what is an overflow box???

[padlock 08]

so, what is an overflow box and how do they work?? i have no certain intentions of putting a sump on any of my systems but may do it on one of the 2 displays in my fish room. it's just that i keep hearing about them and don't fully understand them... yet

-Paul
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240L: Malawi Mbuna
Play Sand, Limestone, Blue+White Lights, Blue Background
Greshakei, Yellow Labs, Tropheops Chilumba, Synodontis Occellifer
_____________________________________

Other Tanks, But No Cichlids.
Fishroom Construction Almost Done

[imusuallyuseless]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219465
_________________
75G: Midas/RD x2, GT, Oscar x2, Nics x6, Salvini x2, TX, Native Texas Sunfish X2, channel catfish
10G: Trimac x 6, Black Nasty, Cutteri
75G, 110G, 135G & 4' HIGH 180G: Empty

Looking 4 interesting cichlids in SA, TX!

[Mcdaphnia]

That URL was an overflow that works on the same principle as an overflow box but is made of pipes. The advantage of the oveflow box is that it's less prone to be clogged on the intake because it has a "comb" of slots that draw from the surface. It can also be less noisy, although that's subjective. It may be that the box sounds less like a constantly flushing toilet than the pipes do rather than truly being quietier. Boxes have a space for a prefilter that quiets everything, but you have to trade it out at least daily with a clean one.

The alternative to either is a bulkhead fitting.

[padlock 08]

ok. i think i got the pipe idea now , thanks guys, one question though, why couldn't you just have one pipe filled with waterflowing down to the sump from the aquariums side? is it so if the power cuts the system starts again that it has all the bends?? and i don't know at all about the box, that post doesn't explain too well
_________________
240L: Malawi Mbuna
Play Sand, Limestone, Blue+White Lights, Blue Background
Greshakei, Yellow Labs, Tropheops Chilumba, Synodontis Occellifer
_____________________________________

Other Tanks, But No Cichlids.
Fishroom Construction Almost Done

[imusuallyuseless]

The box uses pretty much the same concept as the pipes. There are two boxes. One inside the tank and one outside the tank. The water enters through the slots on the inside box, then proceed through the U-tubes into the outer box. There is a standpipe in the outer box that sends the water down to the sump. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac5INzyfko0&feature=player_embedded
_________________
75G: Midas/RD x2, GT, Oscar x2, Nics x6, Salvini x2, TX, Native Texas Sunfish X2, channel catfish
10G: Trimac x 6, Black Nasty, Cutteri
75G, 110G, 135G & 4' HIGH 180G: Empty

Looking 4 interesting cichlids in SA, TX!

[Mcdaphnia]

[padlock 08]

thanks guys, i think i understand them now, last question (i promise ) in the box inside then tank, will the pipe drawing the water from the box not run dry and lose it siphon after the power stops and the water level drops below the slots?

-Paul
_________________
240L: Malawi Mbuna
Play Sand, Limestone, Blue+White Lights, Blue Background
Greshakei, Yellow Labs, Tropheops Chilumba, Synodontis Occellifer
_____________________________________

Other Tanks, But No Cichlids.
Fishroom Construction Almost Done

[imusuallyuseless]

In a properly designed overflow there are only slots near the upper portion of the box inside the tank. This allows water to stay in the bottom of the box. So even when the pump is not running there should always be enough water in the bottom of both boxes to maintain the siphon of the U-tubes.
_________________
75G: Midas/RD x2, GT, Oscar x2, Nics x6, Salvini x2, TX, Native Texas Sunfish X2, channel catfish
10G: Trimac x 6, Black Nasty, Cutteri
75G, 110G, 135G & 4' HIGH 180G: Empty

Looking 4 interesting cichlids in SA, TX!

[padlock 08]

but will the siphon not drain the box and keep doing that until the water supply stops, i.e when the water level drops below the slots, the will the box just not get drained??
_________________
240L: Malawi Mbuna
Play Sand, Limestone, Blue+White Lights, Blue Background
Greshakei, Yellow Labs, Tropheops Chilumba, Synodontis Occellifer
_____________________________________

Other Tanks, But No Cichlids.
Fishroom Construction Almost Done

[imusuallyuseless]

The height of the standpipe on the outside box keeps the water from draining completely.

_________________
75G: Midas/RD x2, GT, Oscar x2, Nics x6, Salvini x2, TX, Native Texas Sunfish X2, channel catfish
10G: Trimac x 6, Black Nasty, Cutteri
75G, 110G, 135G & 4' HIGH 180G: Empty

Looking 4 interesting cichlids in SA, TX!

[padlock 08]

ahhhhh, thanks for that, i completly understand it now thanks for the help guys
_________________
240L: Malawi Mbuna
Play Sand, Limestone, Blue+White Lights, Blue Background
Greshakei, Yellow Labs, Tropheops Chilumba, Synodontis Occellifer
_____________________________________

Other Tanks, But No Cichlids.
Fishroom Construction Almost Done