New sump Overflow box problem

Well I tested it out last night and it seems the overflow isnt working correctly, it would fill up drain, fill up, i had to push it down to keep it from breaking the siphon, even then it wasn't a constant flow like it should be

I think this is because the collection box was too flimsy, it bobs up and down changing the water line in the main tank. Any advice?

I actually didnt intend to build and overflow box I just ended up with extra acryllic from the sump, looks like ill be getting more of it for the collection cup since a tupperware was causing problems. Does anyone think this will solve my overflow problem? I have two 525gph pumps for the return working in parallel behind a ball valve that seems to be working great.

Pics of the Hardware:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/members/danhodl-albums-building-sump-overflow.html

 

When the levels are going up and down is it like there is air stuck in the lines? like a sink that drains slow at the end and then it all goes down after a big air bubble rushes out?

 

throw some wieght in that box and see if it helps

 

On a normal overflow, there is a riser tube that sits up from the drain a couple inches, and the U'tube on the back side is just slightly below that tube, but off to the side. This allows for the box to be filled up, then drained to the sump. the way you have it, the water shoots out of the U-tube straight down the hole not allowing the box to be filled. I would also lower the tube in the tank portion of that overflow to try and reduce the amount of bubbles that get into your makeshift U-tube.

~Will.

 

Ya it does seem like the drain piping isnt "priming" due to the inconsistancy cased by not haveing those riser tubes you are talking about will, thanks for the tip, i did try putting weight into the collection but that just changed the height of the occilation, i already ripped it off so that i can replace it with an acryllic colllection cup. Ill rebuild this week and let you guys know how it worked out.

i did however configure it to where the u tube exit fills its own chamber before it flows into two more chambers with the drains, i thought this might work as a riser chamber instead of a riser tube, ill atached another photo.

 

I would also go with a bigger utube and change it to hard plastic one. The one on my dual chamber overflow is an 1 1/2. It also helps if both sides are cut even.
like this one.
U Tube for Overflow box...1-1/2"

Because flex tubing can bend a little where it goes over the tank can cause inconstancy.

 

Good call on the utube, I did fear It could cause issues thanks
also should I keep it consistant with the total volume? The overflow drains to the sump through a 3/4 PVC, right now my uhose is two 3/4 zip tied together. Should I get a hard plastic 3/4, or would it be ok to get two, making it 1 1/2?

 

you could go with 2 side by side. I have seen them that way.
I like the one big utube myself but that is my preference.

in your sump where is your refuge located? another words is your fuge going to be in the middle or on the end? I put mine on the end so the flow through the fuge doesn't effect the flow through the sump.

The way I did mine was the left side is in from display tank and the right side is the refuge that way they both drain in the middle to return to the dt. This also let my have separate pipes on my duel over flow, one chamber supply the sump the other supply's the fuge, that way if I need to do something to the fuge I can shut the flow off to it without shutting down the over flow. Also gave me control of shutting done one side(chamber) of the overflow box.

 

After rebuilding my box ive finally got it running i do have two draining chambers in one box that flow into one 3/4" to the sump, i'd rather have two which would incream the gph of the box but for now im happen i have it running. I've learned so much im very happy at the moment, i've got it configured as so:

Skimmer->Fuge->Return

I dont think it was the best choice but im going to tweek it out and have the skimmer running for a good while before i make any changes, i need the tank chemistry to stablized so i can have a healthy tank before i make any changes, i think the flow throuhg the entire system is a little slow but that might be ok for now. Im going To start a blog on my process if anyone wants to check it out on my page. Back to getting wet!!

-Dan