Uniseals for overflow drains

[samnaz]

I was considering a Modular Marine overflow box and noticed they have 3 uniseals for each drain. I've never seen an overflow with uniseals instead of the typical bulkheads like all the other very similar overflows have (ghost, shadow, eclipse, etc).

It is my understanding that uniseals are made for rounded surfaces such as buckets and brute cans. Is that false?

Are they equally as safe to use on flat surfaces as other bulkheads? Is there any reason to use uniseals instead of typical bulkheads, or should I have them replaced?

Pics for reference:

Link to the overflow on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODULAR-MAR...d=192258972663&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Sacohen]

I was considering a Modular Marine overflow box and noticed they have 3 uniseals for each drain. I've never seen an overflow with uniseals instead of the typical bulkheads like all the other very similar overflows have (ghost, shadow, eclipse, etc).

It is my understanding that uniseals are made for rounded surfaces such as buckets and brute cans. Is that false?

Are they equally as safe to use on flat surfaces as other bulkheads? Is there any reason to use uniseals instead of typical bulkheads, or should I have them replaced?

Pics for reference:

Link to the overflow on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODULAR-MAR...d=192258972663&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Uni-Seal are made for rounded surfaces.
They may work just as well as a bulkhead, but I would probably try to find a bulkhead that would fit the holes.

 

[ca1ore]

They are not uniseals, just short bulkheads. When I bought my MM overflow I inquired. Mine came with regular bulkheads.

 

[Water Dog]

When I ordered my MM overflow, I specified that I wanted bulkheads as opposed to uniseals... he obliged without issue.

 

[samnaz]

They are not uniseals, just short bulkheads. When I bought my MM overflow I inquired. Mine came with regular bulkheads.

When I ordered my MM overflow, I specified that I wanted bulkheads as opposed to uniseals... he obliged without issue.

Which model do you guys have?

I contacted them and they said neither the 800GPH or 1200GPH models can fit 1" bulkheads, only 1" uniseals fit. For the 1200GPH they can make the plumbing box larger in order to fit 1" bulkheads for $20.

I'm not sure if that's necessary or not. Seems like they wouldn't make the boxes with uniseals instead of bulkheads if they didn't work just as well. I'm confused.

 

[samnaz]

I might just go with the Eshopps Eclipse L, already comes with 1" bulkhead drains and it's $70 less....

Opinions, anyone?

 

[Water Dog]

I've got the 12" 1200 gph box with upgraded 1" bulkheads. Understand though, with the 1" bulkheads, I do not have room for u-tube plumbing for the primary siphon as the exterior box is very tight. So for my beananimal set up, I have a flat strainer for the primary siphon, u- tube plumbing for the secondary trickle channel and then a straight pipe for the emergency drain (see photos). That said, I'm very happy with the quality construction of the MM ghost overflow. The lids for the internal and external box as well as the removable interior weir box is a nice touch too.

Exterior Box
Pipes

I don't have any experience with the Eshopps Eclipse, but I've heard the rear box of the large model can bow out over time and the teeth are cut pretty deep, so be mindful of your water line.

 

[roberthu526]

I've got the 12" 1200 gph box with upgraded 1" bulkheads. Understand though, with the 1" bulkheads, I do not have room for u-tube plumbing for the primary siphon as the exterior box is very tight. So for my beananimal set up, I have a flat strainer for the primary siphon, u- tube plumbing for the secondary trickle channel and then a straight pipe for the emergency drain (see photos). That said, I'm very happy with the quality construction of the MM ghost overflow. The lids for the internal and external box as well as the removable interior weir box is a nice touch too.

Exterior Box
Pipes

I don't have any experience with the Eshopps Eclipse, but I've heard the rear box of the large model can bow out over time and the teeth are cut pretty deep, so be mindful of your water line.

I just bought the 1200G one and waiting for it to be shipped. Glad to know you like yours. I did a little research and it seems uniseal will work just fine.

 

[ca1ore]

That's interesting. I'd not trust uniseals frankly. I bought the 36", 3,000 gph unit with plenty of room for 1 1/2" bulkheads. I do think, BTW, that the rating on these is unrealistic. I'm test running mine now with about 1,500 gph which seems about right.

I believe the lids on these are polycarbonate, which means they won't warp.

 

[samnaz]

That's interesting. I'd not trust uniseals frankly. I bought the 36", 3,000 gph unit with plenty of room for 1 1/2" bulkheads. I do think, BTW, that the rating on these is unrealistic. I'm test running mine now with about 1,500 gph which seems about right.

I believe the lids on these are polycarbonate, which means they won't warp.

I believe the overflows that are 1,600gph and higher come automatically installed with bulkhead drains. The lower models, 1,200 and 800 gph have uniseal drains.

It's probably worth mentioning that my tank is only 30 gallons. It's 36" long but the overflow box has to be 14" or less because of the light fixture's goose mounts. Otherwise the fixture would be off center and of course we can't have that. So, that leaves the 800 and 1200gph as my only options.

It seems like flow rating on overflow boxes in general is unrealistic or unreliable. There are so many variables to account for when determining flow.

 

[samnaz]

I've got the 12" 1200 gph box with upgraded 1" bulkheads. Understand though, with the 1" bulkheads, I do not have room for u-tube plumbing for the primary siphon as the exterior box is very tight. So for my beananimal set up, I have a flat strainer for the primary siphon, u- tube plumbing for the secondary trickle channel and then a straight pipe for the emergency drain (see photos). That said, I'm very happy with the quality construction of the MM ghost overflow. The lids for the internal and external box as well as the removable interior weir box is a nice touch too.

Exterior Box
Pipes

I don't have any experience with the Eshopps Eclipse, but I've heard the rear box of the large model can bow out over time and the teeth are cut pretty deep, so be mindful of your water line.

That is so very helpful, thank you.

How long have you been running that configuration? How big is your tank? Any chance you've got a build thread I could peruse?

 

[braappn]

I have the 800gph with three 3/4" uniseal drains, running about 3 months now without issue.

I am simply using three standpipes for the drains, each is capped with a pvc cap that I drilled out with a bunch of holes to make a strainer of sorts. This just helps quiet down the standpipe drains.

It's only silent at a pretty low level of flow. But here's the deal. The overflow teeth on the internal box reach their max flow way before the 3/4" drains do. I am not comfortable running the water level more than halfway up the teeth on this small box.

All that being said, the standpipe drains are plenty quiet at this comfortable level of flow, which is way below 800gph btw.

 

[Water Dog]

That is so very helpful, thank you.

How long have you been running that configuration? How big is your tank? Any chance you've got a build thread I could peruse?

I’m not set up yet, hence no build thread... still have a stand to build. The 12” overflow will be going on a non reef ready Deep Blue Edge 57 gallon rimless (36x18x20). Originally, I bought the Synergy Reef Shadow overflow but had to sell it because it’s 16” length was too long to accommodate the A-Series mounting arms for my Kessil AP700. Although many have had success with the Synergy, after handling both, the plastic molded construction felt very flexible and flimsy as compared to the Modular Marine’s acrylic construction.

 

[samnaz]

I have the 800gph with three 3/4" uniseal drains, running about 3 months now without issue.

I am simply using three standpipes for the drains, each is capped with a pvc cap that I drilled out with a bunch of holes to make a strainer of sorts. This just helps quiet down the standpipe drains.

It's only silent at a pretty low level of flow. But here's the deal. The overflow teeth on the internal box reach their max flow way before the 3/4" drains do. I am not comfortable running the water level more than halfway up the teeth on this small box.

All that being said, the standpipe drains are plenty quiet at this comfortable level of flow, which is way below 800gph btw.

The size of the overflow box on the 800 gph is ideal for my tank. And a lower flow rate is probably fine too. Do you have any pics of the setup?

 

[braappn]

Sorry crappy pic. Didn't take photos before assembling. What you can see is the emergency drain. The other two drains have caps just like it though. The main siphon is as low as possible in the box. The open channel is as tall as possible while still sitting underneath the bulkhead. And of course the emergency you can see is taller in the middle.

I'm certainly not claiming this is the best setup but it is simple and it seems to efficiently flow as much as the 8" weir can handle. I do not think it would be good for a larger weir because the siphon channel would suck air at a higher flow rate.

Hope this helps. I'm no plumbing pro FYI!

 

[Trever]

Just in case you find this later as I did, as of today (3/17/2021) MM says they ship these with bulkheads nowadays, not uniseals, though even today their web site shows uniseals in the product photos.