Water Level Is too high.

[Macdaddynick1]

Hey everyone, so I ordered a new tank and finally set it up. now the problem is the grill on the top is too small. its 10 x 1" by 1/4" wide teeth. I am using jebao 12000 at the first setting and my water level is 1/4" below the rim of the tank. At 3 speed it starts overflowing . I am thinking of enlarging the holes on the top but i just purchased this tank so i don't want to mess it up, does anyone know a way to enlarge the holes without ruining the acrylic?

 

[Joeganja]

Empty some water.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Empty some water.

my problem is when my return pump runs the water does not pass fast enough thought the grill and raises too high.

 

[Reeferfourlife]

What is the return rate with first setting? Might try a smaller return pump or have the teeth cut wider or deeper. The overflow doesn't look like it has enough teeth. What size is your tank?

 

[Macdaddynick1]

What is the return rate with first setting? Might try a smaller return pump or have the teeth cut wider or deeper. The overflow doesn't look like it has enough teeth. What size is your tank?

Yeah I was thinking of either drilling the bottom of the grill or make another cutout . The pump is 900 gal at the lowest setting and the tank is around 65 gallons

 

[Reeferdood]

You are overdriving your drain.. Like stated before, try a smaller pump and it will likely solve your issue. Also, those overflows can get vapor locked if they are over driven, look and see what the manufacturer recommends for a return rate and try to match it. It seems that a lot of reefers try to obtain a huge turnover in their sumps, I personally tend to go towards less turnover and more flow in the main display. This has been the method that works best for me, has for many years...
Welcome to the club!

 

[morpheas]

What is the drain pipe size? Single 1"? Dual? What kind of drain are you running? Herbie/Beananimal or stockman?

You are definitely overdriving your drain from the symptoms you are describing. I have a DC-6000 on my system which is a 30 gallon. I am on the high turnover side as @Reeferdood mentioned but I have a dual 1" drain system designed for 1200/hr gallons.

What I have done is created a spill back in the sump with a gate valve and control the amount of flow going up to the display and the rest dumps back into the sump (I like the high flow through it). This will allow you to keep your current pump. Another way, as everyone suggested, is to get a smaller pump.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I should have probably mentioned that this tank is a custom built tank , I have 2 1" drains in it , and the level inside of the actual overflow box does not rise above the first 1" pvc pipe, meaning the overflow pipes handling the water with no problem. The pump is not an issue as it will be running a chiller and 2 reactors. My biggest worry was that my tank turnover is going to be too low.

 

[Reeferdood]

Well,
That topic is a very debatable one... I like slow turnover myself...
Add power heads in your main display if you need flow, I run vortechs and love them..

 

[najer]

I would use a Dremmel tool (mini hand held router tool) and make the notches in the weir wider before I worried about the return pump so much, getting the most flow your drain will cope with will enable you to balance the return.

 

[morpheas]

I should have probably mentioned that this tank is a custom built tank , I have 2 1" drains in it , and the level inside of the actual overflow box does not rise above the first 1" pvc pipe, meaning the overflow pipes handling the water with no problem. The pump is not an issue as it will be running a chiller and 2 reactors. My biggest worry was that my tank turnover is going to be too low.

With this clarification i agree with your conclusion that your drain can handle it. Then it might be as @najer said the teeth being to small requiring a big raise in height to handle the rate... The do look a little restricted...

 

[Reeferfourlife]

Yeah I was thinking of either drilling the bottom of the grill or make another cutout . The pump is 900 gal at the lowest setting and the tank is around 65 gallons

Yea definitely look into dropping the turnover rate to about 10x the tank volumn. Since you going to running other equipments with this pump, you might be ok. Connect the other equipments and test the level again.