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Cant Decide: Pros/Cons of Hang On Back Overflow

So I'm trying to decide weather to upgrade or just keep my freahwater guys into my 30 gallon and put my SW stuff into the 50 G. I was wondering, would doing a HOB overflow/sump be that bad of an idea? I don't want to cut corners, I been there done that. No thank you! I want to know if I get the HOB overflow I'd be okay, like I wouldn't get flooded or anything. And would I be better off just upgrading. Looking for some deep info. here and I'm doing my own research as well. Thanks in advance for the answers!
 

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Ryan. I'm probably the only person here that rather have a hang-on overflow then a reef ready. It's not a bad idea to have one. I find them easier to take care of. Of course adding a sump to your system would be a great benefit. It would give you a place to hide your heaters, skimmers, and any other equipment. It will also give you extra water volume. You can also keep cheato in it to help keep your nitrates down which will help keep your nuisance algae out of your display tank.
 
I def. want a sump if I decide to do the HOB Overflow, I haven't seen alot of people that highly recommended them, of what I seen so far anyway.
 

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I've run tanks with Hang-on's for 30 years. Theres still a lot of people using them and not complaining. It's not their money their spending. I rather spend $50 on a HOB then $500 to replace a tank with a RR one.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Let me first say that the sump / refugium is the only way to go.  Now the only question for you is how to get the flow going to the sump.

We have the box type overflow and we’ve had a few “accidents.”  I believe mikem has the bent tube type overflow, and I’m under the impression that they are less likely to cause problems.  With ours, we purchased the hydrolifter pump and thought that was our assurance of never having a problem.  However, the line going to the pump clogs up frequently…and bam, problem.

Here’s my suggestion:  www.glass-holes.com

You can buy the entire kit…that comes with everything…including the drill bit.  I think it’s a good deal.  It’s quiet and should never be the cause for a flood. 
 
i am curently using a hob. i ahve an ac110 modded to a refug. in the intake pump chamber i have a bunch of lr rubble, along with chemipure elite and phosban bags(although not really needed), and in the main chamber i have a butt load of chaeto!!! it does its job very very very very well!!! i also have the surface skimmer attachment for it, and my water is always crystal clear, lots n lots of pods, and my phos levels are always 0!
i am upgrading my tank to a 90gal, and using my now reef 40 breeder as the sump/fuge. if i did not have this tank to use as the sump/fuge i would def not think twice about using another hob refug!!! good stuff!!! works awesome!!!
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
But Jerzsky, how will you get the water from your 90 down to your 40 sump? Are you planning on an HOB overflow box or will you drill the tank for an internal overflow? That’s the question.
 
i am only using th hob on my 40breeder. which is my display tank now. when i upgrade to my 90gal, i will be using th 40b for my sump. and yes i will be drilling the 90 gal. but if i didnt want t drill the 90, i could always use the hob overflow box i have to flow the water to the sump...
 
Wow, I like that glass holes kit, wish I saw that before I set my tank up. I was afraid of using a HOB, read a few flood problems. Not to say they are bad or will flood but I'm one of those guys who thinks what can go wrong will go wrong. I didn't want to hear any crap from my wife if it did ;D . If you haven't setup the tank yet, that glass holes kit looks like the way to go.
 
yeah, glass-holes kits are awesome!!! i ordered mine a couple days ago, and i think its gonna be here today!! woopyy!!

so, ryan88...if you do not want to drill your tank, or spend the money to setup a sump/fuge under the tank, then a modified hob fuge would work just fine! ive had myac110 on the back of my 40 breeder since i started it, and it works flawlessly!!
 
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