HOB Overflow Flooding solutions

It's not user error if the overflow is not designed to rid it's bubbles from the U tube as it was sold.

 

Iif you don't want to drill, get a good quality HOB overflow. The only maintenance you need to do is cleaning the U-tube once you notice algae but to be honest, I've had mine going for 6 months and haven't needed to clean just yet. Every tank is different but either way, spend the time and get a good quality, it's cheaper than replacing floors.

Don't get the one with an aqualifter pump because that is another point of failure...plus the reason they need a pump is because it's poorly designed in the first place. This is all my opinion though so no yelling at me

 

If you have to get a HOB, the lifereef or eshopps appear to be the best ones.

These are still not as good as a drilled tank, and they cost more too.


Drilling a non RR tank is easy to do.

 

My return just touches the water surface, I adjust the water level for this purpose. If I turn off the pump for feeding or water changes I leave my refugium down a couple inches, (I have it marked as the full line) to allow for the small amount of siphon back. I too was told of the 1/8 hole drilled but I don't trust that. Nor trust the check valves, they do make some but you must be careful they do not contain metal parts, they are expensive and they will plug and not close off completely. I have a 55 with a HOB and it is working beautifully.

 

Well, it is if the user built it themselves, which is where I imagine 95% of the problems coming from. Anyone selling prebuilt units should have a semblance of how to provide a tiny baffle or tall drain in the outer box to get it to work without breaking a siphon.

 

Here are a few hints, 1. drill a small hole in the return end of the overflow box, when the water drains from the tank and air hits that hole, it will break the suction and stop the water from flowing back into your sump. 2. even with the before mentioned hole that you drilled, some water 1-3 inches of your water level will still drain into your sump, so when you have the hole drilled, shut off the return pump and watch how much water goes into your sump, as long as it doesnt overflow, you have a good level of water in there. You than want to get a sharpie and mark the maximum fill water line on the sump, so when you do your water changes or add water you wont over fill your tank, thus avoiding any possible overflow.

 

Thanks for the info on the HOB this will help ease my mind about getting one. I have tempered glass so drilling is not an option and if I want a sump I have to go with a HOB overflow.

 

Are you sure that the glass on your 75 is tempered? It's usually just the bottom on a tank that size.

I don't get how an overflow would lose siphon when the power goes off. Bubbles can accumulate in the u-tube and break the siphon if the flow is too low. Either increase the flow, remove a u-tube, or put in a bubble trap, like a piece of stiff filter media. If the overflow is designed correctly and the flow is right, the only thing that would break the siphon would be lifting a u-tube out of the water. I've had an HOB overflow for about three years now without issue, although I prefer a pre-drilled tank.

 

Well person I bought it from said it was tempered and a warning lable in bottom says do not drill glass enclosure so I am pretty sure it is tempered. It is an Aqueon Aquarium and says it is from All-Glass aquariums.

 

If it's an AGA just the bottom is tempered. The sides can be drilled.

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf