Synergy Reef Overflow vs. Others

[skihard1234Anth]

On my noise issue, I just emailed [email protected]. If I recall they were great from a sales and service standpoint. Super responsive and didn’t charge anything for the replacement piece, even though they could have attributed it to me gorilla-gripping the pipe. [emoji1744]‍[emoji3603]

 

[skihard1234Anth]

I did bean animal if I recall.

 

[VSVP bet]

I can snap a pic from behind. Durability is fine. When I started out it was dead silent. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong at this point, I read something about drilling a hole in the top of one of the pipes? Plumbing is pretty self explanatory. If I recall they even had a video. I put unions on all 3 down below just underneath. DSA 105 neo and it’s great. Again, I know it needs tuning because it’s not silent anymore. I’ll do a separate post on that.

Hmm. maybe i will rethink sending it back. My concern is durability, and it seems that people have not had issues with this.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hmm. maybe i will rethink sending it back. My concern is durability, and it seems that people have not had issues with this.

I can tell you that they will stand behind their products. Good people.

 

[Huff747]

I've had one on my 40 gallon breeder and I have 0 complaints. Mine is setup bean animal with and I put a good gate valve on the main drain. It takes a little tuning but once setup it's very quiet, it's in my home office, and when it starts to get noisy it's either because I need to clean the weir or my return pump and the flow has slowed enough to because of that. Swap on the spare weir that came with it and/or clean the return pump and it's back to very quiet. I wish I had one on my basement tank but it came reef ready. Would absolutely use one again.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I can tell you that they will stand behind their products. Good people.

And I, and many other synergy reef victims, can tell you they will not stand behind their products. Horrible company and a horrible product.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16-shadow-overflow-lid-salt-creep.319207/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16”-shadow-overflow-noise-when-pushing-flow.494689/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/synergy-reef-shadow-overflow-horrible.480176/

 

[Chad3407]

Exotic Marine is the best I've seen and run on my 120. It is dead silent and built like a tank.

 

[Deezill]

I am confused at this point. I need more than 300gph for my 300 gallon. I also wont be plumbing more than 4 feet down to my sump either. The entire tank setup is going in my basement. I would like something that is quiet and would love to avoid salt creep. I am not really a fan of water moving fast thru the sump but I would like to get atleast 4x turnover. I can do the rest with my gyres or whatever wave makers I decide on. I want to try Ecotech Mp whatever but that's another thread I need some clarification on overflows still

 

[DaneGer21]

I run a custom 36” Modular Marine. Unfortunately I have heard MM has stopped taking orders and may have possibly shut down their website. Horrible shame if that’s the case! My overflow is top notch!

 

[Dan I]

I got a modular marine overflow and love it! They even customized mine to meet my desired water height, great customer service from them.

 

[Emerson]

Also look at the Reef Savvy Ghost Overflow. Very, very well made. More expensive than Synergy Reef, but the overflow is not a place to go cheap. I'm sure either would be fine, just different levels of good.

 

[VSVP bet]

And I, and many other synergy reef victims, can tell you they will not stand behind their products. Horrible company and a horrible product.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16-shadow-overflow-lid-salt-creep.319207/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16”-shadow-overflow-noise-when-pushing-flow.494689/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/synergy-reef-shadow-overflow-horrible.480176/

wow. especially the last one. I think you have convinced me to go elsewhere.

 

[VSVP bet]

I run a custom 36” Modular Marine. Unfortunately I have heard MM has stopped taking orders and may have possibly shut down their website. Horrible shame if that’s the case! My overflow is top notch!

Their website still is up, after looking at some of the competition. Seems like modular marine is well liked.

 

[DaneGer21]

Their website still is up, after looking at some of the competition. Seems like modular marine is well liked.

Ok good! I hadn’t checked myself, I read that on another thread.

Here’s my short story...

I originally ordered a synergy from BRS. I started thinking that my new tank was being built as a 60x36x24, and did I really want such a small internal box for surface skimming? I held onto my unopened synergy while I shopped around to see what I could find.

I stumbled upon Modular Marine. I figured what the heck I’ll email for a custom quote.

I wanted a large internal box but still a fairly small/medium external box. So I asked, what about a 36” long internal box, but build that to your smaller external box for the 1” drains, not the 1.5” drains. My quote came back at only $50 more. Wow, not bad. Exactly what I wanted, for only $50 more than the other product, deal.

My box showed up about 3wks later, top notch. Included everything as stated. I sent the synergy back for a refund.

Let me add, while MM was building my box, they sent me the needed specs I wanted so I could send them to my builder. I was having all my holes predrilled. Made me nervous but it was all included in my build. Everything fit perfect. So that told me that not only did I dodge a bullet, haha, but both companies built exactly to my specs...see pic...



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[Deezill]

I am very happy I came here first. I plan on getting my tank from Custom Aquarium and it cost quite a bit. I have no time for cheap stuff that won't work or I will have regrets buying. It is safe to say after looking at the three link provided I will not be purchasing a Synergy Reef Overflow. I just hope Modular Marine is still around in a few months when I do make my purchase because the folks in the three threads sound very upset. I think I am going to adhere to the warning provided on this one. @VSVP bet if you still have time maybe you should look into Marine Modular I know I am

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

And I, and many other synergy reef victims, can tell you they will not stand behind their products. Horrible company and a horrible product.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16-shadow-overflow-lid-salt-creep.319207/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/16”-shadow-overflow-noise-when-pushing-flow.494689/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/synergy-reef-shadow-overflow-horrible.480176/

Sorry a few of you have had issues! I know Rick personally and he's honestly a great person. He's always been ready to give and help our community whenever and wherever. I would love to see some resolutions to these cases and for everyone to be pleased. I know that's not always possible.

 

[ca1ore]

Few observations:

1. Buddy of mine has the SR and I’d have no concerns about durability. In fact, I prefer an injection molded unit to one assembled - less places for leaks and no need for bulkheads.
2. My issue with it is design. That the external box sits low means you get noise; particularly as you approach the max capacity of the unit.
3. If you have a really big tank, the SR is too small. Far better to have on large unit than two smaller ones.

 

[Bob the Bass]

Ok good! I hadn’t checked myself, I read that on another thread.

Here’s my short story...

I originally ordered a synergy from BRS. I started thinking that my new tank was being built as a 60x36x24, and did I really want such a small internal box for surface skimming? I held onto my unopened synergy while I shopped around to see what I could find.

I stumbled upon Modular Marine. I figured what the heck I’ll email for a custom quote.

I wanted a large internal box but still a fairly small/medium external box. So I asked, what about a 36” long internal box, but build that to your smaller external box for the 1” drains, not the 1.5” drains. My quote came back at only $50 more. Wow, not bad. Exactly what I wanted, for only $50 more than the other product, deal.

My box showed up about 3wks later, top notch. Included everything as stated. I sent the synergy back for a refund.

Let me add, while MM was building my box, they sent me the needed specs I wanted so I could send them to my builder. I was having all my holes predrilled. Made me nervous but it was all included in my build. Everything fit perfect. So that told me that not only did I dodge a bullet, haha, but both companies built exactly to my specs...see pic...



[

This is awesome, I am building a new 125 and wasn't satisfied with the selection of ghost overflows on BRS and marine depot. Thinking I may contact modular marine for a custom overflow too, for only $50 more that sounds like a bargain.

 

[lakai]

Also look at the Reef Savvy Ghost Overflow. Very, very well made. More expensive than Synergy Reef, but the overflow is not a place to go cheap. I'm sure either would be fine, just different levels of good.

This is what I decided to go with rather than synergy due to so many issues people are having with it.

 

[VSVP bet]

Really appreciate all the input people added to this. I thought I had researched overflow companies but it seems there are way more than I thought. I wonder why BRS only carries synergy and eshoops. Regardless, thanks everyone.