Overflow poll

[fishfarmer]

esmithii,
Don't say that, knocking on wood, knocking on wood. I have to go away for a few days, now I'm paranoid again!

 

[Jeff Hood]

I have used a U tube overflow for the last 12 years. I have never had an accident with it. Just takes regular maintance and check it before you leave town. Periodic cleaning of the U tubes is essential. I also placed black electrical tape around the tubes to prevent Algae from growing.

Lifereef is a great brand for this product.

Jeff

 

[Iron]

when buying glass tanks drilling is best cuz lfs will guarrentee it cuz your buying it like that. drilling a old one there maybe a risk but alot of ppl don't have a prob. If you go will a hangon stay away from cpr and get a lifereef. But I will always buy a predrilled tank in the future. acyclic tanks have less of a risk when drilling old tanks but the risk is always there.fwiw

 

[mweber]

If you follow this simple principal you will not have an overflow, and it doesn't matter if you have a drilled tank or not.

Set the inlet of your pump or pumps that pump from your sump to your tank a short distance below the water level in your sump. I have mine at 4" below water level. Set the water level in your display tank low enough that when your tank return fails for what ever reason, your pumps will suck air and stop pumping back to the tank before the level in the tank can overflow. I have my tank set at 1.25" below overflow.

Also set the water level in your sump low enough such that when the electricity goes off your sump does not overflow.

I have a few other optional safeties.

Put an emergency overflow on your sump that will send your water down the sewer if all else falis.

Limit your top off evap water device with a timer or orfice or some mechanism that will not it to add over a few gallons per day.

Ok so I wish my tank was drilled but it's not and I've never had a spill and don't think I will.

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

The reason you need an overflow and not just some anti-flood measure is that you want to have efficent removal of the surface water from the tank. This is guaranteed if the water is cascading over the edge of something.

A drilled tank with a piece of glass glued in the corner (to form a triangle) is cheap, simple, efficent and 100% reliable. WHat more can you want?

 

[MandarinFish]

Awesome responses everyone - my many thanks.

Next question... who should I hire to drill my tank in the Bay Area? Every glass shop says no, except for one who is asking $120 to come out and do it.

Since it is a 135 gallon tank, it's not going anywhere.

Any suggestions on who to have drill it?

 

[MandarinFish]

Stupid me - I just followed your directions and a local LFS guy will do it safe, and for cheap. He's got tons of experience.

Rock on reefers. Thanks a million for the help.

 

[Bruce Richards]

I have a Lifereef single overflow that has performed flawlessly for a year (knock on wood!)and I learned through lots of online research that Lifereef is one of the best. Any tank I build in the future *WILL BE A DRIILED TANK* ! You cannot guarantee an overflow box 100%. The only reason I have an overflow is because I decided to add a sump to my tank after it had been running already. In hindsight I wish I had still broken it down and had it drilled!

Also, even if it cost you $50 to have your tank drilled, it would still be way cheaper than buying a new overflow.
HTH, Bruce

 

[MandarinFish]

How do TruVu (sp?) overflows compare with Lifereef?

 

[MandarinFish]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MandarinFish:
<strong>How do TruVu (sp?) overflows compare with Lifereef? What's the cheapest place to get Lifereef stuff?</strong><hr></blockquote>

 

[whirley]

Drill it!
Just that simple.
whirley

 

[MandarinFish]

Still having problems.

Only 1 glass shop said they will do it. They've never done a tank before and want $120. No guarantees if they shatter my glass, of course.

The LFS I've talked to has a guy who has mostly done acrylic, and said he's had about a 60% success rate with glass. The rest have shattered. He also doesn't have the right bit to do it any more. He said it would be easy, but when I got there and discussed that it was glass he was a bit reluctant.

The LFS guy also said that the stress on the weakened glass around the hole, once my 135 is filled with water/rock/sand is going to be so strong the glass will break.

People say it's easy. but I'm not finding it to be such. The bits are expensive, and the process risky for a DIY job, especially with thick 135 gallon glass.

Glass shops are reluctant. The most knowledgable guy I've talked to so far really warned me against drilling a 135 because of risk of breakage, both during drilling and after tank filling.

So I'm back to square 1 and leaning toward a Lifereef overflow box, which costs $30 less than drilling and won't result in a shattered tank.

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: MandarinFish ]</p>

 

[jethro]

Has anyone ever drilled a tank withouth actually removing all the inhabitants. Could I get away with lowering the water level and drilling the hole?

I have a do-it-yourself overflow made of PVC that is working well. However, I have had some close calls.