Overflow issue

[ThisCityIsDead]

Hey guys, I have a hang on back overflow. The common pipe one I've seen. Anyhow, I am struggling with it. It sometimes can't keep up with the return pump and it looses its suction. I have the return pump at its lowest setting. I do have a cap on the overflow with holes to prevent any fish or shrimo from going in:| YIKES!

I was thinking of purchasing a mother return pump and replacing the overflow with it.

Will this work, or is the overflow just a bad overflow I made.

 

[gone fishin]

A lot of times if the overflow is getting air bound then the return is not putting out enough flow. You say you have the return turned all the way down, try increasing the flow. Good luck

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Well, I have he flow to the lowest setting because even if I have it to the med setting, my tank will overflow in about 30 minutes. The pipe will be submerged in water and won't really suck any of the water.

 

[gone fishin]

Can you post a pic of the overflow. I apologize I just saw the part about the cap on the overflow. Can you remove the cap, this may be restricting your drain to much. I am having a hard time trying to visualize.

 

[Thunderfan]

Glad I decided to drill my tank. My luck I would have worse problems than this.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

http://youtu.be/Cmhu7uxPIm4 this is what mine looks like. I followed this tutorial. It seems like it's a common design since it popped up everywhere.

@gone fishing: omg. I should've too... My room is still soaked.... I have carpet. I had to rent a rug dr to drain most of it out. So far I've spilt about 60G... The largest flood was about 25G overnight . That happened 3 nights ago

 

[gone fishin]

I watched the video. I don't have any experience with that type of overflow. I do seem to recall quite awhile back someone else had a similar style with the same issues. My only suggestion would be to get a HOB overflow box. At least you would not need a rug dr on standby.

 

[Tigerdragon]

What sized pipe did you use? I am running this on my frag tank and its doing fine. I made some mods to mine i used 1" schec 20 pvc put a bulkhead screen in mine. On my drain i put a ball valve in so i could adjust the siphon to make it quiet. If your tubing is too small it wont flow enough to keep up with rtrn pump

 

[m0nkie]

I would suggest you drill the tank. But if you don't want to spend that much effort yet, try build another one with bigger pipe diameters. it might get much louder with air going through

What is your return pump and how many gph is it pushing? That number will help you get the correct PVC size.

or get something like this and build a better plumbing system. like herbie or beananimal

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

The pump I have does 300GPH but I have it turned way low. The pvc pipes I use are 3/4 (.75). I will be making another one, but I saw this other design where they use the same design, but two are attached. I will make it using a 1".

As for the design you provided, doesn't that require the tank to be drilled?

 

[SGT_York]

Those DIY PVC overflows don't work at all, best option is as above to drill your tank. If you are not willing to commit that then buy an actual hang on the back overflow common at BRS and other places. They are around $70 bucks or so.

This is a really good one that will work (not as good as drilling but much better than what you have)

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/deluxe-cpr-continuous-siphon-overflows.html

 

[m0nkie]

As for the design you provided, doesn't that require the tank to be drilled?

It's a hangon overflow. Like others suggested.

 

[MondoBongo]

http://youtu.be/Cmhu7uxPIm4 this is what mine looks like. I followed this tutorial. It seems like it's a common design since it popped up everywhere.

@gone fishing: omg. I should've too... My room is still soaked.... I have carpet. I had to rent a rug dr to drain most of it out. So far I've spilt about 60G... The largest flood was about 25G overnight . That happened 3 nights ago

oh boy, well there's your problem. some cobbled together DIY hack. i don't even know how that thing works at all. :hmm1:

as the others suggested, if you're not able or interested in drilling your tank, i would just buy a realy HOB overflow. i really like the eshoppes ones. i have had good success with the two i am currently running.

http://www.eshopps.com/products/overflowboxes/

you can get them at most major online retailers, or many LFS.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Do they require a pump? I was looking at the 800 one. It says it's good for 75-125G

 

[gone fishin]

Just a return pump.

 

[Maxxingout]

My 2 cents, since I'm going through a new build and contemplated a HOB vs drilling due to my receding maleness. After all the reading about HOB OF I was walking away with a feeling of not if but when it'll fail. Watched videos, read, read, read, ordered my diamond drill bits off BRS and now have 3 holes in my tank.

As you've probably read people posting about how easy it was compared to what they had in there head is true. Take your time, get setup with water and a template (I did it without one but would recommend using one) and enjoy the fact that you took the right step.

 

[Jeff210]

I can understand why you don't want to break down an established tank to drill it. The HOB's with the pump as SGT mentioned above are as fail-safe as you are going to be able to get...

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Look Up LIFEREEF overflows.
Best you can get!