Overflow box not keeping flow

[FRANK48]

I keep having problems with my hang on back overflow box.the flow isn’t very consistent and I usually end up having to redo the siphon in order to get it to properly flow again. I did try and aqua lifter but that didn’t really work. I’ve been thinking about getting my tank drilled but I’m too scared since it’s all up and running and I wouldn’t want the glass to crack. Any ideas on a way to fix this?

 

[Yodeling]

Does your overflow have a port at the top of the overflow to plug in your aqualifter?

 

[FRANK48]

Does your overflow have a port at the top of the overflow to plug in your aqualifter?

Not sure if the aqua lifter can go in there but for some reason my aqua lifter stopped working randomly. My overflow box is the tunze one

 

[Wyvern]

If you don't have livestock, I would drill.

What kind of overflow setup? Bean animal? Do you have any 90 degree bends, or at any point does the plumbing go upstream in your return drains? Are you using flex hose? Is it "flushing"? Are you using a siphon gate valve?

What kind of return pump are you using? Do you use a gate on return?

Some DC return pumps have issues with consistent flow, causing overflow balancing problems.

 

[Yodeling]

The problem with external overflows is that they inevitably collect small bubbles and eventually form an air pocket that breaks the siphon. To prevent this, you have to use an aqualifter (or similar vacuum pump) to continuously pump air out of the top of the overflow. Then run the other end of the airline to your sump. This is pretty much a mandatory setup for a reliable external overflow. I ran one like that for several years in the mid 2000s with no issues.

 

[FRANK48]

If you don't have livestock, I would drill.

What kind of overflow setup? Bean animal? Do you have any 90 degree bends, or at any point does the plumbing go upstream in your return drains? Are you using flex hose? Is it "flushing"? Are you using a siphon gate valve?

What kind of return pump are you using? Do you use a gate on return?

Some DC return pumps have issues with consistent flow, causing overflow balancing problems.

I do have livestock sadly

 

[FRANK48]

The problem with external overflows is that they inevitably collect small bubbles and eventually form an air pocket that breaks the siphon. To prevent this, you have to use an aqualifter (or similar vacuum pump) to continuously pump air out of the top of the overflow. Then run the other end of the airline to your sump. This is pretty much a mandatory setup for a reliable external overflow. I ran one like that for several years in the mid 2000s with no issues.

I’m not sure why my aqua lifter has stopped working. Could you send me the link to something that does the same thing?

 

[FRANK48]

If you don't have livestock, I would drill.

What kind of overflow setup? Bean animal? Do you have any 90 degree bends, or at any point does the plumbing go upstream in your return drains? Are you using flex hose? Is it "flushing"? Are you using a siphon gate valve?

What kind of return pump are you using? Do you use a gate on return?

Some DC return pumps have issues with consistent flow, causing overflow balancing problems.

Is it possible to drill a full tank?

 

[Yodeling]

I’m not sure why my aqua lifter has stopped working. Could you send me the link to something that does the same thing?

Not sure. Maybe the Active Aqua on Amazon. Or just get another Aqualifter. It needs to be a vacuum pump. That will solve the issue of losing siphon.

Drilling a filled tank should be possible but I wouldn’t recommend it. Even if you drop the level below the drill mark, you’re still contending with clearance behind the tank for your drill, weird angles, etc. If you can empty and move it, that’s another story.

 

[FRANK48]

Not sure. Maybe the Active Aqua on Amazon. Or just get another Aqualifter. It needs to be a vacuum pump. That will solve the issue of losing siphon.

Drilling a filled tank should be possible but I wouldn’t recommend it. Even if you drop the level below the drill mark, you’re still contending with clearance behind the tank for your drill, weird angles, etc. If you can empty and move it, that’s another story.

I’m pretty sure that’s just an air pump

 

[FRANK48]

Not sure. Maybe the Active Aqua on Amazon. Or just get another Aqualifter. It needs to be a vacuum pump. That will solve the issue of losing siphon.

Drilling a filled tank should be possible but I wouldn’t recommend it. Even if you drop the level below the drill mark, you’re still contending with clearance behind the tank for your drill, weird angles, etc. If you can empty and move it, that’s another story.

Could maybe upping my return pump flow help the overflow box flow ?

 

[Yodeling]

Could maybe upping my return pump flow help the overflow box flow ?

It might work. The idea would be to push the bubbles out of the overflow by having water flow through it faster.

 

[FRANK48]

It might work. The idea would be to push the bubbles out of the overflow by having water flow through it faster.

I will try that

 

[Adrift]

I would say it’s flow consistency. Overflow with syphon needs consistency. Maybe consider AC pump

 

[jrill]

You need more flow. I ran an overflow for years and never lost syphon. The flow must be fast enough to push any bubbles through.
I did finally drill my full tank with livestock. Marine Depot had a sale on drilled boxes I could not pass up. I have a 15 gallon tank so the glass is thin. I used a right angle drill and went slow and sprayed the area clear every minute or so. Heat build up was never an issue the spray just removed the glass particles. Just go slow and you'll wonder why you were afraid to do it in the first place.

 

[melonheadorion]

a week, maybe 2 weeks ago, i setup my new tank, which has the CPR HOB overflow. i can say that i dont have any issues with it. i have setup the plumbing so that i can adjust drainage with the use of a gate valve, and my return pump is adjustable as well. the drainage gate valve allows me to adjust what drains, obviously, but the return works in conjunction, obviously again. right now, i have it set perfectly so that both are on par and moving just as fast as the other. i dont have an aqualifter or anything for that, and i am not in danger of losing siphon at all. you could always setup a venturi to help keep the siphon, but i feel that i you do something more with your plumbing to have your return and drain work at the same levels, you probably wont need anything different.

 

[melonheadorion]

i thought hard about drilling my tank as well, and figured "i will hold off for now, but maybe later, if i change my mind, i will empty some water out, and drill it." i have rethought that idea after knowing that it is possible that 1 of 3 things happen. 1-it works flawlessly ; 2- it cracks ; 3- it explodes.
obviously option 1 is ideal. however, 2 is very possible. 3 is likely if it is tempered glass. imagine drilling your tank, just to have it explode with 40 gallons (or whatever you would have in the tank) hitting your floor all at once

 

[Dan_P]

I keep having problems with my hang on back overflow box.the flow isn’t very consistent and I usually end up having to redo the siphon in order to get it to properly flow again. I did try and aqua lifter but that didn’t really work. I’ve been thinking about getting my tank drilled but I’m too scared since it’s all up and running and I wouldn’t want the glass to crack. Any ideas on a way to fix this?

Are you getting air bubbles in siphon?

 

[FRANK48]

Are you getting air bubbles in siphon?

Yes I am and I’m not sure how to get them to go away

 

[FRANK48]

i thought hard about drilling my tank as well, and figured "i will hold off for now, but maybe later, if i change my mind, i will empty some water out, and drill it." i have rethought that idea after knowing that it is possible that 1 of 3 things happen. 1-it works flawlessly ; 2- it cracks ; 3- it explodes.
obviously option 1 is ideal. however, 2 is very possible. 3 is likely if it is tempered glass. imagine drilling your tank, just to have it explode with 40 gallons (or whatever you would have in the tank) hitting your floor all at once

That’s exactly why I’m scared to do it. If I ever did drill my tank though I would probably pay someone to do it professionally