Overflow Box Discussion

[stylie]

This thread is really helping answer most of my questions, as I am heading this direction.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14747971#post14747971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
The continuous siphon name is kind of ironic. It is the design that can not maintain a "continuous siphon" on its own and instead relies on an external vacuum pumps to do so.

Would that be something like the cpr HOB overflow? It doesnt use U tubes, and does use a lifter pump. So my hunch is while looking at the product, the pump is not something that you would get the siphon going, then pull it out... You have to leave it on all the time correct? If so, no thanks... going to check out eshopp and life reef.

 

[Runfrumu]

Go with the life reef, not only will it not ever fail, the overflow box is on like a little track so it never gets crooked.

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14766351#post14766351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stylie
This thread is really helping answer most of my questions, as I am heading this direction.



Would that be something like the cpr HOB overflow? It doesnt use U tubes, and does use a lifter pump. So my hunch is while looking at the product, the pump is not something that you would get the siphon going, then pull it out... You have to leave it on all the time correct? If so, no thanks... going to check out eshopp and life reef.

Yes, the pump must run all the time, not just to get the siphon started.

 

[stylie]

Oh no way then! Shame, I like the thought of not having u-tubes. I guess you cant mess with physics!!! The cpr has a great esthetic design, but not at the expense of having a failure point.

 

[sjm817]

Yes, the CPR looks nice with the small footprint, but the unreliable design is not worth the trade off.

 

[E.intheC]

anyone use the sapphire aquatics overflow box?

Here's a link:

http://sapphireaquatics.com/onlinestore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=7

looks similar to the eshopps version

 

[E.intheC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14764637#post14764637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VaderWS6
So do you think I'll see a better turnover rate? I guess I'll just get the lifereef, and sell my current overflow box.

What GPH overflow box should you get when you match it to your pump?

I am strongly considering the OR 2500 which has 650 gph. (I'm not sure what the gph is at about 5ft of head pressure, but...)

When you buy an overflow, should you get on that's more than the pump? I'm thinking that's the answer, but... help a newbie out

 

[DarG]

You have to have enough velocity through the Utubes to keep the air bubbles moving through. IOW, as an extreme example, you dont want to buy a dual overflow for a 250 GPH return pump.

One thing missed about the Lifereef ... it is built like a tank. There are other U-tube overflows on the market that will retain siphon, but I havent seen one built like a Lifereef. And it's hand built by Jeff in the USA. Score one for a US small business owner that offers what is probably the best built HOB overflow on the market.
Understandable if money is tight to go with a cheaper product so Im not knocking anyone who is on a tight budget and just cant afford the Lifereef. If you want a HOB overflow that is as failsafe as they get, that nothing else can outperform, and that may very well be the best built unit available ... and you can afford it, then buy the lifereef and support a small US business owner.

 

[E.intheC]

so if an overflow box is rated at 600, and you have a 650 gph pump, that will work? (Considering the 650 will be much less at the 4-5 ft of head pressure.).. or......

 

[Yogre]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852341#post14852341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E.intheC
so if an overflow box is rated at 600, and you have a 650 gph pump, that will work? (Considering the 650 will be much less at the 4-5 ft of head pressure.).. or......

You really don't have to exactly match the pump and the box flow rates. The overflow will handle any flow rate up to its rated maximum. So if you were to put a Mag 12 pump on a LifeReef 600gph box, and run the pump wide open, you'd pump more water into the tank than the box could return to the sump, and your tank would overflow. You could put a ball valve on that Mag 12 and throttle its output back so that the overflow could keep up, but you're wasting electricity that way.

There is a minimum flow that you want through the U-tube to keep bubbles from building up at the top of the tube. I don't know what that flow is for the LifeReef box, but I'm sure your 650gph pump will easily do the trick, after subtracting a bit of flow for head pressure loss. If you're curious about how much minimum flow the LifeReef box needs, email Jeff Turchek at LifeReef, he is super responsive and offers about the best service I've ever seen. For what it's worth, I have the LifeReef single overflow on my QT, and my sump, skimmer, and chem filtration are all LifeReef.

Hope that helps.

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852341#post14852341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E.intheC
so if an overflow box is rated at 600, and you have a 650 gph pump, that will work? (Considering the 650 will be much less at the 4-5 ft of head pressure.).. or......

Yes, as long as the overflow box can truly handle the stated flow. For the reputable, reliable, name brand boxes rated for 600 GPH it shouldnt be a problem.

I use a dual Lifereef for a pump that actually does about 900 GPH after head losses.

 

[E.intheC]

That pretty much confirms what I was thinking, and helps a lot Yogre, thank you very much. I'll contact Jeff at Lifereef.

For what it's worth, I think I am starting to overthink this as well. haha..

 

[Yogre]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14852497#post14852497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E.intheC
That pretty much confirms what I was thinking, and helps a lot Yogre, thank you very much. I'll contact Jeff at Lifereef.

For what it's worth, I think I am starting to overthink this as well. haha..

I know I'm guilty of overthinking this sort of stuff! Of course, when I first put that overflow on my tank (had been using a canister filter) and my wife threatened to drown me in the tank if it overflowed... well I made sure I knew what I had before I plugged in the pump! :lol: