I Hate My Overflow (How To Fix It?)

minerva · #1 01-20-2010, 05:13 AM

My tank is not drilled - I have a HOB overflow. When it works, it works well, piping water down to the sump below my tank. The problem is, it regularly gets bubbles stuck in it. That breaks the vaccuum and then I have to clear out the bubbles and create suction again to get it working.

My current 'fix' is putting cotton batting in the entry to the overflow, as that seems to filter out the bubbles. Obviously, it gets clogged up and becomes a nitrite factory and has to be changed every few days - a little more hassle than I'd like.

Is there another soul in the world that uses a HOB overflow? How do you deal with the bubble issue?

mark · #2 01-20-2010, 05:20 AM

You'll see some HOB that will have a little fitting on the top of the "U" hooked up to the venturi port on a small power head or a Aqualifter pump to draw out the air.

#3 01-20-2010, 06:35 AM

I have a fitting hooked up to a aqua lifter no problems here.

Bill

sphelps · #4 01-20-2010, 01:15 PM

You're not moving enough water through the overflow tube, a higher flow rate will prevent bubbles from building up.

NuraNori · #5 01-20-2010, 08:11 PM

We have a HOB overflow with 2 removable U-tubes moving the water. Once one of them kept building up bubbles b/c we put it in backwards (one side is slightly longer than the other)...other times we just kinda move them from one side to the other until we find the "sweet" spot. There is only like an inch of play but it makes a difference whether the tubes are pushed to the left or right side...

Not sure if this is of any help

but I tried...

Chase31 · #6 01-20-2010, 09:37 PM

i have a CPR one and its doing sorta the same thing the pump takse the big ones out if there in the way but the little ones build up :s

Chase31 · #7 01-20-2010, 10:23 PM

well i just took a good hard look at mine and it was off level, the top of the tank wasn't level but water is self leveling, so i put a nickel under one side and im getting very little bubbles now

byee · #8 01-20-2010, 10:23 PM

Aqualift is the only way to go for now. However, its not fail safe. I've experienced 2 pump failures!!

Zoaelite · #9 01-21-2010, 04:00 AM

Not to make an asinine comment but your #1 fix is to go with a drilled tank

.

#10 01-21-2010, 07:14 AM

A drilled tank is best but if your tank is not drilled and you want a sump with out removing a bunch of water the HOB CPR is best as for the aqua lifter all you have to do is check that it is pumping water at least once a week. The 110 I am getting is bottom drilled..

Bill