Should I attempt a DIY external overflow or should I just buy a hob overflow box. I saw a few videos on youtube that use PVC piping and am very tempted in doing a DIY project as I could save a lot of $$$! But I am afraid of things going south (potential floor leakage). Anyone have experience with a stable DIY overflow?
DIY external overflow?
- Thread starter benha
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Mandelstam
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Are you prevented from drilling your tank? If you could you could make a safer and better overflow than the PVC pipe version.
DaveNJ
Active Member
I would not do the diy due to visual. After researching HOB overflows, Eshopps is the better brand. I can't drill my tank due to temp glass. I am getting the Eshopps with double U tube and converting one tube to a herbie
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I think I read somewhere that those PVC overflows don’t work that well.
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Buy a tub and MT the tank. It would be well worth it I think.
DaveNJ
Active Member
The hob overflow that doesn't work well are the ones that has the u-tune with an aqualifer...CPR.
With the Eshopps HOB overflow, install a float switch inside the overflow box and inside the tank box
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/external-overflow-tips-on-safety-noise-and-utility.272888/
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I’m talking about an overflow made out of PVC.
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Your installing a float switch as a fail safe because HOB overflows can lose siphon vs an internal overflow where that can’t happen. I don’t think that’s much better then relying on a pump. Internal overflows will always be the best option if your tank can be drilled.
jd371
Valuable Member
+1 on the Eshopps HOB if drilling isn't an option. I've been using an Eshopps HOB for over 3 years now without any issues. Thought about the CPR but didn't want to rely on a pump for the siphon and adding another power cord to the mess of cords that are there. Never had a siphon break and starts right back up again after a power outage. They only thing is they are noisy out of the box and need a Stockman standpipe to silence them ( check Youtube on making a DIY Stockman, real easy and inexpensive), need to be cleaned a couple of times a year and sometimes can be finicky to set up.
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Is that valve copper? I would get rid of that horizontal run of pipe on the emergency drain. If something goes down that pipe it could get stuck in there restricting the flow that pipe can handle.
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Erica-Renee
Valuable Member
Its a Tropical tank..not a Marine one ..
Dancingmad
Well-Known Member
I used the eshopps for about a year and the siphon was pretty aweful and would break regularly. It was also a lot more difficult to start up. The CPR + Aqualifter is definitely the way to go. Replacement parts for the aqualifter are essentially a fist full of 1$ bills. I've been using them for well over 5 years. I've got two running less than 10 feet from me right now. Awesome HOB. Significantly quieter than eshopps too.
Edit: I also made a PVC HOB system before, and it was totally sketchy. Starting / keeping the siphon and the sound was unpleasant. Total Sketch.
WVNed
The fish are staring at me with hungry eyes.
I have used a DIY PVC overflow in the past. It worked fine. I also have an Eshoppes HOB overflow now that is silent and trouble free.
I was only pushing about 200GPH on the PVC overflow in a 20L.
I was only pushing about 200GPH on the PVC overflow in a 20L.
Dancingmad
Well-Known Member
Maybe thats why mine was so loud - I was trying to push 600+GPH.
Hermie
Valuable Member
How was your siphon breaking? I've been running a DIY PVC overflow for about 4 months now and the siphon has never broken. There are caveats to the design to make it more secure, which I won't go into unless someone is planning on actually making one. FWIW, mine is totally silent however it's for a nano sized setup.
https://i.imgur.com/aLtg98Y.jpg
Dancingmad
Well-Known Member
Slick design! My DIY was shoddy at best - something I built when I was learning how to plumb in this hobby. To this day I'm not sure how it was working. My saying it was sketchy was giving it a lot more credit than it deserved, but it did work for maybe 6 months until I could afford the Eshopps.
The siphon on the eshopps - granted I was using the smallest model w/ only one U tube, microbubbles would eventually develop at the peak of the U and cause the break. It would take maybe 2-3mos before it would happen. I just prefer the CPR design using the aqualifter b/c in my experience its less maint. When it (aqualifter) sucks air it makes a totally gnarly sound, and that effectively was my mini-alarm to check out the overflow to make sure it didn't have any issues.
Both designs have tradeoffs. I'd use the eshopps again if I had too, but my preference is set for now.
