Overflow poll
- Thread starter MandarinFish
- Start date
It depends on how you view the risk of flooding your house? If this is an exciting game of chance then go with the commerical hang-on overflow.
If you want bomb-proof reliability, simplicity, and to save money - drill the tank.
Have you considered a corner overflow triangle (in place of a "box")?
If you want bomb-proof reliability, simplicity, and to save money - drill the tank.
Have you considered a corner overflow triangle (in place of a "box")?
Get it drilled! I have a cpr CS50 overflow, it works sometimes, I almost had an overflow disaster a couple weeks ago. I wasn't running it on a powerhead at the time. Luckily I walked by the tank when a single drip of water was starting down the side. I now have it hooked to my sump pump so it should restart(knocking on wood).
I'm considering getting a new tank drilled just so I don't have to worry about this.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: fishfarmer ]</p>
I'm considering getting a new tank drilled just so I don't have to worry about this.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: fishfarmer ]</p>
Overflow box stopping will cause a flood. Siphon stops, sump pump continues pumping water from sump into already full tank = potential for wet carpet, mad downstairs neighbor. Several ways to minimize flood would be to have sump pump hooked to a float switch, set so once overflow stops from main tank, sump pump shuts off. Hopefully you have enough space in your main tank to accommodate the extra water. You can also run your sump level really low, still hope you have enough space in your tank to accommodate the extra water. My CPR overflow doesn't hang very low in the tank, so I have VERY little extra tank space.
Throw the additional potential for excessive water loss by adding a water topoff device to your sump. Sump level drops, topoff replenishs, works great for adding stuff like kalk. Now if your overflow stops, sump pump keeps pumping, drops sump level so the auto topoff starts replenishing, sump pump keeps pumping. My tank can't handle an additional 3 gals+ of sump/kalk water if the overflow doesn't work.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: fishfarmer ]</p>
Throw the additional potential for excessive water loss by adding a water topoff device to your sump. Sump level drops, topoff replenishs, works great for adding stuff like kalk. Now if your overflow stops, sump pump keeps pumping, drops sump level so the auto topoff starts replenishing, sump pump keeps pumping. My tank can't handle an additional 3 gals+ of sump/kalk water if the overflow doesn't work.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: fishfarmer ]</p>
Drilling a glass tank is so easy. It does not matter if the glass is old. All that matters is that it is not tempered.
You should be able to find a LFS that will do it for $10. For a small tank that is easy enough to move that is probably the best option.
You should be able to find a LFS that will do it for $10. For a small tank that is easy enough to move that is probably the best option.
- Location
- Virginia
Most LFS charge $35 or so for drilling a tank, not including bulkheads. Also, there is never a guarentee that they won't crack the tank. If they do, tough for you. I have used overflow boxes for years without any problems and have never ever had a flood. The key is to get the proper size siphon tubes. If you get too large a flow capacity in your siphon tubes, you're likely to get air bubbles trapped in the tubes and eventually, your siphon will fail and you will get too much water up top. On the other hand, if you get tubes that are too small, you will get the same result. However, if you size the tubes correctly, you won't have any problems. In the event of a power failure, it shouldn't result in any flooding, as your sump should be properly sized to handle the tank level dropping however far your siphon box is set to. Drilling is nice if you plan ahead, but overflow boxes also take up a little less room than an internal drilled overflow box, and are not as noisy as a drilled overflow that goes direct.
Since many LFS or glass companies either won't drill the tank or don't guarantee any breakage, you can rent the proper tool at any tool rental joint and do it yourself. Just remember to go slow and let the saw pull itself down, don't push it. The tool that you rent shoots water out at the point your drilling to keep the glass cool.
Honestly, for the price and hassle of the drilling and bulkheads, why don't you just check around in the local papers and on-line for someone selling a used RR tank in your area.
Honestly, for the price and hassle of the drilling and bulkheads, why don't you just check around in the local papers and on-line for someone selling a used RR tank in your area.
I'm really surprised at some of the opinions being expressed on this thread. I've use both and have been reefing for enough years to know that I would never choose to have a sump unless my tank was drilled. Is a mechanism that requires a siphon as reliable as gravity? I don't think so. For your own peace of mind, and one less thing to maintain, I would drill the tank.
Drill.
There are three types of aquarists that use overflow boxes:
1. Those that have had an overflow, and wet carpet.
2. Those that will have an overflow.
3. Those fortunate few who get a drilled tank before their overflow fails.
I myself was in the 1st category, and now have a drilled tank. FWIW, my overflow worked flawlessly for 18 months and then failed for no explainable reason.
Also, a good recipe for divorce is to be out of town when it fails and to have your wife clean up the mess and then have you talk her through the process of restarting the siphon using airline tubing. She really liked getting a mouthful of saltwater. That one cost me a ring, bracelet and matching earings (saphire) and a night on the couch.
Ernie
There are three types of aquarists that use overflow boxes:
1. Those that have had an overflow, and wet carpet.
2. Those that will have an overflow.
3. Those fortunate few who get a drilled tank before their overflow fails.
I myself was in the 1st category, and now have a drilled tank. FWIW, my overflow worked flawlessly for 18 months and then failed for no explainable reason.
Also, a good recipe for divorce is to be out of town when it fails and to have your wife clean up the mess and then have you talk her through the process of restarting the siphon using airline tubing. She really liked getting a mouthful of saltwater. That one cost me a ring, bracelet and matching earings (saphire) and a night on the couch.
Ernie
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