Questions about CPR SYS 3000 Wet/Dry

[jhooper]

I have recently moved out to San Antonio and I am working to get my 265 gal aquarium set back up. I am thinking about upgrading some of the equipment on the tank, namely the wet/dry & sump and lighting.

I am curious if anyone has used the CPR 3000 wet/dry and if it works well and is easy to setup and use. Also curious how they split the water from the 1 overflow box to the 2 intakes above the trickle tower...guessing some sort of split in the hose, but would be nice to know for sure.

I like the setup with the large connected sump, but would feel more confident about purchasing it if others had used it and liked it.

Thanks for any help,
-Jeremy

[Texreefer]

Welcome to Maast Jeremy.. I'm sure someone on here will have some knowledge of this system

[hobogato]

are you setting up a 265 gallon tank that isnt drilled and reef ready? if it were me, i would do my best to have it drilled and add a calfo instead of trying to use an overflow box. the amount of water you will have running to and from the sump with a tank that size could cause some serious flooding if something went wrong with that overflow.

[jhooper]

Thanks for the welcome Texreefer.

Hobogato, the tank is not drilled or reef ready, just a 265 gal perfecto glass aquarium. My existing wet/dry system does about 1800 gph and before I moved it had been running since 99 without problems. I believe the overflow box would only be able to siphon out maybe about 50 gallons or so if something were to go wrong and a hose were to come disconected.

I am mostly interested in the new wet/dry system because of the extra large sump, which should allow me to put a protein skimmer in it and allow me to put extra water in the sump for vacations and such to handle evaporation.

[hobogato]

if you can get a good overflow box, i can custom build you something that fits your stand and has the size chambers you want - probably for less than a retail wet/dry or sump/fuge combo. pm me if interested.

[matt]

I believe the overflow box would only be able to siphon out maybe about 50 gallons or so if something were to go wrong and a hose were to come disconected.

The problem is if the overflow loses siphon, which the CPR overflows are notorious for, your return pump will empty your entire sump, and guess where that water goes? It is true that some people like you have used external overflows without incident for years, but many others have had disasters. You really should consider drilling the tank and installing an internal overflow, either Calfo design or standard corner overflows.

Also, you mentioned a large sump for evaporation purposes when you're on vacation. A tank this size should probably have an auto top-off of some sort; evaporation over several days will increase your salinity quite a bit. There are some really reliable ways of keeping the sump topped off; tunze has a good one and any decent dosing pump will work great.

[BIGBIRD123]

I agree with Matt. I had a CPR 1200gph HOB overflow that worked for years and THEN....I had syphon issues almost everyday. I am working 4-1/2 hrs from home. Imagine some of the phone calls from "wifey". Not very pretty and I even left to go home at 9:30 p.m. at night because she couldn't get it fixed and water was at the limit the sump would hold. I then drove 4-1/2 hrs back to my job and was at work at 6:30 a.m.. I had to put "RED" tape on the things she needed to unplug to keep from flooding. I had my tank drilled at the top and installed a HOBOGATO Calfo and I am worry free! The best thing I have done as far as my tank! Think about it real hard. If I can be of further help let me know.

Steve

[jhooper]

Thanks for all the good replies everyone. Hearing that CPR overflows are problematic along with the poor experience that I had with a CPR protein skimmer that in my opinion is junk, I think I am going to stay away from their products.

I am going to take a look at some other alternatives including possibly getting something built custom.

Thanks,
-Jeremy