Slow the Flow on Siphon?

I'm about to setup my fuge and tested my overflow and pump (both should be 500GPH) and my pump can't keep up. Is there a way I can lower the flow from the siphon without messing it up? I can't get another return pump for awhile so I have the lower the in flow. Thanks.

 

Let me start by saying I dont know this for sure and I dont have any experience with overflow boxes.

But to me it seems like you could place a ball valve on the drain coming from the overflow box to dial back the flow of the siphon. I dont know if this would mess up the siphon or not though. That seems like the only way you could slow your flow down and let your pump catch up.

 

That's what I was thinking, but I thought the siphon may still carry over the water and overflow the overflow.

 

Maybe the overflow is 500GPH max? If so, slower should be fine. Never restrict the over flow.

 

The reason I am trying to lower the flow is because my pump can't keep up. Is there like some magic physics thing that will equalize the levels? And thanks for the info on the siphon, is there a way to slow it down without modifying it?

 

Overflow works on gravity, it can only take what the pump is pushing. Think of a river, it will keep flowing in times of no rain, just slower. When it rains, it just flows faster. Overflow will do the same. It's part of the reason why the return section of your sump is the part that gets low when water evaporates.

 

what size pump are you using? I would think that your return would regulate the amount of flow. All depends on how low your overflow is and the type. Are you wanting to slow the overflow because the water level is too low?

 

My pump is at ~500GPH, I want to slow it because when I tested them, the overflow puts out nearly 2x as much water as the pump.

 

Like Chumslickjon said the overflow will only empty as much as the pump returns. You will be fine unless the pump runs faster than the over flow.

 

Alright, thanks guys, just had me concerned during the tests.