Best hang on the Back overflow box
- Thread starter Daddyrawg
- Start date
None...
I knew you were gonna say that lol
mcgyvr
New member
If you twist my arm I will comment that the ones with the "U" tubes (lifereef/eshopps,etc..) can potentially be better than the ones with a rectangular weir section (CPR/skimz,etc..) as far as the ability to clear air bubbles from the flow path thus reducing potential for loss of suction..
This is due to the size of the water path of that based on the flowrate through it.. The U tubes should clear any bubbles on their own where the rectangular type require something like a toms aqualifter or attachment to a siphon on a powerhead to keep it clear..
This is due to the size of the water path of that based on the flowrate through it.. The U tubes should clear any bubbles on their own where the rectangular type require something like a toms aqualifter or attachment to a siphon on a powerhead to keep it clear..
ya cpr has to rely on a pump which makes me nervous.. I think the Lifereef is easier to clean as well while in position.
wonder if connecting tubes to it is better or going pvc.
mcgyvr
New member
Smooth internal piping will be better than any type of corrugated tube as far as reducing turbulence goes..
That "smooth" could be tube or hard PVC.. "Smooth" is whats important..
Beyond that it doesn't matter much at all..
I prefer hard PVC..
Some systems include this corrugated tube with internal "ridges" that just causes problems/noise,etc..
Lifereef.
Iโve had a Lifereef running for at least 10yrs without issue. I bought it used and the previous owner had no problems with it either. It always restarts, and has never lost siphon. It can be a bit loud, I donโt have the silencer and havenโt built one so it must not be too bad.
jd371
New member
Eshopps and Lifereef use the same design while the CPR relies on a pump for the siphon which means there's another power cord that needs to be plugged in. I've been using an eshopps PF800 on my 75g since august of 2015 without any issues. No siphon breaks from bubbles in the U tube and siphon starts right up again if power goes out. The only thing is the added maintenance of removing and cleaning it a few times a year and out of the box they are noisy until a silencer (Stockman Standpipe) is added to quiet it down.
Having said that if you can drill your tank do it. A drilled tank looks so much more aesthetically pleasing than not drilled. I didn't drill because my tank was brand new and I wasn't sure about the back glass.
Having said that if you can drill your tank do it. A drilled tank looks so much more aesthetically pleasing than not drilled. I didn't drill because my tank was brand new and I wasn't sure about the back glass.
Daddi0
Active member
I run 2 cpr boxes on my garage reefs. In almost 2 years, they have caused floods in the garage a couple times (better the garage than my hardwood floors). The nipples get clogged a lot and sometimes this makes it hard to get the flow restarted. I worry constantly that they wont restart themselves after a power outage.
Cheer! Mark
Cheer! Mark
YES!!! that nipple clog is my concern when i have floating dead algae roaming around. My 7 yr old son spotted air bubbles shooting out of the return nozzle
and said dad look and then I immediately noticed water rising in DT and quickly shut off pump.. such a close call for the third time.
Tank is up and running so I dont see drilling it at any point so I may have to go with a lifereef replacement soon.
Yin_Yang247
Member
I made sure my sump is baffled correctly and large enough to prevent flooding when I selected my CPR overflow box.
Also like that after power outages the overflow air pump starts the overflow again without having to pour water into it unlike the tubed overflows.
Also like that after power outages the overflow air pump starts the overflow again without having to pour water into it unlike the tubed overflows.
mcgyvr
New member
Yes.. This is a good point..
You make your return section small enough so that in the event that the box looses siphon and stops returning water to the sump that the return pump runs dry before the display tank overflows..
One could also use a float switch in the display tank to shut off the return pump if the water gets too high..
Daddi0
Active member
A float switch may be the answer for you. Just set it so that if the water level in your sump is a couple inches below normal, the return shuts off. It will save your floors and stop the pump from running dry. Also make sure the return line is barely under water in the display so if the pump turns off you dont back siphon your display tank into the sump.
Cheers! Mark
Cheers! Mark
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