PVC overflow & budget return pump failsafe

[tokingthereefer]

I recently got inspired to purchase a new tank with the recent sales at Petco & Petsmart. In the process I ended up buying two.

I spent a large part of the last few weeks drooling over lots of eshopp/lifereef merchandise. Mainly the nano cube and the external overflow.

The price held me back.

I thought back to my first large aquarium system. One I ran for my high school biology department.

I thought to myself surely someone has designed one of these at home, and I scoured the internet looking for the solution. I stumbled upon the king of DIY’s video series and a few other posts on forums like this one.

So I test fit the overflow, sealed it up, and voila. I watched in amazement. Until I realized I hadn’t figured out a proper solution for back syphon and overflow.

For overflow, I made sure my tube going into my weir, was the exact height I wanted my tank to stop draining.

For my pump, I placed a portion of the inlet at my desired height, and also poked a hole in the tubing.

I was glued to the tank for the next 24 hours, making sure it never leaked. While that was happening, my hospital tank started to leak, and a new skimmer overflowed several times.

I know eventually the pump might fail, and to account for that, I have drained about 5 gallons from my bottom tank to account for potential back siphon or overfill.

Until I can buy that danged eshopp nano cube. It, and the fiji cube, are about all that will fit in my stand cabinet. I wanted this second tank, but I don’t have fish for it anyway. Until then it’s a pretty mute complaint.

Overflow Total cost $42
Return Pump Cost $10 (harbor freight)
Flexible Tubing $18
75G Tank $125
20G (so little I forgot lol, maybe 35?)
Stand $189

 

[tokingthereefer]

I recently got inspired to purchase a new tank with the recent sales at Petco & Petsmart. In the process I ended up buying two.

I spent a large part of the last few weeks drooling over lots of eshopp/lifereef merchandise. Mainly the nano cube and the external overflow.

The price held me back.

I thought back to my first large aquarium system. One I ran for my high school biology department.

I thought to myself surely someone has designed one of these at home, and I scoured the internet looking for the solution. I stumbled upon the king of DIY’s video series and a few other posts on forums like this one.

So I test fit the overflow, sealed it up, and voila. I watched in amazement. Until I realized I hadn’t figured out a proper solution for back syphon and overflow.

For overflow, I made sure my tube going into my weir, was the exact height I wanted my tank to stop draining.

For my pump, I placed a portion of the inlet at my desired height, and also poked a hole in the tubing.

I was glued to the tank for the next 24 hours, making sure it never leaked. While that was happening, my hospital tank started to leak, and a new skimmer overflowed several times.

I know eventually the pump might fail, and to account for that, I have drained about 5 gallons from my bottom tank to account for potential back siphon or overfill.

Until I can buy that danged eshopp nano cube. It, and the fiji cube, are about all that will fit in my stand cabinet. I wanted this second tank, but I don’t have fish for it anyway. Until then it’s a pretty mute complaint.

Overflow Total cost $42
Return Pump Cost $10 (harbor freight)
Flexible Tubing $18
75G Tank $125
20G (so little I forgot lol, maybe 35?)
Stand $189

Here is a better shot of it today… added a lightning maroon to the lower tank.

Since my 10G hospital sprung a leak, I replace it with this Marineland for $15 from Petsmart.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I'm pretty familiar with The King of DIY Joey, he's been a successful YouTuber for many, many years, and no one can argue that fact alone. I like the guy, but I'd suggest that you take his stuff with a grain of salt. He's mostly a freshwater guy, he only in later years got into saltwater, and to my knowledge he's not considered a expert in reef tanks specifically (I believe he mostly keeps saltwater fish-only tanks).

I should add that I am not an expert in reef tanks either :)

Much of what King Joey does is DIY, and that's awesome for sure. His overflow design you're considering is not his own original design, and it does work, but it's not without its shortcomings.

It then becomes a personal decision whether or not you want to trust the life-line of your tank to a contraption like that. Does it work? Looks like it does from his videos. Does it work long-term with out fail? I'm going it doubt it. If this overflow fails, would you care? Maybe not if you have a 10 gallon "first saltwater tank" with some easy corals and other inverts, and were unconcern about damaging your home (like maybe you rent, or parent's house, etc.).....

But no one likes to fail at this, and most of us go to some lengths to provide the best environment we can for even the most humble and innocuous residents of our tanks. And then, if you have anything that's remotely difficult to keep or anything approaching expensive, your needs and/or expectations may change.

For example, the reefer that has a tank packed with high-end Acropora, beautiful torches, and the most cutting edge Zoa varieties might put A LOT more money into their overflow because they are protecting much more valuable livestock, not that a dollar sign is the only consideration to providing a great home to animals in your care.

I'm sorry that was so long lol! I hope my above rant made sense :)

TLDR: That overflow may work, but be prepared for issues over the long term. Save up and look into an All-In-One (AIO) tank, or one of the more trusted Hang On Back (HOB) overflows, like the ones from Eshopps.

Good luck!