Help!!!!!! Having overflowing issues

Steelerfan747 · Aug 24, 2012

Hi guys, as the title states I'm having a bit of issues with my display overflowing. It has been happening the last few times I have done my water changes. It seems that once I restart the system it no longer wants to drain and a few days ago the power went out when I was not home and my wife mentioned that about a gallon or so spoiled out before it began draining again causing my ato to dump more fresh water in and lowering my salinity.

My current system us a 46g, 22" cube with the back drilled to support a glass-holes overflow box that's connected to the sump by a pre made flexible sump hose attached to a piece of pvc pipe that is not drilled or slotted.

I have seen many different set ups that have that pipe drilled or slotted but always figured that was there to help with bubbles or noise issues but now I think it's there to release any tapped air that may cause this very issue but I want to make sure before I start drilling. I also want to know how high and how many holes should I drill?

I have friends I could ask personally but felt this would be a great way for others to learn from this should they run into the same issue,

Thanks for your help

uall8up · Aug 24, 2012

I have also seen these. I personally don't use one with my HOB overflow. Trapped air sounds like it might be the culprit. If there is air then the water is not draining as quickly as it should. Best I can come up with. GL steeler!!!

Loki · Aug 24, 2012

I am having the same issue on my 28 bowfront. I can't figure it out. I'll be watching this thread

Chameleon · Aug 24, 2012

do you make sure your overflow line to the sump is above water level in sump?

Fatman · Aug 24, 2012

My son had this issue with his FOWLR, a 55 with a small overflow box and an 1.5 inch outlet. I drilled a couple of holes in the top of the overflow elbow (our's is inverted with the opening facing down) and put in some 1/4 inch tubing running it as far down the overflow pipe as possible. It will gurgle on startup but evens out soon and runs fine. Haven't had any spilling issues since we did this.

Chameleon · Aug 24, 2012

Oh I just looked up your overflow. It has an elbow going into the drilled hole in the tank. You may want to drill a small hole in the top of the corner of the elbow.
Like this:

TulsaTye · Aug 24, 2012

Drilling a small hole like the pic above will cause the tank to stop back siphoning once the water level reaches that hole. Make sure you dont have something clogging the return.

jdpiii3 · Aug 24, 2012

Have you checks the overflow cutouts, they might have some buildup and that would cause the tank not to drain as fast. I had to clean those cutouts on my old 150 all the time.

Steelerfan747 · Aug 24, 2012

Chameleon said:
do you make sure your overflow line to the sump is above water level in sump?

No, my return line is in the water about 7" down

Steelerfan747 · Aug 24, 2012

Fatman said:
My son had this issue with his FOWLR, a 55 with a small overflow box and an 1.5 inch outlet. I drilled a couple of holes in the top of the overflow elbow (our's is inverted with the opening facing down) and put in some 1/4 inch tubing running it as far down the overflow pipe as possible. It will gurgle on startup but evens out soon and runs fine. Haven't had any spilling issues since we did this.

Chameleon said:
Oh I just looked up your overflow. It has an elbow going into the drilled hole in the tank. You may want to drill a small hole in the top of the corner of the elbow.
Like this:

I have a hole drilled on the top of the elbow with a hose in it that I had to play around with to help quiet the system. would it be a good idea to remove it to clean it out or remove it completely?

jaguars4263 · Aug 24, 2012

Yeah it sounds like when the power goes out the tank wont stop back siphoning. I had the same problem! When a tropical storm came though the power in my house went out in the middle of the night and i didnt have a hole drilled into the PVC and my refugium overflowed all over the floor. It was a big time mess!!

slapshot · Aug 24, 2012

A hole works good. A must to stop the siphon. Make sure your sump water level slows it to hold enough water until it hits the hole and breaks the syphon

Just Clownin Around · Aug 24, 2012

He's having the opposite problem
He's not starting the syphon quick enough.
The whole in he elbow will allow the air to "vent" and allow the water to flow properly. Like stated above it might be a little noisy but a lot safer

Steelerfan747 · Aug 25, 2012

Ok guys. Please understand. I have a hole already drilled in the top PVC elbow that ones out of the tank. I Do Not have any holes drilled on the PVC pipe that goes into the sump. My question is should I drill the pipe in the sump or should the hole on the top elbow be enough? And if it should then why is this happening? Is it possible that the hose I have inside the top elbow hole is clogging and should be removed?

sportzfish · Aug 25, 2012

So are you saying to elevate your overflow line above the level of the sump and also drill a hole in the elbow that is exiting the tank (while placing a piece of long tubing down that hole to quiet things down)?

Chameleon said:
Oh I just looked up your overflow. It has an elbow going into the drilled hole in the tank. You may want to drill a small hole in the top of the corner of the elbow.
Like this: