Overflow

Hey guys I have a question about my overflow, did I set it up wrong? I have plenty of flow in the tank and have plenty of suspended particles in the water column. But it doesn't look like they are getting sucked up by the overflow. Right now its a diy pvc pipe, 1" that goes to just above the bottom and is stuck inside a 2" pvc that is sealed at the bottom, that way the surface is being skimmed. Am I just looking at this wrong? Thanks for all the help, this site is a life saver.

 

I need a pic

Sounds like what you have should work, might just need a filter sock

edit - btw, as a suba diver most reefs are chocked full of particulate, what you have going on might be considered realistic. But if you wnat to clean it up a filter sock would probably do it. More tha likely the particles are floating up to the surface and getting pulled by your overflow - but then they are getting blown back in.

 

A pic of the overflow? 3/4 of is is hidden behind rock and is also painted the same color as the background, not sure how well it would come out. I was unsure of the whole process as far as the overflow worked and if mine was working correctly or not. I ran a filter sock for a few weeks and didnt notice any differance and the particles are not bad except when i try and clean of my rocks or the powerheads. For the most part I think its just the larger ones that stay in suspension or settle somewhere. Was curious if I needed more flow to push them up to the overflow or a bigger surface area on the overflow. Im thinking about getting a hang on back overflow tomorrow anyways and doing a little replumbing.

 

I was interested in seeing the overflow at the surface - but its all good. It sounds like you could use more flow in the tank.

 

I have 2 koralia 1050 and a mag 7 for the return that also runs my chiller, i thought that would be enough. I have a spare mj 1200 lying around ill throw in there in a second, Im also going to try and get that pic for you.

 

I was interested in seeing the flow at the surface mostly - I was concerned that the flow into the pipe was too lackadaisical. I am convinced that you need some more flow, or a wave maker set up or the like –

 

Here is the top of the overflow, you should be able to make it out, at the top is just a black plastic screen that i through in the top to stop my clown from being flushed so to speak.

 

Ok, the main reason i started looking at this is for a whilt my nitrates were mesuring less than 5 and recently have spiked up to 20, allthough from what I understand is not a huge issue I want to get them back down and its not working. I started to look at this as a possible contributer. I only feed a small portion of food and since this spike I have started to feed only every other day now. The MJ is now also in the tank, towards the bottom on the oppisite side of the overflow.

 

Do you use a skimmer ? and have you tested your make up water before and after mixing with salt? Ro/di water? Clean up crew? Poor flow in the tank can let detritus build up with a lack of a clean up crew (or an adequate on) --

 

I have a skimmer and clean up crew, 5 hermit crabs, mix of 20 snails. I use ro/di water from walmart unfortanatly but I ordered a unit yesterday and should be here middle of next week. Both Top off water and mixed reads below 5, however tomorrow is my day off from work and I think im going to take a sample to the lfs to have this double checked.