overflow problem with pics

[supernareg]

so i have a RIO 1100 (new) return pump, and my overflow box (hang on back type) keeps up with it, but the water level of the tank is at the level of the teeth... and not half way like it should be.

its not "skimming the surface" because the tooth function doesnt work.

how can i take care of this? should i buy a valve and put it on the tubing up? (plastic tubing) and decrease the flow rate a tad?

here's what it looks like...

what its supposed to be like (on my adjacent tank)

 

[mfinn]

Looks like your pump is over powering the drain capacity of the overflow. I'd check all the drain openings and lines to see if any crud has built up, restricting flow.
Maybe dial back the pump a little with a valve.

 

[supernareg]

ya i think i'ma just do that... get a valve...

 

[staticx]

Raise the overflow box

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8822368#post8822368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by staticx
Raise the overflow box

The only thing that will do is raise the level of water in the tank and that won't help anything.

 

[Seajuice]

How about taking out everyother tooth in your overflow to increase flow. I have a 90g AG with built in overflow and there are many threads that have gone into detail about increasing flow by removing some of the teeth.

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8822606#post8822606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Seajuice
How about taking out everyother tooth in your overflow to increase flow. I have a 90g AG with built in overflow and there are many threads that have gone into detail about increasing flow by removing some of the teeth.

That won't work because the flow restriction is in the drain. There is too much water being pumped up to the tank for the drain to handle.

 

[Rockitmakr]

Just reg down the output of your pump.
:beer:

 

[Seajuice]

I think Rockitmakr has a good point. If you can change the output of the pump back to your tank it will regulate your tank water volume.
Having a valve is a good idea anyways to adjust the volumes and flow.

 

[mrivers]

The overflow box is installed wrong. You have 2 pieces of tubing under the hanger between the boxes which in turn raises the outside box. The outside box will control the water level in the inside box (based on the water level in the outside box).

Remove the tubing, place the hanger flush on top of the tank, and adjust the inside box accordingly.

**I notice you tank's height may be a problem with getting the boxes hanging correctly. Anyhow, I think the problem lies with the outside box being to high.

 

[ohioreef]

I had the same problem with my overflow box. I installed a ball valve to cut back the return flow and all is well.

 

[redox]

add a second curved outflow pipe and add a second return line to the sump this will increase your flow rate capacity

 

[ohioreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8823962#post8823962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redox
add a second curved outflow pipe and add a second return line to the sump this will increase your flow rate capacity

One word of caution if you do that. Adding a second u-tube will slow the flow in each of the tubes. If the flow is too slow it can possibly lead to the build up of air bubbles thus breaking the siphon. A fast flow carries the air bubbles through the tube and doesn't allow them to build up.

 

[redox]

thats why you need to add a second return line as well

 

[bronxer]

Did you try cleaning out the u-tube? Sometimes all the garbage inside it causes a large air bubble in the lower tube in the overflow ( if you have a prefilter then you might be able to see the bubble).

Once it's clean, the bubble might not be there any more and flow will return to normal.

 

[ohioreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8831097#post8831097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redox
thats why you need to add a second return line as well

Oops...missed that..... :sad2:

 

[bronxer]

I forgot to mention - I knew about that problem because I've already experienced it. My inlet was blowing air, so I checked the sump and saw it was low. My prefilter in the overflow was not clogged.

So I added water - until it started to pour out over the edge of the tank. That's when I noticed the dirty u-tube with the air pocket in it. Oops.