'less expensive' overflow box

[chuckcac]

anyone ever bought an overflow box from the auction web site?
i'm looking at one that looks just like the 'lifereef' model - its a U-tube style overflow rated for 600 gph for $44 + S&H
i dont want to mess around with 'cheap equipment'... but this looks like a real good deal... :thinking:
does anyone have experience with the 'auction site' overflows?
if so, what are your opinions...?

 

[rcdude1990]

if i were u i would get it sounds like a great deal

 

[chuckcac]

thanks rcdude,

i'm considering it...
do you have one? or have experience with one?

 

[bemrocs]

you can find boxes on an on-line auction site(try to guess that are made in the exact same design as CPR makes their overflow boxes, but for a very resonable price. I think I paid like 40$ for mine. This is a quieter design than the tube over the top model IME.

 

[chuckcac]

thanks bemrocs

i'm hesitant about the 'weir box' style that CPR makes. i've read too many horror stories about siphon-break and bubble build up, i'm pretty certain i want a u-tube style.
i plan to upgrade the stand pipe to the 'durso-standpipe' to kill the noise anyway... so i'm not too worried about that.
but thanks for your input

 

[bemrocs]

ahh, ok. I wish you luck and hope the tube overflow works out for you. when I first got my "weir" style box I was also a little skeptical, but it has performed wonderfuly.

 

[chuckcac]

Originally Posted by bemrocs
ahh, ok. I wish you luck and hope the tube overflow works out for you. when I first got my "weir" style box I was also a little skeptical, but it has performed wonderfuly.
do you use airline & a lifter pump to keep a continuous siphon...?
or, do you find alot of air bubble build up at the flat part of the overflow...?

 

[reefkprz]

I have a cheapo owerflow, its from a miracle wet dry, works fint the only hitch ever was if the return pump isnt fast enough bubbles get caught in the u tube, causing siphon break. caught it before it made a mess but just barely.

 

[buzzininnv]

I use an aqua lifter. It so worth the $20-30 to make sure everything works correctly when the power goes off.

 

[bemrocs]

yes, I use an aqualifter. Before I had just plumbed it into a powerhead but it did not pull enough air out of the box. now it is extremely quiet too.

 

[stanlalee]

I have two egay U-tube overflow boxes and they both have worked flawlessly. one had a hairline leak but nothing 5 seconds and acrylic cement didn't fix (they claim to have a lifetime warranty so I could have sent it back but since I already have acrylic cement and the fix is so easy I didn't). I figure that was a freak manufactering defect since my other overflow box is from the same company. paying $120 for a lifereef is like buying name brand sugar, if you cant tell the difference whats the point in paying more. mine were less than $40.

 

[chuckcac]

nice Stanlalee! name brand sugar

you're right... i bought it...

 

[cam78]

I would not recommend the CPR design. Read up on Lifereef, they say most of their customers are ones that bought the CPR overflow.

 

[stone]

I had 3 floods with CRP over a 1year span. Switching to Lifereef, was the best thing i have done. IMO this isnt something to skimp on.

 

[cam78]

Originally Posted by Stone
I had 3 floods with CRP over a 12 year span. Switching to Lifereef, was the best thing i have done. IMO this isnt something to skimp on.
Oh my god!!! :scared:

 

[triggerphish]

Originally Posted by Stone
I had 3 floods with CRP over a 1year span. Switching to Lifereef, was the best thing i have done. IMO this isnt something to skimp on.
My wife would force me out of the hobby by way of a brutal submission hold!

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by Stone
I had 3 floods with CRP over a 1year span.

I much prefer a U-tube style but did you have the lifter pump? I thought when power came back on and returned power to the lifter pump it automatically restarted the siphon (course with any U-tube design the siphon doesn't break during power outages).

 

[cam78]

The lifereef is a u-tube design. If you look under the classifieds on this site I have pictures of mine because I'm selling it. If you have any questions just ask me.

 

[kevin34]

How much do overflow boxes usually go for?

 

[stone]

Originally Posted by Stanlalee
I much prefer a U-tube style but did you have the lifter pump? I thought when power came back on and returned power to the lifter pump it automatically restarted the siphon (course with any U-tube design the siphon doesn't break during power outages).

Yes I had the lifter pump. The problem is it gets clogged at the point on CRP where you put the tube for the lifter pump. One small crustation and its clogged, also to a lesser extent the tube from the lifter can get clogged, it will still siphon with out the lifter, but if its clogged and the power goes out even for a min

Maybe I just had bad luck

PS: I was never sure if the power went out or the siphon failed and triped the breaker, ect' I turn the power off with the lifereef all the time without a worry.