Aquarium overflow box how does it work

This way the height of the water in the tank will not exceed the height of the overflow and when the power goes off the tank will only drain until it reaches the top of the overflow though be careful about back siphons down your return pump line. Well the short answer is that you could. That said though, the overflow offers a bit more flexibility and protection.

The overflow box and its teeth disperse the flow to a much wider area. This helps to keep algae and your critters out.

They are also a lot more attractive than a simple pipe and in the event you need to replace or change a plumbing fitting, you only need to drain the overflow box instead of your entire tank. Every tank has evaporation and in a tank without an overflow, sump, etc that happens right in the aquarium and is noticeable in the display.

Another benefit of using an overflow and sump is that it relocates the signs of this evaporation to the sump and in particular the last chamber assuming you have chambers that holds the return pump. The water will remain steady in every other area. The reason for this is that the only amount of water that exceeds the height of the overflow box will spill into the overflow and back down to the sump.

This can be difficult for some people to make sense of so visualize this: You have a 10g tank filled up to the overflow and a sump with 5 gallons of water in it.

Your move 3 gallons of water from the sump up to the display, how much goes over the overflow and back down to the sump? You add your 3 gallons of water to the tank that holds 10g, but currently has 9g in it, how much overflows into the tank? How much water is left in the sump? Of the 3 gallons 1 is replacing the water that evaporated so only 2 gallons drain back down to the sump. Of the 5 gallons the sump had before, 3 went to the display and 2 came back, which leaves you with 4 gallons in the sump.

Side Bar: The constant water level and self-regulating nature are the same reason folks put a baffle in there sump. The baffle keeps a constant water level in the area before it and if water exceeds that level it spills over into the next chamber.

A constant water level is very important to the performance to a lot of equipment such as protein skimmers. The level of water in the chamber effects how much flow the skimmer pump produces. Content on Reef Tank Resource is copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. All trademarks property of their respective owners. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on pinterest. Staff Writer September 14, Features and Benefits of using an Aquarium Overflow Hide Equipment out of sight Add additional total water volume via a sump which promotes stability Maintain a constant water level in the aquarium 2 Main Aquarium Overflow Types External Overflow Internal Overflow External Overflows In an external overflow water to rises over the rim of your aquarium.

Noise and the Overflow External overflows are naturally quiet due to the siphon required to flow water over the aquarium rim. Durso Overflow Article.

Herbie Overflow Article. Bean Animal Overflow Article. Durso Overflow The basic premise of the Durso design is to submerge the inlet and add an exposed air inlet above the water surface to reduce noise. Herbie Overflow The Herbie design attempts to go silent the same way the external overflow does, by going full siphon.

Bean Animal Overflow This design is a combination of the Durso and Herbie Overflows and includes all three drain pipes. Schedule 40 PVC Diameters. Schedule 80 PVC Diameters. Blockage can render an overflow box useless. Aquarium conditions naturally encourage growth of algae and fungi in the tubes, which will eventually block them if you don't maintain them. Once a tube is blocked, an aquarium can overflow.

Additionally, a plethora of things can block overflow boxes, including wayward substrate, fish and invertebrates. If the overflow box stops, you should check the plumbing and any screens to see if you can find a blockage. You may need to physically pull out the blockage or scrub down the insides with a pipe brush.

You can pick up pipe brushes at hardware stores or pet shops. Overflow boxes often feature siphon tubes to let water flow from the aquarium to the train. You can also buy a length of flex PVC pipe. You will need PVC cement to affix the drain hose to the overflow. Most overflow boxes list an Aqualifter or venturi pump like a Maxi-Jet as an optional accessory. This is optional in name only.

You want one unless you want a flood. Most hobbyists go with the Aqualifter, and many keep a spare on hand. Pick up some standard airline tubing to go along with it. Setting up the overflow Unpackage the overflow box , read the instructions, and make sure everything is there before beginning.

Then, rinse the overflow box and other plastic parts to remove any residue leftover from manufacturing. Attach the bulkhead s , making sure the O-ring is on the inside half. Then, attach the pre-filter screens to the inside of the bulkhead. Then connect the drain hose. If possible, wait to glue the drain hose until you are certain everything is working properly. Next, set the overflow on the lip of the aquarium.

Adjust the height of the overflow so that it is just below where you want the surface of the water to be. Adjust the tilt of the overflow if possible so that it is level with the tank water. Before starting the overflow, fill the sump to the operating level.

It is a good idea to have extra water prepared just in case you need more. Both the inner and first outer part of the overflow need to be filled with tank water. Just grab a cup and fill them. Your next step will be priming the overflow. The area in the middle of the overflow will be filled with air. You need to prime the overflow by siphoning all of the air out.

Here is where the Aqualifter comes in. Attach some airline tubing so that the Aqualifter is pulling the air out of the overflow box and sending it back to the tank. Once all of the air has been pulled out, water will start to flow through the overflow and down to the sump. Leave the Aqualifter attached and running at all times.