I am planing to add overflow box to my tank, but am kinda fuzzy about the setup. Can someone please explain? From the overflox box itself I know it goes to the sump and everything, but where does the pump for the overflow box tie into the process? Also where are some places online I can order one from? Thanks
Overflow Box Question
- Thread starter gomab14
- Start date
Shagsbeard
New member
Overflow boxes rely on siphon to bring water over the edge of the tank. Siphon is broken if air accumulates in the hose causing your sump to be pumped into your tank with no drainage, and flood your living room.
Different overflows deal with this problem in different ways. Some restrict flow to the point where water is traveling fast enough so that air accumulation is impossible. The problem with this solution is that if something blocks the flow... you get a flood.
Other overflows have a pump to remove air that builds up in the siphon. Problem with this one... pumps will break. Not CAN break... they will. And when they do... you flood your living room.
Both solutions are viable provided you keep on top of them. I have the pump the air out version (CPR with Aqualifter). As long as I maintain that Aqualifter, I should be ok. Others swear by using U-tubes for siphon and claim they could NEVER fail... they're wrong... they can and will fail if they are not maintained.
Drilling your tank for natural gravity driven overflow is a much much better solution... if you have that option available... take it.
Different overflows deal with this problem in different ways. Some restrict flow to the point where water is traveling fast enough so that air accumulation is impossible. The problem with this solution is that if something blocks the flow... you get a flood.
Other overflows have a pump to remove air that builds up in the siphon. Problem with this one... pumps will break. Not CAN break... they will. And when they do... you flood your living room.
Both solutions are viable provided you keep on top of them. I have the pump the air out version (CPR with Aqualifter). As long as I maintain that Aqualifter, I should be ok. Others swear by using U-tubes for siphon and claim they could NEVER fail... they're wrong... they can and will fail if they are not maintained.
Drilling your tank for natural gravity driven overflow is a much much better solution... if you have that option available... take it.
Not quite...
A U-Tube overflow relies on the velocity through the tube to keep bubbles clear. There is no restriction. This this the most reliable design. A C Channel overflow such as a CPR can not accomplish this since the channel is too wide and flat. To get around the problem, a vacuum pump such as an Aqualifter is used to remove the accumulated air. This design is not reliable.
A clog in an overflow of any type including internal will likely result in a flood.
The most reliable overflow in the industry is a Lifereef. Highly recommended.
A U-Tube overflow relies on the velocity through the tube to keep bubbles clear. There is no restriction. This this the most reliable design. A C Channel overflow such as a CPR can not accomplish this since the channel is too wide and flat. To get around the problem, a vacuum pump such as an Aqualifter is used to remove the accumulated air. This design is not reliable.
A clog in an overflow of any type including internal will likely result in a flood.
The most reliable overflow in the industry is a Lifereef. Highly recommended.
Liquid Hobby
New member
I second that!
How do the channel style of overflows work? Is their only advantage the supposed additional amount of water that can flow? It seems more difficult to get the flow started, I don't understand how the pump helps at all.
If you have a standpipe or a bulk head in the overflow box, there should be no fear of a flood. Even if a snail were to go up the pipe, a netting around the standpipe would stop it from overflowing.
If you have a standpipe or a bulk head in the overflow box, there should be no fear of a flood. Even if a snail were to go up the pipe, a netting around the standpipe would stop it from overflowing.
Liquid Hobby
New member
...maybe the most reliable HOB overflow but more reliable than an internal overflow with multiple gravity fed drains?
Any pipe can get clogged. However, with an internal overflow that is the only concern. With an external, HOB overflow you contend with a clogged pipe, clogged U-tube AND loss of siphon.
em805
Premium Member
I have to agree with shagsbeard... I never liked having an overflow on my tank--it caused nothing but headaches. during power outages I would have to worry about water spilling and it was very noisy. I have to say though, that I have also heard alot of ppl like using overflow boxes but, I can only speak from my own experience. I would recomend you look into drilling your tank yourself if you have acrylic or having it drilled if you have glass. Acrylic is alot easier to drill if you have never done it before wereas glass (I think) is a little more risky.
Drilling a tank is not always possible. For a new tank, sure thing. As long as its drillable, no reason not to. To tear down an established tank to drill it is usually not a desirable option. If you need to add an overflow in this situation, get a good one. Again. Lifereef is as good as they come. FWIW, they claim no failures in the 18 years they have been selling them. I've seen posts here of people running 6 - 7 years problem free. I've been running mine for ~ 2 without a single hitch.
Liquid Hobby
New member
Are we sure this is an existing system? The thread author is letting us all ramble on!
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