Best Overflow? who makes it

jjschwi · #1 09/25/2002, 09:38 AM

I am going to put in a sump for my 55Gal tank, who makes the best overflow? I have heard bad things about CPR's here at reefcentral, how about Amiricle. tell, guys what are you using and have you had success with it, problems, suggestions, ect.. I want the low down before I purchase. thanks everyone

Jake

SeanT · #2 09/25/2002, 09:41 AM

All signs point to lifereef.

Click on Prefilter/Siphon Box.
Then About Lifereef Prefilter/Siphon Boxes.

MPETERS · #3 09/25/2002, 09:44 AM

Hi,

Lifereef makes great products. I haven't heard any bad comments about him.

Luck,

dgin · #4 09/25/2002, 10:22 AM

I use 2 of the Amiracle units and they work great. They are a little larger than the Lifereef units, flow about the same, made of injected PVC instead of glued acrylic and about half the price. You can't go wrong with either.

Avoid the CPR overflows as you will need a powerhead to help remove bubble accumulation. They are also much harder to clean.

MalHavoc · #5 09/25/2002, 10:36 AM

I'll also throw in my recommendation for the Lifereef. Great stuff.

jjschwi · #6 09/25/2002, 10:54 AM

thanks so much, I will order the life reef soon. I like the smaller size, and the track record with you all.

Jake

onethumb · #7 09/25/2002, 12:18 PM

I know you've already decided on Lifereef, but I just wanted to recommend them as well. I just got some stuff from them, including an overflow box, and the build quality is fantastic.

Couldn't recommend them higher.

Don

mikester · #8 09/25/2002, 12:36 PM

I just went through this same evaluation process. I went to Lifereef to order the overflow, and was so impressed with what I saw that I ordered an entire system from them - sump, skimmer, the works!

Now, I can't wait until 10/15, which is when my system is supposed to ship.

DgenR8 · #9 09/25/2002, 12:47 PM

See this thread about my trials and tribulations with a CPR knock off. It won't get you closer to which overflow to buy, but it should help you know what to avoid and why.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/vbull...now+I+KNOW+why

billyblue · #10 09/25/2002, 04:53 PM

The BEST overflow is a drilled tank.

(Just had to add that

)

onethumb · #11 09/25/2002, 05:03 PM

billyblue,

I couldn't agree more. I drilled my acrylic tank 2 weekends ago and couldn't be happier.

It turned out to be very simple and easy to do with acrylic.

Don

mikester · #12 09/25/2002, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billyblue
The BEST overflow is a drilled tank.

(Just had to add that )

Good point. Not an option for all of us, unfortunately.

However, we are in the process of selling our house, so hopefully we will be moving to a new house in a few months. Since I will have to tear down and move the tank anyway, I have been thinking about replacing just the tank with a reef ready model. My LFS can get me the RR Oceanic 72g bowfront - just the tank - for $230. Doesn't sound like too bad a deal - I'll just have to see if I can swing it after all the other moving expenses are taken care of.

agiacosa · #13 09/26/2002, 05:08 AM

I just hung an overflow on my 58. I think most of the U-Tube ones are fine. The trick for newbies like me is the plumbing and safety features. You don't want to let the pump run dry or flood your room.

I followed the suggestions from this forum and the plumbing seems fine. My overflow is rate at around 300 gph and I'm using a very quiet Quiet One pump. I had to throttle-back the pump a little using a gate valve.

Everything is working great but it is noisy! A lot of air is being flushed down along with the water. Oh well, time for a Durso standpipe...does it every end!

#14 09/26/2002, 10:46 AM

i had a lifereef on my 125. no complaints from me

Aegis · #15 10/09/2002, 10:40 PM

Regarding Lifereef Prefilter/siphon boxes:

For those of you that have them, have you tried to max out the flow? Do they perform to the 700/1400 GPH advertised?

Aegis · #16 10/10/2002, 02:08 PM

^

mikester · #17 10/10/2002, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis
Regarding Lifereef Prefilter/siphon boxes:

For those of you that have them, have you tried to max out the flow? Do they perform to the 700/1400 GPH advertised?

Well, if no one else knows, I'll let you know in a week or two. My lifereef system is shipping Tuesday, and I am planning on maxing it out around 700 gph on my system.

Brimarbio · #18 10/10/2002, 03:25 PM

I've got a drilled tank so I've not had to deal with overflow systems and such, but why not simply make your own out of a few Rubbermaid containers?
Brian

billyblue · #19 10/11/2002, 04:36 AM

The "overflow" is not the same as the sump. Many people do use plastic containers for sumps... but a DIY overflow is far more complicated.

Brimarbio · #20 10/11/2002, 09:08 AM

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an overflow simply two boxes on either side of the tank's top with a hole in the bottom of one to drain into a sump and a U shaped piece of tubing to connect the two with a syphon? Might be missing something here, but from what I know of them it would be a snap to make your own.
Brian

DgenR8 · #21 10/11/2002, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brimarbio
Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an overflow simply two boxes on either side of the tank's top with a hole in the bottom of one to drain into a sump and a U shaped piece of tubing to connect the two with a syphon? Might be missing something here, but from what I know of them it would be a snap to make your own.
Brian

I don't know about it being "a snap"
How would you deal with the loss of syphon if/when power goes out temporarily??? There are DIY designs, but a small error in assembly could cause a BIG flood. Not a chance I want to take.

I have been struggling with 2 different "off the shelf" overflows. Neither ever caused a flood by losing syphon, but both have given me major headaches. I've been looking at different overflows lately, and decided that I'm going to upgrade to a Reef Ready 180 or 220 gal tank. Anyone interested in a used 125 with 2 different syphon overflows?