First time drilling - Shadow vs Eshopps

Coastie Reefer · Jul 18, 2017

So I'm in the planning phase of a new 40B build and will be drilling and installing an internal overflow box for the first time. I've been looking at the 16" Shadow and the Eshopps Eclipse Large. I'm leaning towards the Eclipse due to the economical aspects of it and based on some some good reviews. I know you often times get what you pay for, but can someone help me understand why I'd want to pay an additional $80-$90 for an overflow box (after buying the diamond bit)?

The things that stick out to me are:

Shadow uses 1.5" drains and the Eclipse uses 1"
Shadow has a larger footprint
Shadow has beveled teeth "VTeeth" (that helps with noise?)
Shadow is $60 more and hole saw not included
Eclipse comes with saw

Eclipse L

Outside - 12"x3"x6"
Inside - 12"x1.25"x6"
Tank usage: up to 100-150g, 1000 GPH

Shadow

Outside - 16" L x 3.75" W x 7" H
Inside - 16" L x 1.6" W x 5.5" H
VTeeth - easy to clean weir design
Molded Bulkheads

joec · Jul 18, 2017

Coastie Reefer said:
So I'm in the planning phase of a new 40B build and will be drilling and installing an internal overflow box for the first time. I've been looking at the 16" Shadow and the Eshopps Eclipse Large. I'm leaning towards the Eclipse due to the economical aspects of it and based on some some good reviews. I know you often times get what you pay for, but can someone help me understand why I'd want to pay an additional $80-$90 for an overflow box (after buying the diamond bit)?

The things that stick out to me are:

Shadow uses 1.5" drains and the Eclipse uses 1"
Shadow has a larger footprint
Shadow has beveled teeth "VTeeth" (that helps with noise?)
Shadow is $60 more and hole saw not included
Eclipse comes with saw

Eclipse L

Outside - 12"x3"x6"

Inside - 12"x1.25"x6"

Tank usage: up to 100-150g, 1000 GPH

Shadow

Outside - 16" L x 3.75" W x 7" H

Inside - 16" L x 1.6" W x 5.5" H

VTeeth - easy to clean weir design

Molded Bulkheads

Eclipse S should be plenty big for a 40 breeder, $99.

Make sure you use the template correctly, so your top tank trim hides your waterline.

Caseyoidae · Jul 18, 2017

I used the eclipse l on my 80g. After a few weeks it sprung a leak at a joint in the clear rear part . Eshoppes replaced it for free but it took 6 weeks for them to get one in and ship it !! In the mean time I super glued it lol they were also near impossible to get ahold of. Edit I first emailed them may 11th and just got my replacement last week(3 months). Here's a picture. Love eshoppes but it sounded like this is a recurring problem from the lady on the phone.

Greaps · Jul 19, 2017

Id go with the eshopps and the smallest one at that. Unless you have something particular in mind like an upgrade down the road and the ability to move with the overflow. I think lower flow through the sump will not hurt anything.

samnaz · Oct 18, 2017

Caseyoidae said:
I used the eclipse l on my 80g. After a few weeks it sprung a leak at a joint in the clear rear part . Eshoppes replaced it for free but it took 6 weeks for them to get one in and ship it !! In the mean time I super glued it lol they were also near impossible to get ahold of. Edit I first emailed them may 11th and just got my replacement last week(3 months). Here's a picture. Love eshoppes but it sounded like this is a recurring problem from the lady on the phone.

6 weeks? That is RIDICULOUS! How is the replacement working for you?

Caseyoidae · Oct 18, 2017

Ya, really had to pester them to get a replacement and from my conversation with one sales rep it sounded like this was a common occurrence. I actually still have the original on all super glued up. The tanks against a wall so I'm waiting on switching them out until I move.

samnaz · Oct 18, 2017

Caseyoidae said:
Ya, really had to pester them to get a replacement and from my conversation with one sales rep it sounded like this was a common occurrence. I actually still have the original on all super glued up. The tanks against a wall so I'm waiting on switching them out until I move.

That's a bummer. Makes me think I made the right choice in purchasing a Modular Marine overflow instead of an Eclipse. I sent Eshopps an email with questions about their overflow and they have yet to respond, it was weeks ago. Guess they don't need my business.

ca1ore · Oct 18, 2017

I guess it depends on the size of the tank. I also recently bought the MM overflow, but mostly because I needed the larger 36" model. I cannot speak to the build quality of any of the other brands, though I am considering the eclipse S for a 30 gallon QT setup. It certainly appears to be of acceptable quality.

samnaz · Oct 18, 2017

ca1ore said:
I guess it depends on the size of the tank. I also recently bought the MM overflow, but mostly because I needed the larger 36" model. I cannot speak to the build quality of any of the other brands, though I am considering the eclipse S for a 30 gallon QT setup. It certainly appears to be of acceptable quality.

I originally purchased the Eclipse S but returned it and got the MM overflow for my new 30 gallon, cause I decided I wanted one with 3 drains.

ca1ore · Oct 18, 2017

Bean may be overkill on a small tank ..... though I suppose peace of mind is priceless. Been running variations on the herbie style since about 1990 and haven't had it fail me yet. Going with a bean on my new 450 because ..... well, because I can.

JoshH · Oct 18, 2017

Have a BA set up on my RSM C130, definitely worth the piece of mind.

atx100r · Oct 18, 2017

Have you checked out Modular marine...just got 1 there for a new 75 I am putting together...very good workmanship and they customized for me at no additional cost

theMeat · Oct 18, 2017

Eshopps is plenty big enough for that size tank.
Reef synergy is better design and build quality hands down

samnaz · Oct 19, 2017

atx100r said:
Have you checked out Modular marine...just got 1 there for a new 75 I am putting together...very good workmanship and they customized for me at no additional cost

I just got one too. What did they customize? I got 1" bulkheads instead of 3/4" uni-seals. It cost me $20 extra though. Do you have a build thread?

leahfiish · Oct 19, 2017

Don't the eshopps ones have to be siliconed to the tank, and the shadow overflows don't?

Natedogg559 · Oct 19, 2017

leahfiish said:
Don't the eshopps ones have to be siliconed to the tank, and the shadow overflows don't?

I've never heard that.

samnaz · Oct 19, 2017

leahfiish said:
Don't the eshopps ones have to be siliconed to the tank, and the shadow overflows don't?

No. Not the Eclipse anyway.

ChronicRage · Oct 19, 2017

Lots of helpful info. I'm also planning a 40B build in the future. Been compiling a parts list and the shadow box was what I was considering for the BA. I'll need to check out that Modular Marine too it seems.

atx100r · Oct 19, 2017

samnaz said:
I just got one too. What did they customize? I got 1" bulkheads instead of 3/4" uni-seals. It cost me $20 extra though. Do you have a build thread?

Yes I actual added a single 1" emergency drain along with 2 standard 3/4" drains. They also folowed this change down to my sump kit and modified overflow plate to accomidate this change. In additon my internal sump dimensions were a bit wider so they did custom cuts for that. Ill post my build thread in a sec.

atx100r · Oct 19, 2017

atx100r said:
Yes I actual added a single 1" emergency drain along with 2 standard 3/4" drains. They also folowed this change down to my sump kit and modified overflow plate to accomidate this change. In additon my internal sump dimensions were a bit wider so they did custom cuts for that. Ill post my build thread in a sec.

Here you go. Tryingto do weekly updates. Will probably drill the tank this weekend and hopefully finsih the custom stand

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/329799/