HOB Over Flow

BuckeyeFan

BuckeyeFan

New member
I'm Looking at building a 30 gal sump/fuge for 72 GAL bow front... I'm looking for a good HOB Over flow b/c my tank is up and running already.Could any one guide me in the right direction? I'm also gonna need a Protein skimmer and return pump too. If anyone could help me with that too that would be great!The Pic will show you what I'm looking at going with Thanks..
 
Here's the pic sorry
 

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I use an eshopps pf-800 on my 40 breeder and I have nothing but good things to say about it. I think that would be plenty for your 72. I did modify the standpipe with a Hofer Gurgle Buster to quiet it down but that cost me about $3 in PVC and 20 minutes to build.

I chose the eshopps because I wanted a U tube and not a box that required an aqualifter pump like the CPR overflows. Lifereef is regarded by many to make the best box. It has a similar design to the eshopps but looks better built.

I started out with a mag 5 and I think that or a mag 7 would be about right. I couldn't take the noise the mag made so I returned it for a Sicce which is considerably quieter. Tunze makes a similar pump. Eheims are very good pumps too. The 1260 I think is about the size you would want.

Skimmers might want to look at the SWC 160 or some of the Reef Octopus with the bubble blaster pumps.
 
Ebay, Cheap and the design is good. It is just a siphon so as long as the overflow tube stays in the water you will not have a problem with start up's,you will probably will need to make a gurgle buster, and with a 700gph pump you'll be right in the sweet spot.
 
Thanks everyone. Gonna do some research on the info you guys gave me and spend some money lol...Thanks again ....
 
Lifereef are the best out there. Stay away from any that use the box style integrated C channel siphon. Stick with a U Tube design.
 
Just one comment on the Lifereefs....

I have their dual overflow on my 135g tank. Since I set-up the tank about 3 months ago, I lose siphon on one of the two tubes just about every week. I was a little upset because I read all about the guarantees that these overflow boxes don't lose siphon.

I did some more research and discovered that if you don't have the proper gph return, air-bubbles can accumulate in the tubes and break the siphon. I shut-off the return pump, let the tank water-level drop, then turned on the return pump again to see the flow of the water returning into the tank....sure enough, it was very low flow. While the return pump is quite powerful (Mag 18), it sends water through a chiller before it goes up the 38" stand and 25" tank and back into the display.

So, my next step is to upgrade the return pump which, hopefully, will fix the issue.
 
pbnj said:
Just one comment on the Lifereefs....

I have their dual overflow on my 135g tank. Since I set-up the tank about 3 months ago, I lose siphon on one of the two tubes just about every week. I was a little upset because I read all about the guarantees that these overflow boxes don't lose siphon.

I did some more research and discovered that if you don't have the proper gph return, air-bubbles can accumulate in the tubes and break the siphon. I shut-off the return pump, let the tank water-level drop, then turned on the return pump again to see the flow of the water returning into the tank....sure enough, it was very low flow. While the return pump is quite powerful (Mag 18), it sends water through a chiller before it goes up the 38" stand and 25" tank and back into the display.

So, my next step is to upgrade the return pump which, hopefully, will fix the issue.
Click to expand...

Yep that is a problem. I see where people try and match their returns exactly to their overflow rating at it ends up either being not enough or they have no wiggle room. I recommend getting a slightly larger pump than you need and throttle it back with a ball or gate valve to hit the sweet spot. This adjustment also helps in trying to quiet the box down a bit.
 
pbnj said:
Just one comment on the Lifereefs....

I have their dual overflow on my 135g tank. Since I set-up the tank about 3 months ago, I lose siphon on one of the two tubes just about every week. I was a little upset because I read all about the guarantees that these overflow boxes don't lose siphon.

I did some more research and discovered that if you don't have the proper gph return, air-bubbles can accumulate in the tubes and break the siphon. I shut-off the return pump, let the tank water-level drop, then turned on the return pump again to see the flow of the water returning into the tank....sure enough, it was very low flow. While the return pump is quite powerful (Mag 18), it sends water through a chiller before it goes up the 38" stand and 25" tank and back into the display.

So, my next step is to upgrade the return pump which, hopefully, will fix the issue.
Click to expand...
You got an overflow that is too big for your system. A possible easy fix is remove one of the U Tubes.
 
sjm817 said:
You got an overflow that is too big for your system. A possible easy fix is remove one of the U Tubes.
Click to expand...
The point of the dual overflow box was to have redundancy in case one of the tubes lost siphon. Kind of a Catch-22 situation.
 
No, that is not the point of dual U Tubes. Unfortunately, people think this and that is what gets them into trouble. 2 U Tubes are to increase the flow capacity of the overflow. A single U Tube model is rated for 600 GPH. The dual is rated for 1200 GPH. Having 2 U tubes with sufficient GPH to keep bubbles pushed through, yet not having too much GPH for a single to handle on its own would be a very fine balance and is not the intention of the design. You dont use the 2 U Tube model until you exceed the 600 GPH capacity of the single model.
 
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Granted, but having dual tubes with adequate return flow is better, no? I mean, most reef-ready 6ft tanks come with dual internal overflows.

I don't think it would be such a balancing act. My current return pump is horribly inadequate, but the siphon still lasts about a week.
 
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The 2nd U Tube is not for redundancy. I've seen many posts just like yours where the owner wanted that only to wind up with the same problem you have. A good strong flow through one U Tube in a well designed U Tube overflow such as a Lifereef will be reliable.

Reef Ready tanks with dual overflows dont have siphon tubes, so this is not a problem. Siphon overflows have a max GPH AND a min GPH to be concerned with. RR only max GPH. Low GPH is fine.

You can try increasing your GPH enough to keep both Siphon tubes running reliably. Improving the plumbing design (larger diameter) may be enough to do so. Once you have that working, pull one U Tube to see if the overflow can handle the flow by itself.
 
I like the utube style more got one from eBay a 600gph txholly rock product. If ur water flow is to low through the tube u will get bubbles n u do have to clean them bec of algee build up but wat I did as a fail safe is get a lil pump that people use for the CPR overflows n put the input side up the back side of the tube so the hose input for the small pump is in the top of the tube. N the out lit for the small pump is in the skimmer box of the overflow box so incase there's bubble it will get rid of them n when I am doing water changes the utube stays primed
 
Do I really need a This one for a 72 gal bow Flow rate up to 1200 gph
Available in Standard and Slim-Line
(Standard & Slimline flow rates identical)
Outer box measures 14" wide x 11" tall
Inner box measures 15 1/2"w x 8 1/2"h x 3"
Standard box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 4"
Slimline box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 3"
Two 1" outputs..


or this one be fine


Flow rate up to 600 gph (1200 gph for Double Prefilter Box)
Available in Standard and Slim-Line
(Standard & Slimline flow rates identical)
Outer box measures 6 1/2" wide x 11" tall
Inner box measures 8" wide x 8" tall x 3"
Standard Box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 4"
Slimline Box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 3"
1" male threaded output with connector supplied
Optional vac-type hose connector can be supplied
(Standard & Slimline flow rates are identical)


Those r from life reef I'm still little lost on what i really need
 
The 600 GPH model. Slimline if you need the 3" wall clearance. Normal if you have 4" or more.
 
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