Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

Im sorry guys, Ive never run a sump before so Im probably going to be bugging you guys alot. If nothing else, it will get some conversation going on these forums.

Im looking at getting a hangon the back overflow as the title says, But Im wondering what kind I should be looking at. There are the ones that use a powerhead to suck the airbuble out once the siphon has been broken, and then there is the kind that uses a U tube to get the siphon going again ( at least I think thats what thats for)

If any of you have used any of these, I would like to know your experiences. Im wondering about the one that uses the powerhead, Im just wondering if its going to venturi air into my tank at all times. (I dont want that)

Basically, Im just wanting to try and make sure that when my power goes out and comes back on I dont overflow all over the place. Any help on this thing is greatly appreciated.

Well I have never used one that uses a powerhead but my tank has 2 of the U-tube ones that have never failed. Power failures or turning off the return pumps for water changes and they always start siphoning again. With the U-tube both ends of the tube will always be under water so no air should get into the tube. If the pump turns off for any reason it will drain the tank down to the level of the "teeth" on the part of the box that is inside the tank and then that is all. Once the pump comes on, the water will start to flow into the box in the tank and be siphoned over the U and flow down into the sump. My tank drains more water back down the return lines than the overflow box does.


Jeff

IMO, and this is only my opinion. Do not go with a hang-on box. I have never heard anything positive about using a hang-on box. Would it be possible to get the tank drilled ?

The pump you are referring to is called the aqualifter. If I were to have a HOB overflow, then I would definitely consider using one as a safeguard--whether it is the CPR overflow or even a U-tube one. U-tube ones are much less likely to break siphon to begin with, though.