Overflow box, overflow protection

[diverrk]

Ok I am still considering an overflow box, but the obvious reason not to has been what I have read about "Flooding" after siphon loss. Here is what I am considering. I feel that it is as simple as putting a float switch inline with the return pump, and setting it to cut off the power to the pump if the water level in the sump drops down to a point where the main tank will start to overfow itself.

Has anyone ever tried this ? Seems like an extemely simple solution.

Whadaya Think !!

Rich

 

[Hawkeye]

just read this on another board:

"So you need to design sumps very carefully - they need to hold enough water to resist underflow due to evaporation for a reasonable length of time, but not so much that that can't hold the residual overflow from the tank when the power goes off. And there needs to be enough room in the tank that if the overflow fails, the additional water pumped up from the sump does not flood it. "

The overflow/siphon can fail if the u-tube gets clogged and breaks siphon - or worse it doesn't break, just slows down (snail stuck) that the pump pushes too much water into the display.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I’m very interested in hearing answers to this question as well.  Being very new to salt and having an overflow that just two weeks ago lost siphon and flooded the floor, I’m in need of a better solution.  Actually have one of these switches, but haven’t installed it because my thought was that after a siphon loss, the volume in the piping would still have the pump putting excess water up into the display tank. 

Not being happy with the flood we had, that fried one of the power stripes (ever try unplugging the pump while the power strip is smoking in salt water…shocking experience!), I’m looking at alternatives as well.

My understanding is that there is an overflow box that doesn’t require an Aqualifter, and never losses siphon…can’t remember the name off-hand, but seriously considering.***  Floods aren’t fun…not the mention the effect on oak floors.

EDITED TO ADD: ***Lifereef is the overflow that claims it never losses siphon…if anyone can corroborate, I'm all ears.

 

[diverrk]

I looked at the Lifereef, I can't see what makes it 100% failproof. I have seen similar knockoff designs a hell of alot cheaper, but again don't know the difference between them and Lifereef's. The ultimate guarantee from them would be " We will pay for all costs for repairs due to failure of our product " ;D

 

[curt]

you could use two overflows
i have used only one per tank for over 20 years never had a flood (knock on wood)
just set up a 58 gal rr so no more worry about siphon loss

 

[curt]

also if you are using a spray bar try not to make bubbles on the surface
were they will go into your overflow box and up the tube
when i used them i would have to get the air out every few weeks
hope this helps

 

[ds4x4]

how about Tom's Rapids pro series? the idea is simple a pump suck the water into the overflow then if the power is cut both pumps stop

 

[vangvace]

the following is NOT from personal experience:

If using a U-tube type overflow it is imperative that both ends of the tube remain submerged to maintain siphon.

Eggcrate or vinyl screen mesh can work wonders in keeping critters out of plumbing.

I've seen (on the internetz) float valves that turn off return pumps the same way ATO units due.

 

[DaveK]

I use a Lifereef overflow. While I would not want to say you can never have an overflow problem with a Lifereef overflow, I can say that I have had no problems with it, even after several years in use. It replaced a CPR overflow which had given me quite a few serious problems, including some big floods.

Like any other quality product Lifereef overflows are a lot more expensive. If you want one it will cost about double what a CPR overflow will cost, but you'll have a lot less problems with it.

 

[diverrk]

Thanks Dave ! I feel better when I get responses from people who have used them for quite sometime. I think I am going to go with the lifereef, but got to wait till after Xmas Gotta start saving for the kiddies ;D