Overflow siphon: Good, bad or ugly

[jamba]

Hi All:

I have a 30 gallon reef and am thinking of adding a refugium-sump.

My tank is not drilled which means I would need to use an overflow siphon.

Do you have experience with these? If yes, do they work ok? Which brands look good? Tubes or continious overflow?

I have a powerhead with the venturi on, so I am thinking the bubbles could break the siphon. Is that right?

Thanks,
Jamba

[reefBoyDc]

Hi, looks like your thread got looked over.

I have a u-tube syphon overflow. It has been working great for me for a long time. As long as you have enough flow, the bubbles whould pass right through. But just out of curiosity, why are you blowing bubbles in your tank?

[Loverotties]

yea were are the bubbles goming from!your ph?

[jamba]

Hi there

I now have the venturi tube in the overflow tube. So, when the overflow tube gets air in it the venturi intake clears it.

I was using the venturi before to keep the water oxygenated.

Cheers,
Greg

[Justin]

Definately nix the venturi. Leave the oxygenation to your skimmer and the trickle from the overflow.Not only does air bubbles irrate some coral but accounts for MASS salt creep. A sump is never a bad idea. Me personally am using a retro overflow w/ U-tube, as far as brands I think CPR makes a top notch overflow, but something is better than nothing IMO, shop around as the options are endless.

-Justin

[Phishnoob]

I am going to draw up a picture sometime this week of Tom's homemade overflow thingy that has a doohicky to prevent flooding. Oh yeah, Tom is some guy we met on the street and not a moderator or anything in case you destroy your home (there...you are covered brotha).

We are doing this to our 55 with a sump.

We are moving far away and renting currently, so it seems like a great time to test this out.