Are External Overflows Safe/Reliable?
- Thread starter Shep
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squillaempusa
Community Member
wow. just looked it up. i need one of those. actually, anyone that is using a HOB overflow box needs one of those.
Reab
Well-Known Member
The individual switches can be found at your local homedepot or lowes for ~$4
Id rather have one of these bad boys
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ue&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&smid=A1YPOR1QNAZMBE
Id rather have one of these bad boys
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ue&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&smid=A1YPOR1QNAZMBE
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
squillaempusa
Community Member
yup, Depot is where i got mine. i think i paid like $7 or 8 each though, in NJ. that one you posted seems like a steal for $30. i'm prob just going to get one of these, as it's a little easier for me to install in the stand that i have.
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-In..._23_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0F8Z67TV6BHG53M3MX65
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
In short, no.
That said many use them successfully. Relative to drilled tanks they are not as safe.
That said many use them successfully. Relative to drilled tanks they are not as safe.
squillaempusa
Community Member
i love that, but i'd need to figure out how to mount it. it would only be $5 more than the multi-switch strip plug i posted.
WetWhistle
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At least with the tube kind you can normally tell if something is wrong with the tube or something is going to happen. I find it doesn't just sneak up on you if you do your maintenance on it. If the tube is completely covered with algae the flow does slow down so you will notice a slight rise in your water level in your tank. But it will keep working just slower then normal. If the tube gets old or it is under MH the UV\ time cracks the tube and you will notice a build up of air bubbles in the tube with slower flow. If I see cracks I replace the tube before I see the air buildup or slower flow. I always keep extra tube they are cheap so it is silly not to.
You can run two tubes in some overflow that can handle the flow, as a backup if you really want. Downside is you have to have enough flow to keep both going so if one fails your waterflow would be higher then it would be with one tube and it will probably be more then one can handle. I have never experienced this but I assume it is possible. You can always add a second tube and adjust your flow for two tube's. Then pull one of the tubes and see what happens. It is good to test scenarios before you run into them.
I do test weekly for power failure and unplug my return pump to make sure it stays primed and starts back up. I also check my tube daily just in case. I also keep the tubes clean. If you keep up good maintenance like any other tank device you should not run into issue. I have gotten lazy from time to time and it was super dirty and it still worked no problem. I just don't want to tempt fate so I keep it clean.
If you have an overflow made by CPR overflow or one like it. I would get a aqualifter or a power head the has the air intake like one of the marineland powerheads. This kind of overflow don’t maintain the prime like the tube kind so if you lose power it doesn't always start back up properly without one. As air for some reason builds up and if you don't pull it out when starting it can cause issues.
I have used both kinds but like the tube the best.
You can run two tubes in some overflow that can handle the flow, as a backup if you really want. Downside is you have to have enough flow to keep both going so if one fails your waterflow would be higher then it would be with one tube and it will probably be more then one can handle. I have never experienced this but I assume it is possible. You can always add a second tube and adjust your flow for two tube's. Then pull one of the tubes and see what happens. It is good to test scenarios before you run into them.
I do test weekly for power failure and unplug my return pump to make sure it stays primed and starts back up. I also check my tube daily just in case. I also keep the tubes clean. If you keep up good maintenance like any other tank device you should not run into issue. I have gotten lazy from time to time and it was super dirty and it still worked no problem. I just don't want to tempt fate so I keep it clean.
If you have an overflow made by CPR overflow or one like it. I would get a aqualifter or a power head the has the air intake like one of the marineland powerheads. This kind of overflow don’t maintain the prime like the tube kind so if you lose power it doesn't always start back up properly without one. As air for some reason builds up and if you don't pull it out when starting it can cause issues.
I have used both kinds but like the tube the best.
Reab
Well-Known Member
The reason the CPR boxes dont keep the prim is because there is no vacuum created in the "tube" portion, when the power stops, the water falls to each side. The tube method maintains the prime because when the power stops, the water just stops pouring in which pauses the siphon.
squillaempusa
Community Member
yea, i was just down there looking at it. i got a plan. plus it has 8 recepticles vs 6.Guess you better start using that noggin
I use an eshopps dual tube. It's been working great, about 4 months with numerous intentional and unintentional return pump stops. The only time I lose siphon is when I remove the U tubes for cleaning.
That said, I don't entirely trust it. I installed a float switch in the display that triggers a relay on the return pump. If the water level gets too high, the pump shuts off. This isn't perfect either, as it can cause the pump to start/stop frequently if there is a wave motion that is too high. I only have that happen when I'm cleaning the glass or similar, and I just disable the return pump while I do that now. I do check the float for snails, algae, etc frequently. I also manually lift up the float to test the cutoff. Usually when doing maintenance about weekly. Visual checks are when I feed, daily.
My next tank will have drilled overflows, but this setup is working well overall. And even with drilled overflows, I think I'll keep the float switch backup.
That said, I don't entirely trust it. I installed a float switch in the display that triggers a relay on the return pump. If the water level gets too high, the pump shuts off. This isn't perfect either, as it can cause the pump to start/stop frequently if there is a wave motion that is too high. I only have that happen when I'm cleaning the glass or similar, and I just disable the return pump while I do that now. I do check the float for snails, algae, etc frequently. I also manually lift up the float to test the cutoff. Usually when doing maintenance about weekly. Visual checks are when I feed, daily.
My next tank will have drilled overflows, but this setup is working well overall. And even with drilled overflows, I think I'll keep the float switch backup.
