Hang on overflow question

[eliramos]

Good afternoon friends,
So I am about to acquire a 220 gallon aquarium full stand lighting etc.
However the tank is not drilled, the owner has a hang on overflow but says that when the power went out it caused a huge flood. I looked at the sump and the sump is definitely the wrong size.
So he actually built in his own sump into the tank so it's all self contained.
I would obviously remove that part and go from there.
But I would just like to hear anyone's experience who has a hang on overflow and if it's worth getting
Also what size sump would you recommend for this tank.
Thanks in advance everything is much appreciated.

 

[vlangel]

Hi, I have been using a hob overflow for about 10 years. My display is in my livingroom and I have my sump in the basement. My experience with the hob overflow has been excellant. I have a small hole drilled in the U Tube with an Aqualifter pump connected by airline tubing. The line from the U tube goes to the input and another line goes from the output into the back of the overflow. That way when the pump is shut off and then turn back on, even if the flow is not quite what the overflow is rated for the aqualifter will start the syphon. Here is a pic of mine.

 

[vlangel]

I would recommend a 70-75 gallon tank for that size display tank. I am guessing that is the 6' x 2' x 2' or so tank and that is a lot of surface area to drain back into the sump. A friend of mine has that tank and she has the 70-75 gallon sump.

 

[eliramos]

tha

I would recommend a 70-75 gallon tank for that size display tank. I am guessing that is the 6' x 2' x 2' or so tank and that is a lot of surface area to drain back into the sump. A friend of mine has that tank and she has the 70-75 gallon sump.

thanks so much for the response, so let me ask you this.
is the aqualifter always running? because if the power were to go out wouldn't that keep the syphon going and cause an overflow in the sump?
also its actually an 8'long 18" wide and 2' tall

 

[Luna]

What size sump should I use on a 75gal tank

 

[vlangel]

tha


thanks so much for the response, so let me ask you this.
is the aqualifter always running? because if the power were to go out wouldn't that keep the syphon going and cause an overflow in the sump?
also its actually an 8'long 18" wide and 2' tall

The aqualifter also shuts off if the power goes out. It still would not keep the syphon going however because if the return pump is off then water is not being pumped up to the display. The aqualifter in that case will empty the display end of the overflow box and then will just pump air through the line. Aqualifters are made to pump water or air so its ok either way.

 

[vlangel]

What size sump should I use on a 75gal tank

I have a 56 gallon tank and I have a 20 long sump so you could probably use something just a little bigger than that.

 

[Waters]

I have used Eshopps overflows for years, with no issues. The pumps are shut off once a week for cleaning....the siphon always started right back up. If they are set up correctly, they work flawlessly (without any additional aqualifter pumps).

 

[jd371]

I have used Eshopps overflows for years, with no issues. The pumps are shut off once a week for cleaning....the siphon always started right back up. If they are set up correctly, they work flawlessly (without any additional aqualifter pumps).

Me too, I'm going on 2 years with no issues. The siphon starts right up after I turn the pump on after a wc or a power outage. If the siphon happened to stop the return section will run dry before a flood. I have a 75g with a 20g sump.

 

[Tokash23]

Ran the same setup as vlangel for about a year. The lifter pump is a must imo for the hangon overflows like that. You could always drill the tank and add something a little cleaner like the synergy or glassholes overflow or whatever else there is out there.

 

[vlangel]

I have used Eshopps overflows for years, with no issues. The pumps are shut off once a week for cleaning....the siphon always started right back up. If they are set up correctly, they work flawlessly (without any additional aqualifter pumps).

Yes, if you set the return flow as it dumps into the tank to be the capacity of the over flow box, then you won't get a bubble build up in the U tube. If you don't get bubbles in the U tube, you don't need an aqualifter.

 

[Tokash23]

Yes, if you set the return flow as it dumps into the tank to be the capacity of the over flow box, then you won't get a bubble build up in the U tube. If you don't get bubbles in the U tube, you don't need an aqualifter.

Still kind of a dangerous game and that lifter pump is pretty cheap for an insurance policy for that one time something happens and an air bubble gets in there.

 

[happyhourhero]

I have used my Eschopps for a couple of years and it works like a charm with no pump needed. I shut off my return all the time. I also have my sump set up so the return section would run dry before the tank flooded and the overflow would stop before the sump flooded if the return failed.

 

[beaslbob]

hard to tell from your description, but a hob overflow just shouldn't be a problem. (I made one from $20 worth of pvc and use a powerhead with a "bubbler" so keep air sucked out.

As with all sump systems you must:

test for power out.
test for power return
test for drain failure.

I all three of those there should be no floods.

With the drain failure, the sump should run dry before the upper container (the display usually) floods.

I'm sure the original system was not adjusted for all those.

my .02

 

[eliramos]

hard to tell from your description, but a hob overflow just shouldn't be a problem. (I made one from $20 worth of pvc and use a powerhead with a "bubbler" so keep air sucked out.

As with all sump systems you must:

test for power out.
test for power return
test for drain failure.

I all three of those there should be no floods.

With the drain failure, the sump should run dry before the upper container (the display usually) floods.

I'm sure the original system was not adjusted for all those.

my .02

Thanks for your reply! That's a very good idea!