Tank too full

[Psychonaut]

So, I’m sure this is a retarded question, but is my aquarium too full? I guess I was always picturing an inch or two of unused glass on top, but the water is less that 1/2” from the top of the glass. Is that pretty average, or should I go lower my overflow box to try and lower the water level a bit?

 

[Musovski]

a lil too high.

 

[Psychonaut]

Too high to the point you think I should drain part of the tank, pull off my overflow box and re-silicone it back on?

 

[lapin]

What sort of overflow setup do you have. Can we get a picture? The weir height and teeth depth set the tank level.

 

[Psychonaut]

 

[Psychonaut]

Yea see, foolishly, I assumed the level would be set right at about the bottom of the teeth, but in reality in comes about 2/3 the way up the teeth

 

[lotekfish]

I've made that mistake before- it's kinda hard to predict how high up your water level will end up. It depends on how much water you're pushing into the tank vs how much can flow through the teeth. Can you cut back on the flow into the tank?

 

[Drewe]

I've made that mistake before- it's kinda hard to predict how high up your water level will end up. It depends on how much water you're pushing into the tank vs how much can flow through the teeth. Can you cut back on the flow into the tank?

Wouldn't the water level still rise up to the same point, just be slower to return to the DT and therefore just lower flow?

 

[lapin]

You have 3 choices. Lower the box. Get a smaller return pump or put a valve on the pumps exit too restrict flow. Cut off some teeth.

Wouldn't the water level still rise up to the same point, just be slower to return to the DT and therefore just lower flow?

The weir can only handle so much flow. The more flow the higher the back up against the teeth.

 

[Drewe]

You have 3 choices. Lower the box. Get a smaller return pump or put a valve on the pumps exit too restrict flow. Cut off some teeth.


The weir can only handle so much flow. The more flow the higher the back up against the teeth.

Yup as soon as I replied I realized.

I think the simplest thing to do would be to lower the water level just enough and remove some teeth.

 

[Psychonaut]

So I have acces to most of these options. I put a ball valve on my return so I can cut flow. But I also can restrict flow. I have a jebao DCP 10000 pumping into a 120gal. When I set it to the lowest setting it buys me a little room. Like just over 1/2”

My new questions are is this enough flow in terms of sump turnover? And is that enough room up top? What are my risks here? I have my gyre turned up to 80 and it doesn’t splash, is it like a “your tank could break” kind of concern ?

 

[Orko]

I was always told at a minim the turnover ten times the tank volume pr hour. Your tank is way to full I would turn down the pump or put a valve in the return line and choke it off a bit. if that does not work u could break off a couple teeth or file down a couple of the teeth deeper and see if it changes.

 

[Psychonaut]

My pump is at like 2600 gph so I doubt it’s even getting 1200gph now, at its lowest setting, let alone if I start choking that thing off with my ball valve. How far from the top should I be shooting for here?

 

[Retro Reefer]

I would drain the tank enough to work on it and use something like a dremel tool or round file to make the slots a little deeper.

 

[Orko]

Mine is prob an inch or so I have Oceanic 120gal

 

[Scotty Buttons]

How many GPH is your overflow rated? My guess would be your return pump is pumping a little more then your overflow can handle. Add mentioned above if you can choke it down that should help.

 

[Orko]

2600 gph is prob way to much for that over flow to take even at it' lowest setting.

 

[Psychonaut]

This is where I’m at right now with pump on lowest? How low am I trying to go? And what risks am I running if I don’t get it lower? This is just over 1/2” from water line to the bottom of the first piece of plastic available to measure from

 

[Musovski]

This is where I’m at right now with pump on lowest? How low am I trying to go? And what risks am I running if I don’t get it lower? This is just over 1/2” from water line to the bottom of the first piece of plastic available to measure from

thats actually a really good spot. the only problem is with a low pump there is less water turn over.

 

[Stigigemla]

To be honest You dont gain anything with spooling a lot of water through the sump.
The flow the skimmer uses is enough.
A pair of streamers in the tank gives You more control of where the circulation in the tank goes and saves electrical power too.
Will give You less heat in the summer.