Way to increase drain flow?

I guess I'm gonna do some experimenting then, lol. I'll start by using a larger ID u tube from inside box to outside box first. The 5/8" ID standpipe as stated earlier still has a lot of air going through it as it drains into the fuge, so I think it can handle some increased flow from box to box....The u tube I have now if totally air free, but its only 5/8" ID as well, so maybe I'll start with a 3/4" ID u tube and see what happens...Worst case scenario, add maybe a second u tube, with then a larger standpipe. Thanks for all the help so far guys!! i'll keep you all posted as to whether I get more flow, or flood the floor and make the wife mad....

 

My bad. Thought I read it.

 

I'm not an expert, but I don't think adding another U tube will help...I would think that 2 of them in the HOB will cause issues where more Air will get sucked up, and canceling the other out....and if if causes air in both then you have PROBLEMS.....Personally I would start with a larger Utube ... and go from there. I only have about 1" water in the HOB return chamber ( second chamber ) and it flows out fast...I ran a small tube down inside to get rid of the air traps and quiet it down ...the flow is fine ...I also have a few pieces of Media over drain to keep the rushing water noise down. I feed my fuge and sump gravity flow from the HOB

Good luck

 

Well, so far I tried the second u tube, same ID as the first. I cant seem to get it fully primed, theres one small air pocket hanging around the top, but my drain flow has increased a good bit. I am now running my return pump on the next to highest flow instead of the lowest setting. I played with both ball valves and got it steady again. But, Im still not 100% happy. So, I am going to make a new HOB overflow drain with probably a 3/4" or 1" u tube and standpipe, and see how much more I can get. My buddy gave me an old HOB twin fliter, I removed the pump from the middle, and gonna use that hole with a bulkhead for the stand pipe and possible twin u tubes, one for each side. The pump out of the filter is just gonna be modded a lil bit and put in the tank for some more current / flow. Right now Im pushing a total of 770 gph in a 52 gal tank / 10 gal sump / fuge. Want to try to get it at least 20x turnover, more eventually, but right now its not in the budget....

 

You can try different types of pipe/tubing. The flexible plastic tubing definitely causes more head loss than PVC. If you eliminate unnecessary obstructions (valves, Ts etc), shorten the pipe length or change pipe material you may get enough flow.

 

52 gal tank what pump are you using for the main return pump to tank from sump .. If its more then a Mag 3 or a RIO 1700 then its way to much ..All you want is about 250 or so back to tank from the sump or unless you are supplying the skimmer and several reactors off of the main pump also ..

 

I have something simalier to what you are trying to do but instead of having the 2 utubes it came with a 1 1/2" u tube but it has 2 1" drains. I am running a quitone 2200 pump for my return. the left side drains into my refuge (with a t valve to slow the flow).
figured I would post it to maybe give you some ideas. I have allot of flow maybe overkill but that's what I wanted.
Reef Aquarium Filtration: Eshopps Overflow Boxes

 

The quiet one 2200 at best down hill will push 500 GPH thats is how they rate them I think but I myself had one to try out for a LFS and at 4 ft it delivered about 200GPH and flowed about 350 GPH via a flow meter when simple submerged in water and used to circulate . So with that overflow you are using you are not at a quarter of its flow capacity if at a quarter even. ? I may be off a little on the numbers its been awhile I tested it then the 3000 I think it ws was not much stronger But both where very quiet

 

I am actually running a quietone 1200 rated at 300 gph for my return from the sump/fuge. I have one 170gph powerhead in the tank for current, soon to add another in there, and my drain consists of twin 5/8" ID u tubes nto one 5/8" standpipe to the fuge. Then I have a maxijet 1200 powering water from the fuge to my skimmer, then into the sump, and return. I have ball valves on both the drain and return, so I have been playing with them to keep it steady. I just need a little more from the drain side so I can keep the return at full force. I figure if I go with a 1" u tube and standpipe I should get what I need....

 

yeh thats what I figured(the box shows it at 400gph at 4 feet head but I dought I am getting that) the total on the box says 581gph, both sides of the overflow without the filters over the tubes don't even fill up, the water goes down them so fast ..lol.I planed on getting a better return pump because I am not happy with the quitone. not to hijack this thread but which mag pump would you recommend Tangster with this overflow? (cause I know the hob will only pull according to the return pump)