Water height in overflow vs display

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I've been running the drain in my overflow, at a height of about 1/2 an inch higher than the bottom of the drainage slots into the overflow.

I've just realized, that this may not be quite correct. I saw a video where someone was running the same single drain configuration as me, and their overflow waterheight was about 5 inches lower than the height of the water in the display.

I've noticed that it doesn't seem like there is much suction of debris into my overflow. There is however since my display is pretty clean, and if I drop in pellets without any prep they rush right into the overflow.

I just wanted to make sure I am not making a mistake running it that high, not creating a small waterfall of suction into the overflow.

 

[RedoubtReef]

running too low in the overflow will create a lot of noise. I assume you are running a Herbie setup? I have always run mine so that it is just below the top of the emergency drain which for me is just below the top of the overflow teeth by maybe a quarter inch. I'd say you're good.

 

[TheBear78]

If I read it correctly, you're running a single drain pipe (no emergency) that sits 1/2" above the weir slots?

 

[FSP]

You aren't getting the surface skimming of an overflow by having the pipe so high.

You generally want the drop between water level in the tank and water level in the overflow to be about 1" for noise reasons, but it's usually 2"-3" in practice (usually fine). This range will vary due to the length of your overflow, whether or not it has teeth and your flow rate.

 

[DaddyFish]

Overflow water height slightly lower than tank water height = GOOD
Too much drop = NOISE

 

[workhz]

I’m just trying to figure out the physics of the overflow chamber water height being higher than the display. My brain hurts.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

If I read it correctly, you're running a single drain pipe (no emergency) that sits 1/2" above the weir slots?

This is correct.

So the water height of my display and overflow are the exact same, there is no drop into the overflow currently.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

running too low in the overflow will create a lot of noise. I assume you are running a Herbie setup? I have always run mine so that it is just below the top of the emergency drain which for me is just below the top of the overflow teeth by maybe a quarter inch. I'd say you're good.

Single drain, and no drop in waterlevel between overflow and display.

What you describe here, sounds like I should drop the drain height a little. Thank you

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I’m just trying to figure out the physics of the overflow chamber water height being higher than the display. My brain hurts.

I may have worded it poorly.

I mean, the water height is the same in both display and overflow, which is about .7 inches higher than the slots into the overflow

 

[workhz]

I may have worded it poorly.

I mean, the water height is the same in both display and overflow, which is about .7 inches higher than the slots into the overflow

I think it was just me misreading. In any case, my drain is set slightly lower as is the case with most folks.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

Thank you everyone, this was valuable information that I couldn't find a difinitive answer for when searching.

Now I have some surface skimming action