Overflow Box is not turning over enough water

[jkz2970]

I have a 125 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump and an overflow box and has 2 socks. The water is not coming out of the overflow box to the sump with enough force. This problem has caused high phosphate and nitrates. I have tried 3 different pumps with more power and have had no change in water turnover. I was going to take the original overflow box and use a T with PVC to go to the first six and bought a 2nd over flow box and was going to use pvc and create T PVC to the 2nd sock. Will this work. I would like to know your opinion before tear out all the plumbing

 

[FUNGI]

what model is current overflow box rated for?.....sound to me that you need a new/bigger overflow

 

[jkz2970]

Can I just add a 2nd over flow box. Will that work

 

[bluemon]

Yea sounds like a way too small of a box, or if custom made, too small of a pipe going down.

The pumps will have little to no effect since the overflow relies on gravity and water throughput from gravity (with its size being the main factor) as a way to get water down.

Can I just add a 2nd over flow box. Will that work

Yea that will work.

 

[jkz2970]

This is the turnover

 

[bluemon]

Do you have a picture of the overflow?

 

[jkz2970]

if I add the second overflow box will it still drain water bec it will conflict with the first one

 

[bluemon]

if I add the second overflow box will it still drain water bec it will conflict with the first one

How are you designing these overflow box installations that they are conflicting?

Generally, adding another overflow would mean that the water going down to the sump would increase by that amount. Do you have a picture of your overflow set up right now?

 

[jkz2970]

Here you go

 

[jkz2970]

I haven’t tried it yet. I was wondering if you think they would conflict

 

[bluemon]

Not sure what that external overflow is rated for, but I don't see any issues.

Just T it up like you said, and it should work just fine.

But that waterflow down is suspiciously low as well, so while you are setting it up, make sure that nothing is stuck in the pipes; no dead fish, or a snail in the pipes, etc. (or most likely, some vermetid snails)

 

[FUNGI]

adding a second will help, but unsightly....why not just invest in a bigger overflow box.... on a side note, I would replace these calmps with plastic one...those are gonna rust on you

 

[bluemon]

adding a second will help, but unsightly....why not just invest in a bigger overflow box.... on a side note, I would replace these calmps with plastic one...those are gonna rust on you

Maybe they are titanium? I think i've seen titanium ones around.

A zip tie even works

 

[FUNGI]

I doubt titanium......zip ties work great.....

 

[JumboShrimp]

If you are unhappy with the amount of flow, then as others have suggested, upgrade to another overflow box that can handle greater gallons per hour. You can buy '50' return pumps... but you will always be limited by the number and diameter of the gravity-fed pipes flowing down, right? ;)

 

[jkz2970]

Thank you everyone. Great suggestions. Can I just use regular pvc glue with the light blue label at home depot

 

[Tangdora]

If your tank is not about to overflow over to the side due to increasing your pumps gph the the issue is not with your over flow. Either your pump is still to small or your have air in your first overflow and not getting a full syphon. Adding a second is only needed if your tank is about to overflow. What pump are you running.

 

[Jamie814]

There's more going on here. Those drains look like 1" lines and only a trickle of water is going through each.
What is your return pump GPH rating?

What kind of overflow do you have? Better picture of the overflow box itself would help much!

 

[Marco_99]

I can’t see that movie, but what does the top/front of your weir look like? Or a top down look at your overflow box pipes? To me it looks like you have like filter floss on top of that pipe in the box or something, I can’t tell what it is, but there’s something else going on here that needs to be addressed imo.

 

[jkz2970]

I’m using a jabeo 15000. My friend is running a 300 gallon and there’s works great. My tank is only 125 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. I’ve tried 3 different pumps and they all haven’t increased the turnover at all