I have a 100 gallon tank. I'm thinking about getting a CPR with the siphon or a Eshopps PF model. What is the difference between a siphon and a U-tube? How many gph do I need for my tank plus a 20 gallon sump? Would it be 10x the flow? What do I need to do to prevent water spilling all over the floor in case of a power outage? Would an internal overflow be better?
HELP! Overflow box question.
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jsker
Reefing is all about the adventure
Welcome to posting on R2R
It all depends on how much flow you are looking for? I have a 80 gallon water volume and use a 660 gallon per hour return pump. I am using the CPR and really like the CPR overflow. The CPR uses a toms pump the keep the overflow primed and the U-tube use suction/syphon to fill the overflow. The think about the U-tubes is that when the lose syphon with they do ever once in awhile the DT can overflow depended were the water level of the DT is at and there is still power.
As far as overflow of the sump, it depends on how much extra gallon one has when figuring the size of the sump and how much water is projected to be in the sump when running. What I did was I elevated my sump, drill a hole in the bottom and put in a drain for cleaning and also drilled in a hole for overflow near the top and plumbed the drain pipe and overflow pipe in to one and drilled a hole in the side of the house so that if and when I clean the water goes outside instead of the floor.
You can also look at going through the flour to a drain if that option is available.
Drill
plumbed sump
It all depends on how much flow you are looking for? I have a 80 gallon water volume and use a 660 gallon per hour return pump. I am using the CPR and really like the CPR overflow. The CPR uses a toms pump the keep the overflow primed and the U-tube use suction/syphon to fill the overflow. The think about the U-tubes is that when the lose syphon with they do ever once in awhile the DT can overflow depended were the water level of the DT is at and there is still power.
As far as overflow of the sump, it depends on how much extra gallon one has when figuring the size of the sump and how much water is projected to be in the sump when running. What I did was I elevated my sump, drill a hole in the bottom and put in a drain for cleaning and also drilled in a hole for overflow near the top and plumbed the drain pipe and overflow pipe in to one and drilled a hole in the side of the house so that if and when I clean the water goes outside instead of the floor.
You can also look at going through the flour to a drain if that option is available.Drill
plumbed sump
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Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
Welcome to posting on R2R
It all depends on how much flow you are looking for? I have a 80 gallon water volume and use a 660 gallon per hour return pump. I am using the CPR and really like the CPR overflow. The CPR uses a toms pump the keep the overflow primed and the U-tube use suction/syphon to fill the overflow. The think about the U-tubes is that when the lose syphon with they do ever once in awhile the DT can overflow depended were the water level of the DT is at and there is still power.
As far as overflow of the sump, it depends on how much extra gallon one has when figuring the size of the sump and how much water is projected to be in the sump when running. What I did was I elevated my sump, drill a hole in the bottom and put in a drain for cleaning and also drilled in a hole for overflow near the top and plumbed the drain pipe and overflow pipe in to one and drilled a hole in the side of the house so that if and when I clean the water goes outside instead of the floor.
Drill
plumbed sump
I know this is an old thread but are you still using the cpr?
I just bought a cs102 to replace my eshopps one that has been running for almost 11 years now because I got tired of one of the tubes loosing syphon almost monthly now
Is there anything I should know about it before I install it
How is it as far as being quiet and how do you run yours. I was thinking of adding standpipes like my eshopps has now
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Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
i am assuming you put the erasers between the outside box and the tank wall instead of the leveling screws... to me that looks like the only thing i can see that might be a flaw in this design is the space that they use to make sure it will fit just about any tank would leave it kind of shaky on most tanks
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jsker
Reefing is all about the adventure
I deeply apologize for not reading closely. and checking the model number. I was thinking that you ordered the BAK2 and not a overflow.
Ok back to square one. I am very happy with the overflow and there is no vibration. So no erasers needed
I did glue a piece of PVC into the bulkhead and put in a union. The Toms pump can get noise when the sipon line starts to get clogged/constricted. I did rebuild the Toms pump after a year for the reason it was getting noisey. Make sure you have a large enough return pump and I would suggest to go large, using a DC pump that one can control the flow. I do get the gurgling on and off, but really do not care. I could adjust the pump up more but the gurgling says to me that it is draining. I run a Jerboa DCT-4000 without issue so far.
jd371
Valuable Member
Just curious, how does it lose siphon? I have an eshopps Pf800 on my tank for over 2 years now and have never experienced a siphon break at all. I've heard of bubbles collecting in the tube that eventually cause that, but I never get any bubbles in the U-tube.
I tested the overflow when I first hooked it up to see what would happen in case of a siphon break. In my case there isn't enough water in the chamber to flood the tank.
Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
i have pretty heavy flow, bubbles will usually go thru the tubes with no problem until the algae and gunk build up then the bubbles start betting trapped and accumulate eventually one tube will slow down and loose syphon and i need to take it out and soak it in vinegar and re start it
the other tube will handle the flow for about 48 hours and i always see it because the water level will slowly rise to over the top of the intake teeth ant it will stop skimming the water surface...
its done this from day 1 for 11 years now... i have tried blocking the light to the u tubes with a piece of black acrylic but short of building a box or buying one it still happens, and since i am getting ready to re design my hood to a hanging canopy for easier access to getting into the tank to feed my corals and fish i wanted a solution that was more attractive...
when i got this tank 11 years ago i tested the glass and it looks to be tempered so drilling isn't an option, plus the tank is well established so i dont want to break it down to try drilling and find out that it shatters and have to buy another tank.
jd371
Valuable Member
Gotcha, I remove the overflow box once a year and clean it out. As for the U-tube I never bother cleaning it, I just toss it and buy a new one (<$10), usually have to replace it twice a year. It was the same for me. I had just bought the tank and stand and wasn't 100% sure of the back glass and the stern warning if I break it we're not buying another, so that was that.
Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
try soaking the u tube in vinegar... it works....
only reason i am going with a new box is aesthetics... the u tubes look ugly on an open tank... i think the CPR box will be less noticeable on an open top
Even Further
Active Member
Lifereef makes a hang as well, with good reviews. Might be worth a look.
Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
I looked at those but decided on the CPR due to design and size. And they have great reviews also
Jeepguy242
Valuable Member
I’ve got room for another plug. There are 3 open slots on my reefkeeper
