Overflow box how safe are they really...should I drill?

[1979fishgeek]

I bought a overflow box as I am nervous of drilling my small frag tank, its designed so if there is a power cut it starts up again. But.... How safe is this really? Just wondering if the syphon breaks and or stops for another reason and the pump keeps going is it going to pump out my main display it's connected to? all 900l!

Who has one?
Would you recommend one?
Have you had a flood?

I had thought to maybe have the tank sitting in a shallow pvc tray and bought a 1 inch bulk head fitting for a emergency overflow drain....but now wondering if I should just pull up my big girl pants and drill the tank?! If I do get brave which size diamond glass hole cutting drill do I buy 1 3/4 inch?

Who wants to drill my tank for me! Lol

 

[Bakedpwn]

i have an eshopps overflow and its automatic because of how its designed. only thing i had to worry about was making sure there was enough room for extra water in the sump coming back down the return pump line.

 

[mpjmeyer]

I had a Lifereef overflow that I was going to use for my 65 gallon build because they are known not to fail, however I recently sold it and decided to drill the tank and use the Synergy Shadow overflow just for the extra peace of mind...plus it will look better in the tank. It will be my first time drilling a tank but after a few youtube videos and google, I shouldn't have a problem.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I have a cleartides overflow, not sure what makes me more nervous drilling the tank or a overflowing tank?

"no need to worry about restarting the syphon when power is lost .. the box is will automatically stop, and then restart when power is regained"

 

[Reefrookie220]

I have that exact overflow box, and after power outage I was evicted from my apartment due to water damage reported by the neighbor below. The automatic restart worked for me every single time I tested it but when the real thing happened it failed. Drilled every tank since.

Drilling isn't difficult, go slow and let the bit do the work and you'll be fine.

Ps- I checked the aqua lifter pump I had attached to it and the pump was fine. I really don't knowWhat made it fail, but it did lol.

 

[Ocean Lotion]

I have a life reef and it works. my next waiting to be set up is drilled and any other tank will be too. Drill baby drill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1979fishgeek]

I have that exact overflow box, and after power outage I was evicted from my apartment due to water damage reported by the neighbor below. The automatic restart worked for me every single time I tested it but when the real thing happened it failed. Drilled every tank since.

Drilling isn't difficult, go slow and let the bit do the work and you'll be fine.

Ps- I checked the aqua lifter pump I had attached to it and the pump was fine. I really don't knowWhat made it fail, but it did lol.

That's a epic fail, sorry you got evicted.

Just bought a diamond drill bit so fingers crossed!

 

[Reefrookie220]

It's super easy, and you'll be fine. Just check then check again for tempered glass

Thanks for your concern but getting evicted landed me in a 4bd/3ba home I'm on my way to owning. So, no sweat!

 

[Mpierce]

I would always drill if possible. Overflow boxes make me nervous, and I ran one for several years without any real problem. Good luck with the drilling! You will be happy you did. Since you are drilling I would do 2 drains, look into the "herbie" method. Makes for a nice quiet tank.

 

[Maddlesrain]

As someone who is FINALLY getting their first drilled aquarium after having only non-drilled tanks for the past almost 5 years of reefkeeping, I say DRILL DRILL DRILL. The box overflows are the biggest pains I've had the displeasure of working with. I'm so over it. Haha

The worst thing I've had happen to me is the siphon breaking, but that's a constant occurrence. It doesn't take long to get the siphons re-going when you know what you're doing, but it's a tedious procedure and incredibly frustrating for someone like me to come home after one of my extended vacations (or jut being gone for the week at university) to find that the siphon has filled halfway with air (and been that way for who-knows-how-long).