Help: Water Level with Overflow

[Civicman86]

Looking for some help. I just installed my overflow box on my 75g tank. I went with the L eshopps overflow box (a little oversized but I wanted the beanimal design). Once installed I noticed the grates are about 3/4" below the rim of the tank.

Question: How much higher is the water level compared to the bottom of the grating? I have some black acylic that I can cut and glue to 'shorten' the grate if needed.

Pic to help clarify the question ...

Note: I would just fill the tank to find the level but because the overflow box will have to be removed to add the acrylic. I'm hoping someone has some guidance before the hassle/waste of the first fill.

Thanks in advance!

https://goo.gl/photos/nBNjEm2PVNtbvxcq5

 

[pisanoal]

Why not test it with tap water?

Or RO for that matter. You don't need to empty it completely. Just lower water level, glue acrylic, let it cure, refill. Wouldn't do it with salt unless you keep flow in it.

But tap seems easiest.

Also, it seems that you will most likely be ok. the water level will come up the teeth some depending on how much flow you are trying to push. But I would definitely test it.

 

[Ou8me2]

The water level will only go as high as the grate allows it will not cover all those teeth to the highest level. It looks like the 3/4 you marked would be the bottom of the trim of the tank correct?

You should be fine and I would say just test it with tap water which will be the easiest way.

 

[Civicman86]

ok thanks. Flow through the box will be very flow compared to capacity. I was thinking because of this that the level will not be much higher than the bottom. Looks like I will find a way to temporarily add the acrylic to test water height and then glue.

Thanks.

 

[Elricsfate]

The water is typically about 1/2 inch higher than the bottom of the teeth. If you purchase an overflow like the ones from Synergy Reef, they come with a drilling template and instructions which state what I just said. I have drilled and installed two of them, and they were right on.

 

[Civicman86]

The water is typically about 1/2 inch higher than the bottom of the teeth. If you purchase an overflow like the ones from Synergy Reef, they come with a drilling template and instructions which state what I just said. I have drilled and installed two of them, and they were right on.

Mine came with a template, but the unit is as high as it can go because of the rim (the box is butted right up to it). How tall are the teeth on the Synergy?

 

[mcgyvr]

The height of the water will be dictated by the flowrate through the system..
Lower flow and the level will be lower.. higher flow and it will be higher..

What you have looks just fine to me.. Once its fully running you will know for sure if you will need to adapt..

 

[Civicman86]

Thanks for the help. I did the water test tonight, definitely will be adding some acrylic to raise the water level. The bean animal system is pretty awesome...so quiet. Only hear the trickle going into the overflow box.

Anyways thanks again!

 

[dblimousine]

New to reef central. Just getting back into aquariums after a 20 year hiatus. Lots of changes. Great to see a thriving aquarium enthusiast environment.

So where should I post regarding issues with cornering overflow issues on an Aquarium Masters tank? Having problems keeping overflow from draining too much water into sump.

 

[Elricsfate]

New to reef central. Just getting back into aquariums after a 20 year hiatus. Lots of changes. Great to see a thriving aquarium enthusiast environment.

So where should I post regarding issues with cornering overflow issues on an Aquarium Masters tank? Having problems keeping overflow from draining too much water into sump.

Add gate vales to the drains

 

[dblimousine]

Thanks for the reply regarding gate valves. My concern is that the teeth of the internal overflow is a couple inches below the tank line. When running everything is fine but when you shut it off, it drains to two inches below tank line exposing an air gap and my sump fills almost all the way up.

Will a gate valve solve that problem?

 

[Elricsfate]

Thanks for the reply regarding gate valves. My concern is that the teeth of the internal overflow is a couple inches below the tank line. When running everything is fine but when you shut it off, it drains to two inches below tank line exposing an air gap and my sump fills almost all the way up.

Will a gate valve solve that problem?

Yes and no.

Technically, if you closed the gate valve completely it would stop the draining. But in practical reality that's not a good solution.

Bottom line is, just based off your description, you installed the overflow too low. My water level runs at the bottom of the trim when on, and drops 1/4-1/2 inch when I turn it off. But the overflow came with a template, and I used it.

Your sump filling most of the way up isn't really a problem. The problem comes when it reaches the top and keeps going.

I'm not a plumber or a fluid dynamics genius, so there may be someone around here who has a solution I can't think of. But this right here is all I got for ya.

If you want to see if you can get more responses, start a new thread in the New to the Hobby forum.