Over flow box questions?

[tscharf]

so ive been looking around for a good 3 hours trying to figure out what exactly an overflow box is and how it works. im trying to figure out more about filtration so i can add more filtration to my tanks. soo here it goes.

what is an overflow box?
how does it work?
does it make it so you dont have to dril your tank for an overflow?
Does the water go from there down into your sump or w/e filtration your using?

pics, advice anything would be appreciated.

 

[zennzzo]

It's the part of the overflow assembly that allows the overflow to skim the surface of the water...
It houses the standpipe part of the overflow...

there are a few types...

The Internal Box/external Plumbing:



the Hang on Back like this:



The DIY PVC pipe one like this:


And the internal overflow/internal plumbing:

 

[tscharf]

how does the hangon back work?

 

[zennzzo]

It siphons water from the tank side, to the pre-filtered side, then drains down to the tank...

 

[tscharf]

ah gotcha, so its just a siphon? no pump or anything? what if the power goes out, does the tank overflow? does the sump overflow?

 

[Pharaoh]

ah gotcha, so its just a siphon? no pump or anything? what if the power goes out, does the tank overflow? does the sump overflow?

It will not overflow. The divides that the water flows over allow it to hold water, thus maintaining the siphon in a power outage. When the water stops, it stops. When the water starts, it starts. These work very well.

 

[tscharf]

are they relatively easy to make or would ii be better of just buying one

 

[Pharaoh]

Depends on your DIY ability. Overall, probably easy IMO.

 

[zennzzo]

Depends on your DIY ability. Overall, probably easy IMO.

LOLOL
yeah, if you got Mad Pharaoh skilzzz...
For the average bear, with most of their fingers still, just spend the 35 bucks at Aquatraders.com and eat the shipping, By time you buy the plexi and start cutting/smothing, and chemical welding, to make leakproof seams, you'll be into it for way more than 70 bux...2x the retail price...
( http://shop.aquatraders.com/Continuous-Siphon-Overflow-Box-1200-p/44012.htm )

 

[Err]

Sweet thread man, I was also curious about the HOB overflow boxes, My sister is giving me her 29g community when she rolls out to finnish her Masters and I was going to convert it to a mini reef and give my fist shot at the whole reef gig.