Comparing Overflow boxes | Synergy Reef vs Modular Marine

[Reefahholic]

The box is actually off the tank right now due to me painting the back ground. But here’s what it looked like a week ago when I was finishing my plumbing. The internal box isn’t inserted in this pic.

It’s a very interesting design. I like the fact that they thought about the people who have trimmed tanks. Can you tank a pic from the side and show us how it’s notched out for the top trim.??

 

[JCTReefer]

It’s a very interesting design. I like the fact that they thought about the people who have trimmed tanks. Can you tank a pic from the side and show us how it’s notched out for the top trim.??

Well, the paint is wet right now so I can’t actually install it. Lol!!! But here’s a pic of how it’s notched out!! I don’t think you can tell much when it’s installed in this pic. It’s kind of a far away shot .haha

 

[Reefahholic]

Well, the paint is wet right now so I can’t actually install it. Lol!!! But here’s a pic of how it’s notched out!! I don’t think you can tell much when it’s installed in this pic. It’s kind of a far away shot .haha

Very cool. Can you get closer on the opposite side so I can see it on the tank. Like a side view close up.

 

[JCTReefer]

Very cool. Can you get closer on the opposite side so I can see it on the tank. Like a side view close up.

This is all I got! But you can get an idea on the spacing a little better here.

 

[JCTReefer]

There is one thing I don’t like. You almost have to make the center you’re emergency and the primary and secondary you’re outter holes coming from the external box. The holes aren’t really spaced far enough apart to have two 90s on your secondary and have the main siphon right next to it. I think even if you did away any kind of fitting on you primary and just had a straight pipe with Strainer it would be to tight to have them next to each other.

 

[Reefahholic]

That’s the money shots bro! Thx! I know this will help a lot of newer reefers make a decision on which overflow box to buy. ;Greedy

This is all I got! But you can get an idea on the spacing a little better here.

 

[Reefahholic]

There is one thing I don’t like. You almost have to make the center you’re emergency and the primary and secondary you’re outter holes coming from the external box. The holes aren’t really spaced far enough apart to have two 90s on your secondary and have the main siphon right next to it. I think even if you did away any kind of fitting on you primary and just had a straight pipe with Strainer it would be to tight to have them next to each other.

That’s why Synergy makes a U-shaped drain pipe that is much more compact than DIY’ing it with Lowe’s PVC fittings.

Are you making the center a straight emergency pipe? A lot of them are just straight pipes because they don’t ever see water. So there’s never any gurgling.

 

[JCTReefer]

And here’s what I’m talking about on the spacing of the holes. It really wasn’t a huge issue, just something to be aware of. I know some people run bean animals with straight pipes only. If you did this it would be a non issue. I actually trimmed about about 1 1/2 inches off these 90’s and glued them together. This gave me a bit more room. But even doing that I still had to use opposite sides for the Primary and secondary.

 

[JCTReefer]

That’s why Synergy makes a U-shaped drain pipe that is much more compact than DIY’ing it with Lowe’s PVC fittings.

Are you making the center a straight emergency pipe? A lot of them are just straight pipes because they don’t ever see water. So there’s never any gurgling.

Yeah, the center is the emergency. I had originally wanted the primary and secondary next to each other, but couldn’t make it work. I wonder if you can buy those U fittings from synergy without buying the box?

 

[Reefahholic]

Here’s one small tank I did a while back where you can see I made it work, but it was a tight fit. You might be able to copy this.

 

[Reefahholic]

And here’s what I’m talking about on the spacing of the holes. It really wasn’t a huge issue, just something to be aware of. I know some people run bean animals with straight pipes only. If you did this it would be a non issue. I actually trimmed about about 1 1/2 inches off these 90’s and glued them together. This gave me a bit more room. But even doing that I still had to use opposite sides for the Primary and secondary.

Yeah, that is designed for emergency standpipe in the middle. You can do your primary drain on one side and your open channel standpipe on the other.

 

[Reefahholic]

Yeah, the center is the emergency. I had originally wanted the primary and secondary next to each other, but couldn’t make it work. I wonder if you can buy those U fittings from synergy without buying the box?

In this case it will not work. Just route your drains where they need to go. It will work just fine and it’s not gonna matter. I’ve done it both ways. In this pic below, my main drain was LT. ER in the middle. Open Channel on RT.

 

[Reefahholic]

I typically do all my systems like this when I can. From RT to LT: Main, Open Channel, ER. But, if the overflow dictates that the middle is the ER...I’ll just adapt to it.

 

[JCTReefer]

Yeah, that is designed for emergency standpipe in the middle. You can do your primary drain on one side and your open channel standpipe on the other.

Yeah, if I had thought about it early on when I had them build the box I would have had them space them out further. Oh well, it’s plumbed now! Haha. I’ll just roll with it Should work out hopefully. I’ll find out soon enough when I finally get the tank filled!

 

[Reefahholic]

Yeah, if I had thought about it early on when I had them build the box I would have had them space them out further. Oh well, it’s plumbed now! Haha. I’ll just roll with it Should work out hopefully. I’ll find out soon enough when I finally get the tank filled!

It will work just fine! ;Hilarious If you need any help, just PM me.

 

[JCTReefer]

It will work just fine! ;Hilarious If you need any help, just PM me.

Much appreciated!!!!

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Bump decisions decisions

 

[BZOFIQ]

Anybody with long-term feedback on MM or EMS?

Is the internal box removable on both the MM and EMS?

 

[JCTReefer]

Anybody with long-term feedback on MM or EMS?

Is the internal box removable on both the MM and EMS?

As far as I know the internal
Box is not removable on EMS. Could be wrong though. There’s some on this forum who have ran MM for several years. I’ve only been running mine for a few months so no long term feedback. MM can make their old style boxes if you wish which are not removable like the new design.

 

[BZOFIQ]

As far as I know the internal
Box is not removable on EMS. Could be wrong though. There’s some on this forum who have ran MM for several years. I’ve only been running mine for a few months so no long term feedback. MM can make their old style boxes if you wish which are not removable like the new design.

I want removable so I hope someone can confirm that either offers it.

Just can't seem to decide on the vertical vs horizontal slits. Those with EMS, do you have any complaints about livestock making their way in?