Proper size overflow and a problem with overflow.

[JMM744]

I have a 70 reef with the 16 " overflow and really like it. My problem is that when I kill the power to the pump and them resume it the overflow does not re-establish itself correctly. It gets quite noisy and the secondary drain has too much overflow.
Second, is the 16 enough drain for a 120 reef?
Thanks for any and all suggestions, feedback.
My best, Jim

 

[fragit]

I have that overflow on my 120 peninsula, and never have an issue. It sounds to me from your description you may have a plumbing layout issue. Do you have a lot of horizontal runs in your plumbing? Do you have a valve on the full siphon? And did you drill a hole in the partial siphon?

 

[JMM744]

Pictures. Most bends are 45's and the main overflow has a gate valve. The second overflow does have a hole in it. I removed the main overflow U pipe as I could never get this thing to tune right. Since taking it out it runs very well and quite. It's just when the power is off and it restarts that the problem occurs.

 

[JMM744]

 

[cbear44]

For the siphon - the end of it should only be <1" below the surface. It sounds like that it may be too low below the water surface therefore when it tries to reestablish itself the air is not purged efficiently and the siphon doesn't get established well.

 

[mixer911]

@JMM744 You have an air lock in the primary drain. In the instructions this is why we recommend drilling a 1/4" hole in the top of both u pipes. Just drill a hole in the top of the primary and it will eliminate the airlock. No need to use a fitting and airline like you did on the secondary. Those are not needed on our overflows.

 

[JMM744]

@JMM744 You have an air lock in the primary drain. In the instructions this is why we recommend drilling a 1/4" hole in the top of both u pipes. Just drill a hole in the top of the primary and it will eliminate the airlock. No need to use a fitting and airline like you did on the secondary. Those are not needed on our overflows.

Thanks for that information. I will do just that. It was a used unit when I bought it and the airline was already in place. It will make setting the lid a lot easier now. Appreciate the advice. Will be adding one of these to my 125 build. Love how compact the overflow is.

 

[mixer911]

Thanks for that information. I will do just that. It was a used unit when I bought it and the airline was already in place. It will make setting the lid a lot easier now. Appreciate the advice. Will be adding one of these to my 125 build. Love how compact the overflow is.

No problem! Glad you asked and happy to help!