HOB Overflow Precautions

Sean_Jacob228

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 2, 2024
Messages
106
Reaction score
39
Location
mississippi
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys. I have a 90 gallon tank been up and running 8 months. It was a freshwater and so not drilled. Today bought a Eshopps 1000 dual hob overflow. I’ve read some horror stories and I’ve read that Eshopps is the best. My main concern is siphon break and return pump basically overflowing my display from what’s left in sump. Also read about the holes in the return nozzle in case of reverse siphon. What can I do to make my return pump as fail safe as possible. Thanks!
 

Dan_P

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Messages
8,058
Reaction score
8,458
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys. I have a 90 gallon tank been up and running 8 months. It was a freshwater and so not drilled. Today bought a Eshopps 1000 dual hob overflow. I’ve read some horror stories and I’ve read that Eshopps is the best. My main concern is siphon break and return pump basically overflowing my display from what’s left in sump. Also read about the holes in the return nozzle in case of reverse siphon. What can I do to make my return pump as fail safe as possible. Thanks!
Air bubble accumulation in the u-tubes from low flow might be the main reason for a siphon break, but it’s not a rapid, overnight event. Not regularly checking up on air bubble accumulation might be the second reason siphon breaks occur.

Low flow occurs because the pump is undersized and flow through the U-tubes is too low to carry small air bubbles through the u-tube. Another way to encourage bubble accumulation is not cleaning the inside of the u-tube when algae growth becomes heavy.

The air bubbles form in the box that sits inside the aquarium, where water flowing over the weir and through the “teeth” churn the water. These are the bubbles that occasionally sneak into the u-tube.
 

enrik_from_vallejo

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 7, 2024
Messages
29
Reaction score
5
Location
Vallejo
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys. I have a 90 gallon tank been up and running 8 months. It was a freshwater and so not drilled. Today bought a Eshopps 1000 dual hob overflow. I’ve read some horror stories and I’ve read that Eshopps is the best. My main concern is siphon break and return pump basically overflowing my display from what’s left in sump. Also read about the holes in the return nozzle in case of reverse siphon. What can I do to make my return pump as fail safe as possible. Thanks!
Add a check valve to return pump.
 

Asm481

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 23, 2022
Messages
216
Reaction score
201
Location
Kenosha
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had hob running a 125 gallon for several years. Not a single problem. Size it right or as I did, a unit that should have ran with two u tube's but only ran one tube. Large weir made few bubbles, one u tube meant fast flow.
As far as return, I never trust check valves. I don't trust siphon breaks either. My returns are all right at the display water level.
 

PotatoPig

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 7, 2023
Messages
1,354
Reaction score
1,460
Location
USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The only real way to get siphon break is low flow through the tube. Keep the flow about where it should be and this won’t happen.

The source of bubbles for the siphon break (with low flow) is from the waterfall effect of water entering the tank-side box. Keep the inside clean and algae free and this will help.

In terms of overall flood safety of the system:

1. Make sure your sump has enough spare capacity to take the back flow siphon when the pump is turned off. A quick calculation is (tank length x tank width x depth to return pump + 1/2”) divided by (sump width x sump length). This goes for drilled and HOB tanks.

2. Put your return pump in a compartment in the sump that will limit its access to water in case of a siphon break. Ensure the maximum volume the pump has access to will not overflow the display tank. Worst case here is you have to buy a new pump.

3. Don’t rely on check valves for this.

4. In my experience, the back siphon when the pump is turned off can overcome even multiple holes drilled in the return nozzle. I’d recommend just having the return dump water into the tank right below the water line and let power heads manage the circulation through the tank. This goes for drilled and HOB tanks.

/have been running a Lifereef version of one of these for two years with no issue.
 
Last edited:

Uncle99

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 22, 2018
Messages
11,384
Reaction score
18,030
Location
Earth
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I think I’m just gonna return it suck it up by the drilled tank lol it just gonna suck swapping everything but I just wanna take my chances. Everywhere I read people say hob overflow are headaches
Great choice!
It’s simply too risky.
Do it right..,,.you’ll be much happier
 

BlueSkyAT

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Messages
17
Reaction score
16
Location
Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I`ve used overflows on 4 different tanks for hmmmm, 20 years?(wonder how long I`ve actually had tank). Never had any problems. Holes in return lines should be checked now and then. My water level seems to be set just right so that if overflows stop siphon, it doesn`t quite fill tank too high.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

HOW OLD IS YOUR OLDEST FISH? (APPROXIMATELY)

  • Less than a year.

    Votes: 20 13.1%
  • 1-2 years.

    Votes: 25 16.3%
  • 3-5 years.

    Votes: 40 26.1%
  • 6-10 years.

    Votes: 33 21.6%
  • 10-15 years.

    Votes: 18 11.8%
  • 15-20 years.

    Votes: 5 3.3%
  • 20+ years.

    Votes: 9 5.9%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 2.0%
Back
Top