I have a standard hob overflow and don't use an airlifter pump. Running for a year now without any problems (I should probably go find some wood to knock on now LOL). One disaster-prevention step I did take though was to add a float switch to my return pump, that way the return pump will turn off if the sump gets too low. Prevents both the pump from burning out if water gets too low, and from the DT overflowing if the siphon on the overflow fails. Only additional recommendation I would make is to add a true swing check valve at the base of your return line so that back-flow from the water sitting in the line doesn't continually turn the pump on and off if the water level reaches the float switch. I tried a non-swing check valve and the thing sounded like a train so I took it out. I still need to get myself a true-swing one.