Anyone use a CPR overflow box?

[fasteddie99]

I would like to add a 10g fuge to my 55 but I cant drill it, the tank is all tempered, besides it has been up and running for 10 months now. It is my first SW tank and didnt know any better when I first started it up.

I have been hearing about these overflow boxes from here at RC, but every time one is mentioned around here, there is always a mention of them losing thier siphon and possibly "overflowing" the fuge.

So my question is, does anyone "successfully" use one? Or has anyone "unsuccessfully" used one in the past?

I guess that was 2 questions wasnt it?

 

[dwd5813]

lifereef or other u tube style hob overflows are said to be more reliable.

 

[Rich D]

I used to have a siphon system like 9 years ago, to tell you the truth I don't remember anything about it except playing with bioballs and a lot of algae lol, it was 7th birthday present and it was only a reef tank for around a year before we upgraded. I can ask my dad about it later. He has talked about how bubbles getting caught in the siphon are a pain. If the fuge is big enough, it shouldn't overflow. But on a 55 i doubt you have a really big sump

 

[gem]

I use a cpr overflow. Have heard many say they are terrible. I use an aqualifter with it to keep the syphon going. Prior to that I had it lose syphon once. Haven't had a problem since adding the aqualifter.
I have heard that lifereef (as dwd states) are far better.

 

[Froggy]

I have used one on my 75 successfully for 7 years. Some will say I have just been lucky and they are not a reliable overflow in the long run. IMO, they are reliable as long as you keep the air bubble nipple clear of buildup occasionally. Doing this, there should not be an issue. Mine has always restarted without fail on it's own, even after lengthy power outages.

Are they the "Best" overflow option. I would say no, but they are a decent option and more reliable than a lot of people give them credit for.

Joe

 

[Nereaga]

I agree with Froggy, I ran one for 2 years with TONS of power outages in my area. NOT once did I have a overflow or problem with it. I do recommend if you get one to keep the air nipple off the top of the unit cleaned WEEKLY to ensure that nothing gets clogged in it. I also ran the aqualifter with it and cleaned the clear tubes weekly aswell, just to ensure everything ran properly.

I think as with most things when properly maintained, they should function fine!

JMO!

Brad

 

[TheH]

If you buy a CPR overflow, buy two aqualifter pumps. Because if one of them stops working, you may have difficulty finding a replacement locally in a timely manner.

 

[Nereaga]

+1 on two pumps, as they are only $12 a piece!

 

[BuddhaKiss]

Re: Anyone use a CPR overflow box?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14715551#post14715551 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fasteddie99

there is always a mention of them losing thier siphon and possibly "overflowing" the fuge.

Breaking siphon in an overflow doesn't overflow the fuge...when siphon breaks, it overflows the display tank. When power comes back on and siphon is lost, your return pump continues pumping water into your display tank, but the overflow is no longer delivering water to you fuge.....hence the flooding.

Having said that, you do have to worry about flooding the fuge, but that can occur if your running a HOB overflow, or a RR. I drill an anti-siphon hole a half inch or so below my return line, so in the event of a power outage, as water is being drained into your fuge, that little hole draws in air and breaks the siphon....helping to minimize the chance of overflowing the fuge

As far as the CPR overflow...never used one.

 

[rc4kinu]

Re: Re: Anyone use a CPR overflow box?

Re: Re: Anyone use a CPR overflow box?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14716990#post14716990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BuddhaKiss
Breaking siphon in an overflow doesn't overflow the fuge...when siphon breaks, it overflows the display tank. When power comes back on and siphon is lost, your return pump continues pumping water into your display tank, but the overflow is no longer delivering water to you fuge.....hence the flooding.

Having said that, you do have to worry about flooding the fuge, but that can occur if your running a HOB overflow, or a RR. I drill an anti-siphon hole a half inch or so below my return line, so in the event of a power outage, as water is being drained into your fuge, that little hole draws in air and breaks the siphon....helping to minimize the chance of overflowing the fuge

As far as the CPR overflow...never used one.

+1 on this method of drilling to break the siphon on return tubing. I am using CPR overflow w/ aqua pump now for 2 years with no problem. Do keep an extra one on hand though just in case. As far as algae blocking valve, maintenance is key, even then I might do it once every 4-6 months to unclog it with a paper clip

 

[ariel47]

Iim using a cpr overflo, but I use the rio 600 rejuvinator pump.

 

[Froggy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14716379#post14716379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheH
If you buy a CPR overflow, buy two aqualifter pumps. Because if one of them stops working, you may have difficulty finding a replacement locally in a timely manner.

I personally use a Maxijet 1200 to draw the air out. I just have a venturi type adapter on the intake of the pump that you can attach airline tubing to. Maxi Jets are readily available as a replacement if needed in a pinch. Quite a bit more money than the aqualifter pump though.

Joe

 

[tkeracer619]

lifereef is better but will fail if the return pump is not sized properly. CPR will fail if the aqualifter pump fails or the air nipple gets clogged. CPR will take more maintenance.

Either way they both are not desirable. I will never run any HOB overflow without a top off safety. You can use a single float ATO from www.autotopoff.com hooked to your return pump. If the overflow fails the return pump will turn off once the water level in the tank gets too high. It is cheap insurance and IMO 100% worth it since a HOB is what you are stuck with.

HOB + ATO safety = same price as a drilled 75 or 90g on craigslist.

 

[chilwil84]

get a u tube and slightly undersized pump compared to the return. i cant wait to get rid of my cpr had my aqualifter pumps fail twice and flood

 

[Volkman]

+3 on the extra Aqualifter pump. Nice looking boxes, but a pain in the @#$! if you ask me. You must have the prefilter before the pump, then like everyone said, clean the nipple and airlines weekly, and then I still have not figured out how to clean the way inside of the cpr. My bendy brushes will only go up so far, so you cannot clean the way-inside of the box. No good I'd say... wanting a different one.....

 

[sjm817]

Get a Lifereef and 0 Aqualifter pumps. None needed to make the overflow work. None needed as spares. No air nipple to clog. No airline to leak or clog. No weekly maintenance. Nothing to plug in. No moving parts. Simple to clean.

 

[tangtang clown]

I use a CPR rated for 600 gph on a 75g with a mag 12 return. I too use a TOM's aqua lifter and it keeps the siphon. It has been going to over 6 months and no issues. I try to clean the air nipple everytime I think about it, usually when I am doing a water change. I tried the MJ venutri method, but it was too sketchy, but I guess it would be okay if you don't have large turnover.
I prefer a drilled tank, but I guess we can't have everything.

 

[Skeptic_07]

My lifereef fails on my tank because the return pump only pushes 100 gph or so. This was because I only wanted about 100 gph through my 10 gallon sump. Don't believe the crap where they say it doesn't matter how big or small your pump is because it DEFINITELY matters alot. I have to reset the siphon so often that i decided to drill a hole in the U-tube and connected an airline tube to it. If i was you i'd use a 29 gallon tank and a pump that pushes 300 gph or more

 

[sjm817]

Yes, you need a minimum flow through a U Tube to keep bubbles from accumulating and 100 GPH is not enough. You need ~ 200 GPH. LR has a smaller diameter U Tube available that requires less flow. I would contact them and see if this would solve your problem. They also have a nano overflow that needs less flow.

 

[Ohmsford]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14722647#post14722647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Yes, you need a minimum flow through a U Tube to keep bubbles from accumulating and 100 GPH is not enough. You need ~ 200 GPH. LR has a smaller diameter U Tube available that requires less flow. I would contact them and see if this would solve your problem. They also have a nano overflow that needs less flow.

I would agree that for bubbles to be forming, the flow rate is too low. I dont use CPR but a U Tube and used to get bubbles all the time, until I increased the flow of my return pump. No I never worry about bubble accumulation.

One way of increasing flow rate through a siphon without increasing the return pump flow, is to reduce the size of the siphon. The water demand will be the same, but the water level on the output will be slightly lower, thus creating a faster flow through the siphon to make up for the reduction in water volume through the tube.