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boogey247 
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Joined: October 18 2007
Location: Murray
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 Topic: HOB overflow help!!
Posted: March 06 2008 at 8:52am |
Okay so here is my delima. I purchased a tank last weekend and it had a HOB overflow to feed the sump. This is the first time I have had to deal with a HOB overflow. I got it started by using a powerhead to feed the overflow tube. This worked rather well and I was rather excited I was able to do this.  Anyway, I got home yesterday afternoon and the flow was very slow and the sump was very low. I looked at the overflow tube and realized there was a very large air pocket in the overflow tube. I stopped the system and restarted it. My concern is: how often will I have to do this, is there an easier way to do this, and has the technology for using this type of system improved and what can be done? Also if there is anybody in the Murray/Holiday/Fort Union area that has had to deal with this before and can come help me out I would be eternally grateful. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks, Josh.
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29 Gallon Bow Front
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cl2ysta1
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 10:08am |
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put airline tubing up in there from the back side. suck out all the air until it's going well, and than put your tongue on the end of the tube and pull it out as to not le tany air back in. I'm guessing there was a bubble to begin with. also the box the water comes into out of the tank you dont want the water sloshing in there causing bubbles either so you might have to adjust that too. Once you get overflows going i havent had a problem with name brand ones. its the off brands i have aproblems with. I have one on my 72 it's nevere had to be started again. even when the power went out
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I <3 Boxers
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EagleEyez5
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 12:37pm |
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Dis is Y I say to all my students....get it drilled grasshopper.....if that is not an option, I have an hob that is almost brand new, with the dual chamber design($120 new).....call me and we can work somthing out.....
Edited by EagleEyez5 - March 06 2008 at 12:38pm
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MadReefer
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 6:41pm |
I find that if the flow is too slow, then air will slowly gather. I fill a pitcher with water and dump it in the overflow. This extra water pushes the air bubble out.
I have much more flow on a different system and never have to do this.
I've never had an air bubble so big that the flow to the sump is slower then the flow back to the tank.
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hairmonkey
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 8:34pm |
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this will fix it, take it off and throw it on the ground and smash it to pieces. then get the tank drilled. do this before you get in to deep!
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"Logic is your friend"
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MrNewbie
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 9:59pm |
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There are tow kinds of people with over the back overflows, the ones who have experienced their first disaster and those that are waiting for it.
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Just a couple of glass boxes full of slimey things
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cl2ysta1
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Posted: March 06 2008 at 10:49pm |
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we've had two tanks with overflows. never had a problem. our 120 back in ohio has had an overflow for 4 years now? never a single flood. Sure the coralife skimmer flooded all over the Da** floor, but never the overflow. :) i agree drilling is better, but I love the extra space in the tank with a HOB
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unixnum1
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Posted: March 07 2008 at 10:01am |
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I had an overflow on my 35 gallon for 5 years without to many problems.
I found the following:
Make sure the water spilling into the tank side of the tube is not so chaotic that bubbles are produced. To fix this, I added a large holed foam filter in front of the intake tube.
Make sure you have enough water flow to get good flow through tube. This sweeps most of the bubbles through as Madreefer said.
If all of the above fail, drill a hole to the top of the over flow drain, "Very top" glue a small air nipple into the hole, and place an airline tubing from there to venturi on a small powerhead in the tank. Make sure the powerhead is always submerged just below the surface!
This does two things, one it keeps all air from forming in the drain tube and two it automatically starts the siphon for you.
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LordMaximo
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Posted: March 07 2008 at 4:46pm |
One of those back flow preventors will work and they help to prevent the water from squirting out. Drill a hole and glue it in place, when the air is released the check valve closes against the water pressure. Simple and quick.
Maximo
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Trigger Master
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Will Spencer
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Posted: March 07 2008 at 5:13pm |
I've had a HOB overflow on my 180 for over 4 years now and never had a problem with the overflow. I only have to restart the siphon when I remove the "U" tubes for cleaning.
To be fair I had 1 overflow related incident when a huge anemone crawled into the overflow and plugged up the "U" tubes. I would have had the same problem with a drilled tank though.
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: March 07 2008 at 6:01pm |
 unixnum1 wrote:
If all of the above fail, drill a hole to the top of the over flow drain, "Very top" glue a small air nipple into the hole, and place an airline tubing from there to venturi on a small powerhead in the tank. Make sure the powerhead is always submerged just below the surface!
This does two things, one it keeps all air from forming in the drain tube and two it automatically starts the siphon for you.
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This works pretty good. If you do this make sure the powerhead is JUST below the surface. When the power goes out the tank will drain down to the input of the powerhead. Make sure your sump can handle that much water if you use this method
Thanks,
Scott
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
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