Tank issue --- need help getting overflow working properly!

[Spar]

my water level goes above the overflow right now and not sure the reason for it. it is still syphoning fine, so don't think it has to do with the drains being clogged. my guess is that either the gaps are to small and too few, or that the mesh I have keeping snails out is clogging up. hopefully the later which will be easiest to fix.

the water line is right at the top of the tank level, and shrimp are able to crawl up on to the top and die.

obviously need to get this fixed. knowing that I will most likely have to do some cosmetic surgery to the overflow box, I was hoping to get someone over to assess with me the best course of action.

if someone is reading this that is near-by me that thinks they could help me out, would you mind sending me a PM to discuss?

 

[Serk]

Is this a new setup, or an older one that's been running a while and just now starting to show this behaviour?

I'm assuming this is a hand on overflow? If it is, and this is one that has been running normally up until now, then it prolly is that the siphon tubes are clogged or have air in them...

If this is a new setup, then ya' just might be pushing too much water through the overflow...

 

[masharp1126]

Does it look like this one?

If so, your snail guard could be impeding the flow of water. Remove it for a while and see if it helps. If there's an air valve, make sure there is no air in the overflow. It can have air in it and still work, just slows the flow of water. Remove any prefilters, they can become clogged and slow the flow down as well.

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[Spar]

it is a RR tank, so an internal overflow. has 2 1" drains. I will get some pics up ASAP.

 

[Jaguar]

I would bet Serk's right and your return pump is to strong. I had this issue in my 20g for a while. I worry about this issue on the new RR tank because I'm getting a stronger return pump too.

What's the GPH ratio thingie?

 

[Serk]

Okay, then if it's RR with internal overflow - Is this a new setup or one that's been up for a while?

I have to periodically brush out the teeth in my overflow to let the water flow freely through. It doesn't take much gunk in those teeth to severely retard the flow of water...

Also, what's the water level inside the overflow? If it's at or near the water level in the display, you need to lower it so that there's a good force of gravity pulling the water quickly into the overflow compartment...

Hope that makes sense, and helps...

 

[Spar]

it was the black mesh stuff I had covering the openings between the teeth. took it off and the water lowered an entire inch :shock:

so, now I just need a better idea than that black-mesh stuff to cover the thick gaps.

the tank has been setup for 3 months. the total gph going to the sump is ~1200 estimated after head loss.

here are some pics of what I am talking about:

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