Does anyone use overflow boxes ?

[mark freshwater]

Hi been out of saltwater for 10 year im wondering if anyone still uses overflow boxes with any success?
id like to hide skimmers heaters etc , but i rember overflows being noisy and a pain.
Has there been much improvment over the years?
thanks mark
Something like this http://www.marine-sources.com/product-detail/3103/

 

[hwntunda]

My first tank ran an eshopps overflow box with dual drains and was a PITA when lost siphon. Not sure about nowadays but would recommend a Herbie or durso if permitted as they’re more reliable.

 

[ispookie666]

I ran one on a Juwlr 450.
I'm in the UK and bought it from Deep reef, customised it for herbie overflow m. Never broke siphon.

 

[jd371]

I've had a Eshopps PF800 on my tank for 3 years now without any issues. Never broke a siphon and starts right up again after a power failure. They are noisy out of the box but can be fixed with a diy Stockman Standpipe for a few bucks. I have my tank next to where I watch TV and it's very quiet. You shouldn't have a problem if they are set up correctly and cleaned occasionally.

 

[mcarroll]

Hi been out of saltwater for 10 year im wondering if anyone still uses overflow boxes with any success?
id like to hide skimmers heaters etc , but i rember overflows being noisy and a pain.
Has there been much improvment over the years?
thanks mark
Something like this http://www.marine-sources.com/product-detail/3103/

Look for a U-tube design rather than the solid channel design, IMO.

Tunze may have the best since the U-tube overflow tube inside the box is protected AND it has a siphon-starter built into it:

Overflow Box
Overflow for supplementary installation with surface and bottom suction up to about 1,200l/h (320 US... mehr

1074/2

149.07 USD

Aqueon makes a very good basic model:

ProFlex Hang-on Overflow Box

And Lifereef's is very famous too:
Prefilter/Overflows

DIY is also an option, and I'm sure there are other units out there too.

Whatever you install, it has to be tested once installed to make sure that it can hold a siphon. They're 100% reliable when the U-tube isn't broken or when it doesn't have a hairline crack.

Both real things to watch out for that really happen – and both easy to catch with one (or a few) power-off tests. Just see what happens when the power goes out.

Your plumbing will settle, allowing the water levels in the tank and sump to readjust to the pump not running, but the drain box itself shouldn't change much at all. The siphon shouldn't change one bit.

I have had to return defective drain boxes before – and that can happen to any make/model. So be sure to test!

 

[mcarroll]

(I've used em on every sump-based tank of mine since the 1990's. My current ones were made by the defunct maker "Hurricane Filters". If I was buying today it would be from the above list of makers more than likely.)

 

[mcarroll]

My first tank ran an eshopps overflow box with dual drains and was a PITA when lost siphon. Not sure about nowadays

There was a defect if it lost siphon – ait has to be able to get into the siphon tube. Guessing, it was probably a hairline crack in the siphon tube. Same here, returned it. Ended up with a different overflow altogether since that was the last Eshopps they had.

They are noisy out of the box but can be fixed with a diy Stockman Standpipe for a few bucks.

I'm with you all in that I really like mine...

Usually the noise is from too much flow.

You'll get 50% of the drain's rating in silence, but above that there's gonna be some noise of some kind, so you have to size accordingly.

Adding something like a maggie muffler or stockman can help, but only to a degree – glad it's working on yours! – but it is easier in most cases just to dial back the flow a little bit until the drain gets quiet.

I lowered flow and removed the mufflers on mine. Since then, it's been about 10 years of never having to fiddle with the drains over noise.

Expect that final flow rate to be about 50% of the drain's rating, as mentioned. That's about 300 GPH per siphon tube. Ideally one tube per 75 gallons of display, two per 150 gallons – but you could support tanks double that size, depending on exact requirements.

 

[Greybeard]

Depends on your definition of overflow box... Most drilled tanks have some sort of overflow box, they're in common use, for certain.

If, as most above have assumed, you mean a hang on overflow, then yeah, they're still in use... but not by me.

One too many bad experiences with them. I'll never use one again.

If you're including drilled overflows, and have been out for a while, google BeAnAnimal. It's kinda the latest 'thing' in overflow plumbing. Silent and safe.

 

[mark freshwater]

Hi,
Yes greybeard i ment hang on ,
Would this be ok it is u shape http://www.marine-sources.com/product-detail/3103/.
It has 2 air drains, could i run a tube
MARINE SOURCES OVERFLOW BOX
The back chamber lid -can reduce the noise greatly.
Dual air-draining tubes design- can be connected to the Marine sources skimmer dual air silencer dual nipple. The air can be sucked out faster and safer.

Could i attach my skimmer air inlet to it to suck air?

 

[ispookie666]

Tunze box has a major flaw - it does not have an emergency overflow, which can result in gradual increase in display level.