Continuous siphon overflow

[lilqtpierikki]

Hey everyone. Finally got the taxes in so im working to getting all the equipment i need. I found this on brs and was wondering if anyone recommends this?

Deluxe CPR Continuous Siphon Overflows - English

Also quick question. Is it ok to just hang the hose in my sump? I really dont have much room to drill into the sides. I am in the process of making my sump since my dimensions of my cabinet are so unique. I plan on posting the photos of my progress. Im quite proud of the progress so far. Gotta make sure it works b4 i post it tho.

Also what is a goo return pump? Ive read alot about ehime...?

Thanks!!!
Rikki

 

[Glenn]

... Also quick question. Is it ok to just hang the hose in my sump?
Thanks!!!
Rikki

The main thing that you'll want to watch with a hanging hose is making sure it can't move ... you don't want something to hit the hose (we have playful cats in my house ) and bump it out of the sump.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

i personally wouldn't use a hang on back because of previous problems with one. if you can drill the tank. gravity will never fail a over the top syphon will

 

[Emoney]

I used a HOB siphon for 1 1/2 years.(Eshopps)..HATED it..Now that i have RR tank would never do it again
Biggest draw back was if power went out it would break siphon, then when power came back on the tank wasn't able to drain and overflowed water onto floor..I made some adjustments so it wouldn't overflow onto the floor with the HOB Box, but a constant headache..doing water changes and starting siphon over again..getting all the air bubble out of the tubes..huge pain

If you can drill it Drill it!

 

[slugwall]

I have been doing a lot of research and did not want to use a HOB and I didn't want to drill the tank.
This is what I found as an alternative and it's a money saver too! I will be starting this project hopefully this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILS2...tE&annotation_id=annotation_102769&feature=iv

 

[Emoney]

Drilling can be a little scary at first..But I've drilled 5-6 tanks an only cracked a 10gl tank and it was my fault (applied to much pressure)

 

[mainereefer]

I have always used overflow boxes, until I got a 180rr.
to tell you the truth I hate it!!
the rr tank it is loud, plumbing it sucked, not to mention the wasted space from the overflows...

I have never had a problem with the marineland sos overflows totally silent, with the extra drainpipe it cant clog, and wont lose siphon. if I could trade back I would!

a couple people in our local club tried the diy overflow posted above and hate it. I know 3 ppl that did it and 2 have switched back to the overflow box.
everyone I know who built it says its a pain, and after cleaning gallons and gallons of water off the floor I dont blame them

 

[Decalf]

Well I looked at the video and it looks like what he builds is just very time consuming overflow thats no better than any bought one. If you not going to drill your tank just scan some reef forms for a tank breakdown thats selling a CPR overflow. I got mine here for 20 bucks and it looks much better than the one in the video. DY overflows in my opion if done wrong could cost you alot more time and money than buying a used good one.

 

[findad]

I have used all three:

1. standard "J" tube HOB box: liked it the least, if it broke siphon I was dead in the water until I got home to fix it

2. CPR overflow box: compared to the J-tube, I loved it. was very quiet once i got it adjusted, never lost siphon. If the power went off, the aqua lifter would start things right back up when the power returned.

3. Drilled: Absolutley LOVE IT!! it can be a bit louder some times, but the chances of failure are almost none. I used alot of flex hose and the plumbing was not so bad.

JMO

 

[boehm742]

I use 2 CPR overflows on my 180 with aqualister pumps. Been fine for over 2 years, no problems They are very quiet. Just have to keep the aqualifters cleaned. I vowed not to drill my 180 even tho ive drilled tanks before.

 

[dccordell]

If you go with the LifeReef HOB overflow, it never loses prime, even in a power outage. The way the water levels are maintained in the inside and outside boxes of the overflow make it so that the water won't drain out of the overflow U tube, thus breaking the siphon.

When the power is out, once it comes back on, the siphon is already started and water just starts flowing again like normal. No pumps required to get it going. The aqualifter pump is a good pump, but they do fail eventually and it will be right when you need it to get your overflow going! Having said that, there are plenty of people that like them.

The lifereef overflow is the same price and doesn't require the aqualifter. I've had mine going for about a month now with no problems, even when cutting the return pump off a few times. And years ago when I used the same overflow box, it would run for a long as I wanted, until I would take it apart to clean the tube. Never a single failure... actually, I've never heard of a failure on the lifereef overflows. Somebody correct my if I'm wrong, and may well be!

Hope that helps... Drilling is the first choice if you can or can take it to a glass shop that will do it. If you can't do that, then I would go with the LifeReef box.

I use the Single version and get probably around 500gph out of it. LifeReef Siphon Boxes

 

[lilqtpierikki]

I mainly want it for the aqua lifter. This is suppose to be the safe option for power failures. I know about drilling the small hole in the return tube so itll break siphon in case of power outage. I think this will be best for the price and its a complete package deal. I am done with diy stuff until i become more educated in this hobby. My sump is almost done. I have all 4 sides and bottom on with all sides epoxyed to a metal elbow. Letting it dry and will do the test fill 2maro to make sure it doesnt leak or fall apart (which is what i fear may happen). I just hope the silicon and epoxy hold up. Wish me luck!!

 

[lilqtpierikki]

I checke out the lifereef and it looks pretty simple. I like that! And for 119 i can do that too. Im kinda confused on how it works tho... How does the water flow? You still need a small tube to put inside the u-tube to get the water started right? Break it down barney style for me hahah
i tried looking up video's and this is the best i could find but it's not of the lifereef. but this is pretty much the same right?

http://www.youtube.com/user/LimpitsReef#p/u/5/8-iK1CARXfM

Thanks!

 

[robert]

You can drill your tank - if - the bottom isn't tempered glass. Quite a few use tempered glass, if so that won't be an option.

If you know the manufacturer of the tank, you can usually find out with a google search.

Both overflow boxes and drilled overflows can make noise - both can be made quiet.

Pick your overflow box to to match the capacity of your return pump (remember you can restrict the return pump with an inline valve)

Getting one second hand is a good option. If your on a budget and want new then look at Overflow Box while your there, check out their return pumps http://www.aquatraders.com/category-s/32.htm - extremely good for the price.

I'm not pushing odyssea, just that I've used both the 600 and 1200 gph overflows and have a half dozen of their pumps - they're good, quiet, low vibration and put out substantial flow and head height. - I've not lost one - no issues.

For your 55 - I would go with the 700 pump and the 600 gph overflow. If you want to spend a little more, the 1200 overflow and 1000 pump is a good match (I'm been running this pair on my 120 display for a couple of years). You should be able to get it all for about the price your contemplating for the overflow alone.

I would strongly recommend against flex hose from the overflow to the sump. Run PVC, cut and glue to fit.

 

[lilqtpierikki]

Thanks robert!
no i am not drilling my tank. it's already been started and i'd rather not drain it and take everything out to drill. Maybe next time on a different tank. i'm going to stick with the hob...

Thank you for the website! That aquatraders will def come in handy! And SO much cheaper!!! I just want a hob that won't fail during a power-outage. in my neighborhood they have issues with the power generator thingys (don't ask all i know is we have an outage like once a month) usually it's planned but for the future, i'd rather spend the money now and get one that won't break siphon ya know... I am leaning toward the lifereef overflow but it ISSSSS 119... and the one you listed is $36... I could do that and get the aqualifter as well for $15 from BRS... I think my biggest issue with this hobby is there's so many options out there for me to choose from! I know it should be great, but it's becoming a pain for me!

for the pump though, i LOVE the prices! $36 for the pump is great as well! i've always heard you get what you pay for though, are they reliable. see you said you've been using them a couple of years so that's pretty good!!
I was also looking at this pump http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/eheim-2000-compact-aquarium-pump-264-528gph.html

(I've read a lot about ehime, they're pricey but reliable) but it's a compact, but all i need is 600gph and for $85, that's pretty good compared to the $164 full size ehime...

 

[robert]

The odyssea pumps are really good. Very well built, solid units, low vibration - excellent flow and head pressure. I recommend them highly. I have 3 of the model 1000s, 1 model 700 and 1 model 500. I run them submerged. I've never lost one. Some of the odyssea stuff can be iffy on the build quality, but the pumps are excellent and great bargain.

The best advice I can offer is take some time to design your sump properly. Make sure you have the capacity in the sump to handle a return pump failing. Make sure, the return pump won't overfill the tank should the overflow siphon break. As soon as its set up test both failure modes.

 

[lilqtpierikki]

thanks! you might have sold me on the return pump! i like money efficient and for that price and for what i'm using it for i can't beat it.

I also was thinking about this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/aqua-lifter-vacuum-pump-top-off-pump.html

[URL="http://www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=44011&CartID=2"]http://www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=44011&CartID=2

I [/URL]can use the aqua lifter with this overflow box instead of paying the $112 for this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/deluxe-cpr-continuous-siphon-overflows.html

It looks like it has the same set-up but doesn't include the aqua lifter. So if i buy that I'm still saving myself over 1/2!
Plus, if i buy the aqua lifter from BRS, that'll finally put me at my $175 for free shipping. Shipping to hawaii is massivly expensive so i was trying to get all that i needed from there. But shipping for the pump and the overflow box from aqua traders is 26.80. so that's not bad at all!!!

Going back a bit, suggestions on the pvc pipe.. I connect it to the bottom of the overflow and what, use an elbow joint to take it to my sump and have it go say, an inch from touching the bottom?

 

[robert]

I connect it to the bottom of the overflow and what, use an elbow joint to take it to my sump and have it go say, an inch from touching the bottom?


Yes, take it back to the sump. You'll want it to dump into a filter sock which can be clamped to the inside of the sump slightly lower than the top of the sump. (a simple plastic clamp). You'll want the return to end a few inches above the filter sock. On the end of this pipe, you'll add a coupling which you don't glue into which you can add an additional piece of PVC to take you down into the filter sock. This way it makes it easy to disconnect the pvc above the filter sock when you need to change the sock out. You can make this add on tail piece as long as you need to avoid the sound of falling water.

 

[lilqtpierikki]

ok you lost me now... what's the point of a filter sock? How do i connect the plastic clamp onto the sump? What is a coupling?

I'm not going to put a top on the sump just fyi... i've seen some sumps that have the pvc pipe connected to the top of the sump, i'm not doing this...

 

[boehm742]

Hes talking about the white filter sock on the left, it filters out particles as a means of mechanical filtration. It goes on the PVC that goes from your tank to your sump.