Overflow question

[805HD]

What’s up guys,

I have a 170 gallon with a toothless internal overflow. Trying to increase surface skimming.

Question is, would choking back my drain a bit (reducing flow to sump) raise my water level and create more surface skim? Or would this just fill my overflow?

The surface water flowing over the lip and into the overflow is VERY low. I was thinking if I could increase that it would have more pull on the surface.

The internal overflow is quite tall, 30” tank. 2 standpipe drains, both wide open at about 18” inches. So I have a lot of space and free fall in there.

There’s only one way to find out of course, I’ll try it in the AM. Just looking for input.

 

[TX_REEF]

What’s the goal of increasing the surface skimming?

Restricting the drain or increasing the return pump speed should theoretically raise the water level in your display.

You could also cut teeth into your overflow weir, it is not all that complicated.

 

[805HD]

What’s the goal of increasing the surface skimming?

Restricting the drain or increasing the return pump speed should theoretically raise the water level in your display.

You could also cut teeth into your overflow weir, it is not all that complicated.

Well, I’m not entirely happy with the surface skimming the overflow is providing. Increasing the volume of water dumping into the overflow would pull more surface water in with it right?

So let me rephrase my question..

Is it possible to get more water into the overflow without increasing the return pump and causing a lot of current?

Can I do this from the drain only?

 

[ScottD]

Well, I’m not entirely happy with the surface skimming the overflow is providing. Increasing the volume of water dumping into the overflow would pull more surface water in with it right?

So let me rephrase my question..

Is it possible to get more water into the overflow without increasing the return pump and causing a lot of current?

Can I do this from the drain only?

The only way to increase the volume of water going into your overflow is to increase your return pump volume. Whatever flows into the overflow equals what your pump is putting back into the tank assuming the drains are sized properly and capable of handling all the flow.