The H2Overflow Stealthbox is an external overflow that provides the opportunity to incorporate various internal plumbing systems for silent operation and act as a manifold for up to 10 drain pipes to the filter system.
The external overflow box is made from strong PVC with four 1-1/2", three 1/2", and three 3/4" inch molded slip fittings.
An advantage of the PVC construction of the H2Overflow Stealthbox is that you can get any readily available PVC part, at any hardware store, and it'll create a really good bond with the Stealthbox. All you need is PVC glue. You don't need a special epoxy. You don't need a threaded pipe fitting. Just a normal PVC fitting will slip right in there and have a very-very good bond.
The stealth box is positioned on the tank with the top even with the upper edge of the trim.
Because it's aligned with the top of the tank that means the pipes inside can go higher, which gives you a lot more flexibility to control the water line inside the tank.
The external box can be plumbed with one, two, or three H2Overflow screens providing up to 3,600 gallons per hour (GPH) of water to flow to the filter.
Installing an H2Overflow Stealthbox system is easy to do. The parts required are the H2Overflow screen assembly, which will include the overflow screen, an elbow connector, and a bulkhead with a gasket. The external overflow box assembly includes a thick square rubber gasket and the pre-drilled overflow box. The numbers and types of PVC standpipes and fittings needed for the internal plumbing will depend upon the specific arrangement you plan to use. Just as the numbers and types of external connectors, valves, and hoses needed depends upon how you plan to use your Stealthbox’s manifold of molded fittings. The only tool needed is a wrench to tighten the bulkhead nut standard, PVC cement will be used to glue the PVC fittings into place.
Each H2Overflow screen requires a 2-3/8" hole drilled in the correct position in the aquarium wall. Refer to the glass hole cutting template on the customaquariums.com website for specific measurements. The thin bulkhead gasket is installed behind the front flange of the bulkhead. The threaded rear section of the bulkhead is then inserted through the hole in the aquarium. From the backside of the aquarium place the thick foam square gasket over the threads of the bulkhead and push it up against the back of the tank. Push the hole on the back of the external overflow box onto the bulkhead the square foam gasket should fit between the raised ribs on the back of the overflow box. While holding the external overflow box in place against the back of the aquarium, thread the bulkhead locking nut onto the back of the bulkhead and hand tighten. Use a large wrench to tighten the bulkhead locking nut one-quarter turn. Do not overtighten the locking nut, which can be tightened later if water seeps out from between the glass and the gasket. Here is another look at installing the overflow box onto the back of the bulkhead and securing it with the locking nut. Insert the elbow into the front of the bulkhead and place the H2Overflow screen in the top of the elbow. You can pivot the screen to position it as desired.
The H2Overflow Stealthbox is designed to be very versatile and there are many ways to set up the internal and external plumbing. Note that the overflow will arrive with only two of the 1-1/2" slip fittings in the bottom pre-drilled. If more openings are needed you will have to drill them yourself. Here are three examples of how to set up the internal plumbing out of a Stealthbox.
A basic "Herbie" style internal plumbing setup includes one control valve and two internal standpipes of different lengths. The control valve is plumbed under the shorter standpipe, which will be the primary drain from the overflow. When the pumps are running slowly close the control valve to restrict the flow until the top of the standpipe is completely submerged underwater. This will prevent any air from entering the standpipe, making it silent. The taller standpipe is an emergency overflow that will only receive water if the main overflow were to be clogged. The basic herby style system only requires the two pre-drilled holes that come with the Stealthbox and is a simple option for filters with a single sock tub and relatively low flow rate.
A basic "Be-An Animal" style system is similar to a Herbie style overflow with the additional insurance of a second emergency standpipe. This setup requires that a third slip fitting in the bottom of the stealth box be drilled out to receive the water from the second emergency standpipe. The shortest standpipe is the primary drain and will be controlled by the valve just like the Herbie style.
The expanded "Be-An Animal" style is a good choice for flow rates over 2,400 gallons per hour, where a single 1-1/2" strain is not large enough. This setup requires two control valves, four standpipes, and all four of the 1-1/2" slip fittings in the bottom of the overflow box to be drilled out. Plumb the control valves under the two shorter standpipes, which you will adjust as equally as possible so that both standpipes are submerged and at full siphon. The taller standpipes our emergency overflows.
