Do I Need 2 Synergy Reef Shadow Overflow?

[Ben Pedersen]

I’m in the process of setting up a 450 gallon reef tank. The tank will be configured as a peninsula. The Synergy Reef documentation says a single shadow overflow is rated up to 400 gallons.

Should I get a second Shadow overflow? My return pumps are a Vectra L2 and a second Vectra M2 for UV and other water treatment (as needed). I will be running the return water through the a sump with protein skimmer and large reefugium.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

How much turnover are you looking for? A single overflow is claimed to allow for 2500gph so that's a tank turnover of 5.5 times per hour.

 

[Dburr1014]

I’m in the process of setting up a 450 gallon reef tank. The tank will be configured as a peninsula. The Synergy Reef documentation says a single shadow overflow is rated up to 400 gallons.

Should I get a second Shadow overflow? My return pumps are a Vectra L2 and a second Vectra M2 for UV and other water treatment (as needed). I will be running the return water through the a sump with protein skimmer and large reefugium.

Full syphone is much higher than that. That # sounds like just a normal drain pipe.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

How much turnover are you looking for? A single overflow is claimed to allow for 2500gph so that's a tank turnover of 5.5 times per hour.

Is 5.5 times an hour enough? I’ve been growing coral for 40 years and never worried about turn over rate. This is a new custom tank so need to decide if it will have 1 or 2 overflows. Also was worried that one overflow using all three pipes would be noise and wouldn’t leave much room for accident.

It has always been more important to me to have enough water movement in the tank. Water movement in the tank will be achieved with 2 MP60s and 2 MP40s.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

Full syphone is much higher than that. That # sounds like just a normal drain pipe.

So you think 2 then?

 

[rtparty]

0. You will absolutely regret and hate the Synergy overflow. They are one of the worst products I’ve ever used in the hobby in nearly 20 years. Loud, impossible to quiet down, salt creep galore around their lid, the list goes on and on

 

[Ben Pedersen]

0. You will absolutely regret and hate the Synergy overflow. They are one of the worst products I’ve ever used in the hobby in nearly 20 years. Loud, impossible to quiet down, salt creep galore around their lid, the list goes on and on

Do tell. I’ve heard a lot of bad and a lot of good about the Synergy Reef overflow. Seems like most issues people have are caused by installation and or tuning issues.

What other shadow / ghost overflow would you recommend?

 

[rtparty]

Do tell. I’ve heard a lot of bad and a lot of good about the Synergy Reef overflow. Seems like most issues people have are caused by installation and or tuning issues.

What other shadow / ghost overflow would you recommend?

The Synergy design is flawed. It waterfalls into the back portion and makes noise. There is no way around this. No tuning will ever solve a poor design.

I never looked into others heavily but saw Modular Marine mentioned many times.

If you’re like me and prefer a quiet tank, Synergy is the last place you should look for an overflow. They truly are trash. Their only help for me was to buy the newest version and see if that helps.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

The Synergy design is flawed. It waterfalls into the back portion and makes noise. There is no way around this. No tuning will ever solve a poor design.

I never looked into others heavily but saw Modular Marine mentioned many times.

If you’re like me and prefer a quiet tank, Synergy is the last place you should look for an overflow. They truly are trash. Their only help for me was to buy the newest version and see if that helps.

That sounds very bad! Man.. I was sold with all the fancy advertisement and positive testimonials.

Reading about the noise issue, it seems people were running them at 100% causing the waterfall effect. That is one of the reasons I was thinking 2 would be better. If there were 2 they wouldn’t have to run at 100% causing the noise. Although, I wonder if a Vectra L2 and M2 would return enough water to enable both to syphon..

 

[rtparty]

That sounds very bad! Man.. I was sold with all the fancy advertisement and positive testimonials.

Reading about the noise issue, it seems people were running them at 100% causing the waterfall effect. That is one of the reasons I was thinking 2 would be better. If there were 2 they wouldn’t have to run at 100% causing the noise. Although, I wonder if a Vectra L2 and M2 would return enough water to enable both to syphon..

I ran 2 Sicce 7.0 and ran them at 33%. They had over 6 feet of head on them. I doubt I was even sniffing 1000gph. Nowhere near their max. I asked about it all over R2R and found tons of people with the same issue and no resolve.

 

[Tamberav]

It is easier to adjust 1 overflow and less plumbing, also if you ever want a filter roller mat...

Custom?

 

[Dburr1014]

1" pipe at full syphone can handle 1200 per hour.
How many gallons are you looking for?

 

[theMeat]

With the synergy the limiting factor for gph is the weir.

Just about any pump will not do the gph they claim. Short of maybe ehiem.

Would shot for 3x turnover for a 450

 

[Dburr1014]

I would just go up a pipe size, or two if you need more flow. Modular Marine offers custom overflow boxes if you just call them.

Hydrualics for the Aquarist | BeanAnimal's Reef

Ever wanted to know how much water a bulkhead can handle? This article helps you understand and apply basic physics to water flow in the aquarium.

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[Ben Pedersen]

It is easier to adjust 1 overflow and less plumbing, also if you ever want a filter roller mat...

Custom?

Good point. The place that will be building the tank has a custom box, but I really wanted to stick to one of the standard brands, also I already have 1 Synergy Reef overflows.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

1" pipe at full syphone can handle 1200 per hour.
How many gallons are you looking for?

I’m not sure what the recommended turnover rate is. Have been reefing for 40 years and really only focused on water movement in the tank rather then water turnover through the sump, refugium, skimmer, etc..

The tank will be 450 gallons not including sump.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

With the synergy the limiting factor for gph is the weir.

Just about any pump will not do the gph they claim. Short of maybe ehiem.

Would shot for 3x turnover for a 450

You don’t think a Vectra L2 and a Vectra M2 would push more water then what a single Synergy Reef Shadow Overflow could handle? They will only be pushing to about 5 feet above the pump.

 

[Garibaldimon]

0. You will absolutely regret and hate the Synergy overflow. They are one of the worst products I’ve ever used in the hobby in nearly 20 years. Loud, impossible to quiet down, salt creep galore around their lid, the list goes on and on

I'm glad I read your reply the shadow is that bad? What do you suggest?

 

[theMeat]

Have a reef synergy shadow on my 220 for 15 years without issue.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

I'm glad I read your reply the shadow is that bad? What do you suggest?

It seems as many people have good experiences with the Synergy Reef Shadow as have bad.