Thought I'd write up a quick review on my 5 months experience with the XAqua Overflow and pulsing return.
Heres what I like:
Template taped on for drilling
Installed - note the plastic nubs on the return line nut. These break off pretty easily.
Pulsing: Note the wave like feature was from the return line, not the mP10.
Plumbing lines, routed along the wall, then connected to PVC
And where it stands today. In the upper right you can see a small wave coming from it, just not like where it started.
Overall, if I had to do it again, I would purchase and use this as it was very easy to install , takes up minimal room within and outside the tank, and gets the job done. Initially I was sold on the pulsing feature, but it goes away over time, and its really not needed as a stand alone feature. Add power heads for more flow. I've read if you take it apart and clean it that it comes back, though its not worth the time and effort it would take for taking apart some plumbing.
Thanks for reading and if anyone else has experience with these let me know! I'm really interested to hear if there is an easy fix to getting the pulse back (without taking it apart)
-Eric
Heres what I like:
- Price: Listed around $99 and can be found online through BRS, marine depot and others.
- Pulsing feature
- Size: takes up minimal space in and outside the tank.
- Return line kit: fits perfectly (must be purchased separately, and Im glad I did)
- Install instructions: very straight forward.
- Glass template: The overflow comes with a template for cutting a hole in your glass. I would recommend you run your glass drill bit through this template to increase the hole size. The glass drill bits should be run through these first as the diamond coating makes the drill bits slightly larger in diameter.
- Pulsing feature seems to have diminished after 5 months. Disclaimer on this, I haven't tried taking it apart to see if anything is in the line and don't intend to. Im ok with how it is operating and the flow visually looks the same.
- Return line kit: I like it, but at the same time you are sort of locked into using the factory part. For reasons beyond me, searching at ACE, Home Depot, and Lowes, I could not find a same size tube for the return line. I needed more length than whats comes with in the kit and had to connect it to PVC to make it work.
- Overflow guard: This is held in place basically by a pressure fitting. A few times I've come home to see it came off, turned sideways and blocking most of the return.
- Lack of a 3rd emergency return: If the above situation occurs without this, you do run the risk of an overflow. This could be mitigated by adding in one yourself.
- Return line nut: There are 2 pegs for grip, both very flimsy. I broke the first one off installing this, the second later on when making adjustments. It seems like this was overlooked from the manufacturer or a cost saving measure was taken. With that said, you can still take this on and off without them, it just takes a little bit of patience.
Template taped on for drilling
Installed - note the plastic nubs on the return line nut. These break off pretty easily.
Pulsing: Note the wave like feature was from the return line, not the mP10.
Plumbing lines, routed along the wall, then connected to PVC
And where it stands today. In the upper right you can see a small wave coming from it, just not like where it started.
Overall, if I had to do it again, I would purchase and use this as it was very easy to install , takes up minimal room within and outside the tank, and gets the job done. Initially I was sold on the pulsing feature, but it goes away over time, and its really not needed as a stand alone feature. Add power heads for more flow. I've read if you take it apart and clean it that it comes back, though its not worth the time and effort it would take for taking apart some plumbing.
Thanks for reading and if anyone else has experience with these let me know! I'm really interested to hear if there is an easy fix to getting the pulse back (without taking it apart)
-Eric
