Which HOB overflow would you choose?

[Trexorcist]

Hi all,

I’m adding a 20G. sump/refugium(DIY) to my 75G. I think I’ve narrowed my two choices down to either the Lifereef or a CPR CS90 with an aqualifter. I’ve read great reviews about both. Initially I planned on going with the Lifereef but in the back of my mind I still have worries about a siphon break at the box, which the aqualifter eliminates.

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[Mical]

LifeReef are excellent HOB overflows or Marine Depots https://www.marinedepot.com/Marine_..._Aquariums-Marine_Depot-MD8139-FIOFEB-vi.html. I like the Marine Depots version because it has a lid for back box to make it quiet. I've used both and they both work great - zero issues. Just a note - HOB overflows get a little tricky dialing in flow rates, make sure your pump is big enough. If not you'll find bubbles accumulating in over flow tube. The biggest thing is make sure overflow box is level.

 

[Jay Z]

Some have issues with flooding on the cpr.

IMO if you have to buy a separate pump to make sure it works.....then you need 2 pumps, Incase the first stops working.

Safest bet is just the standard hob box.

My thoughts on it.

 

[Snoopy 67]

LIFEREEF PERIOD!

 

[Trexorcist]

LifeReef are excellent HOB overflows or Marine Depots https://www.marinedepot.com/Marine_..._Aquariums-Marine_Depot-MD8139-FIOFEB-vi.html. I like the Marine Depots version because it has a lid for back box to make it quiet. I've used both and they both work great - zero issues. Just a note - HOB overflows get a little tricky dialing in flow rates, make sure your pump is big enough. If not you'll find bubbles accumulating in over flow tube. The biggest thing is make sure overflow box is level.

I bought this pump https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaEu..._Pumps-Aqua_Euro_USA-ED01018-FIWPSBUF-vi.html

370 GPH

 

[Hermie]

I would go with lifereef because check valves can fail, and aqualifters can fail. A plastic pipe without holes is not going to start leaking air.

 

[Hermie]

I bought this pump https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaEuroUSA_Apex_Submersible_Pump_370_GPH_Up_to_500_Gallons_Per_Hour_Submersible_Aquarium_Pumps-Aqua_Euro_USA-ED01018-FIWPSBUF-vi.html

370 GPH

A 370 GPH pump may be okay, but with headloss it may not be enough. It depends on the diameter of the siphon tube. I had a 270 GPH pump that couldn't prevent bubbles, but now I run the pump at max (500+ GPH rated, not actual) and bubbles never accumulate.

Worse comes to worse (if 370 isn't enough to keep bubbles out), you can get a smaller u tube (hopefully) or be creative and restrict the flow going through it (by putting an airline hose through the whole thing thus increasing flow pressure which will the push bubbles out and prevent collecting).

 

[seaplane]

I ran a Lifereef for 2 years, never failed . It may be more pricey than others but the quality of build is superior.

 

[Mical]

I bought this pump https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaEuroUSA_Apex_Submersible_Pump_370_GPH_Up_to_500_Gallons_Per_Hour_Submersible_Aquarium_Pumps-Aqua_Euro_USA-ED01018-FIWPSBUF-vi.html

370 GPH

For a 75gal tank you're going to need at least an 800gph to 1000gph pump. Again depending on head height, that 370 gal pump is not nearly enough.

 

[WVNed]

I use an Eshoppes PF-1000.It has been perfect for almost a year. Dead silent.

 

[Mical]

I believe Marine Depots' brand overflow is Eshoppes

 

[Trexorcist]

I ran a Lifereef for 2 years, never failed . It may be more pricey than others but the quality of build is superior.

I think I might run with Lifereef. Do you have the silencer?

 

[seaplane]

I think I might run with Lifereef. Do you have the silencer?

I think I might run with Lifereef. Do you have the silencer?

I did have the silencer, but don't think it was worth the $$. Worked just as well with just the air line tubing.

 

[Snoopy 67]

THE MAIN THING with a HOB is having enough flow to PULL any bubbles all the way through the U tube.

 

[Trexorcist]

For a 75gal tank you're going to need at least an 800gph to 1000gph pump. Again depending on head height, that 370 gal pump is not nearly enough.

I ended up purchasing the Lifereef overflow. I’ve been running it for about a month now with the 370 gph. No issues to speak of. Occasionally I do see bubbles build up in the siphon but this is just an indicator that I need to top off my tank.

 

[Mical]

Lifereef makes a great HOB but bubbles are usually indicates your pump is too small re: head height vs flow

 

[Orm Embar]

I looked into this a while back - LifeReef was considered to the best from what I read. CPR's design was thought to be faulty - lower flow rates led to bubble accumulation, which required an AquaLifter to fix that problem (and introduced another point of failure in addition to the initial design issues). I read quite a bit about people having issues with CPR's overflow, and none about LifeReef's.

A design similar to LifeReef makes sense to me, but I don't know if they would be comparable or inferior. As long as you have the fast-flowing U-tube design then presumably bubbles would be swept away before accumulating (which is the whole point of the design).

I would make sure that your tank and your sump each have enough reserve volume such that if either the overflow fails or the return pump fails, there won't be an overflow. This would mean that your return pump should be in a relatively small partition that would run dry before overflowing the main tank. Essentially, if there's a blockage anywhere, the system should still be ok.

I've also read that check valves cause more problems than they solve and are another point of failure.

Good luck!