tips for oveflow box users?

[ganjero]

Does any one has any? Im setting up a 20g long tank and I'm gonna be using an OB, CPR OB with aqua lifter. I have a 125g that I drilled, and I think that is the best method, but that tank is acrylic and the 20 is glass and I dont want to break it.

[Travis L. Stevens]

It's really easy to drill a glass tank. Especially one that small. Look in the DIY Forum for a few How-To's. I've got 3x 75g tanks, 2x 29g, and 13x 10g tanks and a few more oddballs under my belt.

[ganjero]

how many of you use overflow boxes with no problems?

[Toddrtrex]

I have a lifereef overflow box ( U Tube ) and I have had zero issues with it, been running ti for about 2 years now. The only time it has lost the syphon was when I removed the tube on purpose.

IME, U-tubes are the better option if using a overflow box.

[teetimefun]

U-Tubes work much better. I've tried both and the U tubes are definately safer I use 2 Amiracle overflows on my 30 and I shut off my pumps too feed everyday and they have never lost siphon and you don't need anything to pump out the air.

[hootie51]

I have an overflow with a U tube as well and have never lost siphon in over a year.

[tm49er]

i have used an overflow box on my 90 for 3 years or so. Never had a problem at all. Mine is a u tube design.

[reefinmike]

i have a tip... throw it away!

they are big, ugly, and worrysome

[sjm817]

Drill the tank if you can. If not, use a quality U Tube overflow. Lifereef is the best out there. The CPR is a terrible design.

[Satori]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9965193#post9965193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Drill the tank if you can. If not, use a quality U Tube overflow. Lifereef is the best out there. The CPR is a terrible design.

I agree. I had a CPR on my old 55 gallon, and it lost siphon 3 different times, causing a small flood. One time the airline hose came off the nipple, another time the airline clogged with something, and the other time, I don't know what happened.

[hootie51]

I agree to drill the tank if possible...my next tank will definitely be drilled, but in the meantime my overflow hasn't failed me yet.

[ganjero]

My tank is a shallow tank, It's only about 12" tall so to drill the whole it would have to be very high near the edge, wouldnt that be risky for the to break the tank to break during the drilling or for the tank to break later on?

[spleen93]

Not sure why a shallow tank would require a drilled hole any higher than one that is deeper. Just make your overflow deeper ... or like Travis' overflow, make it out of 6 inch PVC and extend it to the floor of the tank. :)

Spleen

[moumda]

I had cpr overflows on my 125, 2 of them, with aqualifters. Had lots of problems with the aqualifters and lost flow several times. Got a lifereef (2 of them), had a box built out of black acrilic that fit over the top of the overflow so there was no light on the u-tube, No algea frowth and no loss of suction in 2 years! Even so I wish I had drilled my tank. Best method and you can use a dremel to drill a 20.

[sjm817]

Generally, you drill ~ 2" down from the top on any size tank. A 20g has thin glass, so extra care should be used.