flow. The proper flow will push any bubbles through the utube.

nynick · 04/23/2013, 07:27 AM

I did all the research for this a few months back. The U tube ones are better by far when it comes to flood risks.

There is another thing to consider though, how many drains you want. If you get a double drain box you can make it into a Herbie style overflow by dialing down the active pipe to a complete siphon and leaving the other drain as emergency. This makes it totally silent.

wildman926 · 04/23/2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynick

I did all the research for this a few months back. The U tube ones are better by far when it comes to flood risks.

There is another thing to consider though, how many drains you want. If you get a double drain box you can make it into a Herbie style overflow by dialing down the active pipe to a complete siphon and leaving the other drain as emergency. This makes it totally silent.

x2

TimeConsumer · 04/23/2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

You are completely wrong about the CPR and aqua lifter. As stated above, I turn my pumps off 6 times a day for 3 hours at a time and have zero issues. Any siphon overflow set up improperly will get bubbles in the tube. Most any siphon overflow set up correctly will work just fine with a bit of regular maintenance.

Sorry Ron but we may be confusing each others statements here. I wasn't talking about the CPR overflow failing the restart the siphon after a return was switched off, instead I was referring to issues while the return is still running. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the aqualifter needed during normal operation to keep the weir from building up bubbles? Basically, if the aqualifter were to break and you did not notice for an extended period of time (again, while the return is running), would the weir maintain a siphon or would bubbles build up causing the siphon to fail?

I agree that any improper siphon will build up bubbles, but I have not had a single issue with bubbles from my Lifereef in the two years I've owned it. I've even gone as long as 6 months without any maintenance and it never missed a beat, I probably could have gone another six months.

LouisianaReefer · 07/03/2013, 10:47 PM

I am sick of dealing with the Aqualifter pumps! Two have failed on me in 1 year. Changing the internal parts is a pain. Just this week the stupid thing did not want to start up when I turned on the power. I may have to look at a Lifereef HOB overflow.

Fish_King_25 · 07/03/2013, 11:03 PM

Just bought a lifereef overflow its in the mail as we speak...i will report back in a few days when all is set up!

Wills612 · 07/04/2013, 12:39 AM

I received my life reef nano overflow this past week. It's the same u-tube design as the eshopps, but it is executed better. The skimmer box height adjustment is way better on the life reef. Eshopps and life reef will both work great, but, after having a couple eshopps, the life reef is a big upgrade in quality.

yaridong · 07/04/2013, 01:02 AM

I used a cpr hob overflow w an aqualifter for about a year. I had a flood that happened while I was at work bc my return pump from the sump suddenly stopped working, so the overflow kept flowing and flowing until my sump maxed out and continued to the tenants apt below me

Also please keep your return pump "exhaust" side at a level in your tank at a height above where your corals grow (in case ur power goes out and the pump starts reversing the flow and starts pulling out water from the dt, thus dropping the water level in the dt).

I could have had a larger sump but I had limited space under the stand...so if you haven't considered this yet please learn from my super newb mistakes.

04/22/2013, 04:53 PM	#1
rrkk123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Toronto Posts: 21	Hang on overflow or no I don't want to attempt drilling my tank. So I was thinking of buying a hang on overflow. But a couple of people seem to not like the Idea Any info on why or why not would be nice Cheers

04/22/2013, 05:19 PM	#2
ThreeMoneyJ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 596	I've been using a lifereef overflow for a long time and i'm very happy with it. I was in the same boat with an undrilled tank and it kept it simple for me. __________________ -John (threemoneyj is an anagram) -120 mixed reef. 50 cadlights cube. 40B cardinal/dragonet breeding tank/frag tank.

04/22/2013, 08:20 PM	#5
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	I use the Eshopps and have for 4 to 5 years. No problems on this end either. The eshopps is the same design as the lifereef but for whatever the reason the U tube does'n goes as deep into the baffle area. I solved that problem with a couple of this strips of velcro to lock the U tube in place. Works great! __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

04/22/2013, 09:14 PM	#8
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	I use a Lifereef and trust it with my 70 year-old wood floors. I have a hard time trusting the CPR because if the aqualifter fails, the weir will build up bubbles until the siphon fails. With a properly designed U-Tube a power outage won't break the siphon, and bubbles never build up. I start and stop my return pump 2-3 times a day and have never had it fail to restart a siphon. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

07/03/2013, 11:03 PM	#18
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	Just bought a lifereef overflow its in the mail as we speak...i will report back in a few days when all is set up! __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

04/22/2013, 05:34 PM	#3
Wills612 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,130	I've had hob overflows for 5-6 years of multiple sizes. Never had a flood caused by them. I've only used the u-tube style, which I would recommend.

04/22/2013, 06:13 PM	#4
rrkk123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Toronto Posts: 21	Thx That's what I'm worried about flooding since I have a store under me How are Eshopps there is one on Kijiji for $100

04/22/2013, 08:51 PM	#6
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	The cpr is the ONLY one I'd use with the aqualifter pump to start it back up after a power outage.

04/22/2013, 09:10 PM	#7
jr_83 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 168	I have an eshopps PF-800. It's been perfect for me. $100 seems kinda high for just the box though. I would prefer to have a predrilled tank but wasn't that lucky so the box had to do and I couldn't be happier with it.

04/23/2013, 06:57 AM	#11
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	The CPR overflows seem like disasters waiting to happen to me. The major risk in U tube siphon overflows is if your flowrate sucks and bubbles build up. This can take weeks and you'll surely notice it if you keep your U tube clean. Personally, I wouldn't trust a WORLD of Financial HURT to a $15 pump with poor QC made in China. The lifereef overflows are incredibly well made and a bit more rugged than the eshopps version. My eshopps version came with cracked parks and messy cuts here and there.

04/23/2013, 07:02 AM	#12
j tavares Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,157	I have used both lifereef and eshopps on multiple tanks and they ALL work well w the eshopps much cheaper in price

04/23/2013, 07:27 AM	#14
nynick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,029	I did all the research for this a few months back. The U tube ones are better by far when it comes to flood risks. There is another thing to consider though, how many drains you want. If you get a double drain box you can make it into a Herbie style overflow by dialing down the active pipe to a complete siphon and leaving the other drain as emergency. This makes it totally silent.

07/03/2013, 10:47 PM	#17
LouisianaReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pineville, Louisiana Posts: 139	I am sick of dealing with the Aqualifter pumps! Two have failed on me in 1 year. Changing the internal parts is a pain. Just this week the stupid thing did not want to start up when I turned on the power. I may have to look at a Lifereef HOB overflow.

07/04/2013, 12:39 AM	#19
Wills612 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,130	I received my life reef nano overflow this past week. It's the same u-tube design as the eshopps, but it is executed better. The skimmer box height adjustment is way better on the life reef. Eshopps and life reef will both work great, but, after having a couple eshopps, the life reef is a big upgrade in quality.

07/04/2013, 01:02 AM	#20
yaridong Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern OC! Posts: 129	I used a cpr hob overflow w an aqualifter for about a year. I had a flood that happened while I was at work bc my return pump from the sump suddenly stopped working, so the overflow kept flowing and flowing until my sump maxed out and continued to the tenants apt below me Also please keep your return pump "exhaust" side at a level in your tank at a height above where your corals grow (in case ur power goes out and the pump starts reversing the flow and starts pulling out water from the dt, thus dropping the water level in the dt). I could have had a larger sump but I had limited space under the stand...so if you haven't considered this yet please learn from my super newb mistakes.