HOB overflow box help

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birkhoferfan15

Guest
I am looking for reliable HOB overflow box for my 44 gal pentagon, the tank is established and I dont want to tear it down to drill it and risk losing all my corals and stable system, I'm using a ten gallon sump where Im going to place a small fuge and and my skimmer. Also what gph rating would I need on this size tank for the overflow box and the return pump? Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions
 
dive girl

dive girl

Member
Can you go to a larger sump? The reason I ask is because I first started with a 10g sump for a 29g tank. After a while, and when I thought of enough changes to make it worth while, I switched to a 20g sump. I'm not trying to decide if I want to put a 20g sump (that I already have) or build a 30g for my 30g seahorse tank. The original 10g is sitting in my garage. Go as big as you can; I don't think you'll be sorry.
HOB overflow: there is no 'reliable' one out there. Expect it to flood and do your best to ensure that it does not. There is a Continous Siphon Overflow out there that is supposed to help always keep a flow going but I don't have experience with that one.
How much flow do you want? You don't want to the flow to go too fast past your skimmer or it won't do it's job. What type of skimmer do you have? How high is your tank, you'll need to know the height so that you can take that into consideration for the return rate of the pump.
 
rigdon87

rigdon87

Member
Originally Posted by Dive Girl
http:///forum/post/3169347
HOB overflow: there is no 'reliable' one out there. Expect it to flood and do your best to ensure that it does not. There is a Continous Siphon Overflow out there that is supposed to help always keep a flow going but I don't have experience with that one.
That is a false statement.The most reliable overflow box out there is the u tube style i.e Eshopps.the least reliable is the continous siphon that utilizes a aqua lifter.it relizes souly on the lifter and once that goes then you will have flooding.I had a box that used one and was replacing them every single month and at $25 a pop it wasn't worth it, so i tossed that and bought me a eshopps overflow and love it.Way more reliable and better built.It took some tweakin when i got it due to the manufactors over rating them(gph).I just stuck a ball valve on the return pump and problem fixed..
for your size tank i would recommend the eshopps pf-300 and a mag3 or any pump around 300gph
 
dive girl

dive girl

Member
How is it untrue?
I stated that there is a continous overflow (which there is) and that I couldn't give any information on it because I don't have first hand experience (which is also true). Both of my tanks have regular box ones, an Eshopps and CPR, I think...
If while at work, your U-tube got obstructed with something; perhaps a snail crawled into the overflow and got sucked up and stuck in the tube and your return pump pumped more water than the overflow could handle because of the obstruction, would you not have a flood? (Yes, you probably would. BUT knowing that things like this can happen we try to minimize the likely-hood.)
So, as I see it both of my statements are true.
In your case, you don't like the continous overflow and use a box. In my case, I started and kept with the boxes for my tanks that aren't drilled. But, those boxes could flood, hence not being reliable.
 
rigdon87

rigdon87

Member
Originally Posted by Dive Girl
http:///forum/post/3169347
HOB overflow: there is no 'reliable' one out there. Expect it to flood and do your best to ensure that it does not. There is a Continous Siphon Overflow out there that is supposed to help always keep a flow going but I don't have experience with that one.
This is the part i found to be untrue.Genralizing all overflow boxes to be unreliable and that it's guranteed to flood.The c-siphon you speak of(cpr and rapids surface skimmer)are the ones using a aqua lifter and are more prone to flooding if maintence isn't kept up.Many people will agree that u-tube style overflows are just as reliable as a drilled tank.
Originally Posted by Dive Girl
http:///forum/post/3169381
If while at work, your U-tube got obstructed with something; perhaps a snail crawled into the overflow and got sucked up and stuck in the tube and your return pump pumped more water than the overflow could handle because of the obstruction, would you not have a flood? (Yes, you probably would. BUT knowing that things like this can happen we try to minimize the likely-hood.)
Well in that case,then any tank could flood given a present obstruction or loss in siphon(including rr tanks)
 
todj2002

todj2002

Member
my eshopps has never failed me. wish i could say that for all my diy overflows!!!
i just like to build them and expeirment. i have spent a load of money on pvc and time building different styles. antway. i would go with the eshopps.
 
dive girl

dive girl

Member
Originally Posted by Rigdon87
http:///forum/post/3169398
This is the part i found to be untrue.Genralizing all overflow boxes to be unreliable and that it's guranteed to flood.The c-siphon you speak of(cpr and rapids surface skimmer)are the ones using a aqua lifter and are more prone to flooding if maintence isn't kept up.Many people will agree that u-tube style overflows are just as reliable as a drilled tank.
I didn't say that all overflow boxes are guaranteed to flood, read my posts again, I think you've misunderstood. Before this post I didn't even use the word 'guaranteed'. I said to expect a flood and to do your best to ensure that it does not. I will continue to stand by that statement no matter what kind of tank or set up you have. Drip loops, GFCI, and other types of safe guards are to ensure that our homes are safe IF a flood should happen. Exact same reason I have an earthquake kit... I hope I never have to use it but it's there if I do.
Again, I mentioned several times that I have no experience with the continous siphon and I don't give an opinion on them. I DO have the u-tube overflows and with regular maintence and good luck I have not had them obstruct and cause a flood.
Originally Posted by Rigdon87
http:///forum/post/3169398
Well in that case,then any tank could flood given a present obstruction or loss in siphon(including rr tanks)
We agree!
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
too bad you're not willing to drill, i saw a sick hex tank that had a built-in overflow box. i've heard good things with the eshopps boxes, but they can take up a good amount of room behind the tank.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by Eric B 125
http:///forum/post/3169507
too bad you're not willing to drill, i saw a sick hex tank that had a built-in overflow box. i've heard good things with the eshopps boxes, but they can take up a good amount of room behind the tank.
No the don't. They're 3" wide.
 
B

birkhoferfan15

Guest
Thanks for all the input after looking on here and talking to my LFS I ordered the Eshopps PF-300 Theyre on sale at another supplier. Almost went with the 800 but with that much flow the whole reason for adding a sump would be sacraficed since Im adding a fuge and putting a skimmer in there
 
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