DIY overflow - tank either drains out, or overflows

[BIG-G]

Thanks BIG G.
I don't actually have a pump. The water was coming straight from the faucet into the tank. So I really don't know what the gph is. All I do is open and close the tap to increase or decrease water flow to the tank.

Ahh. I see I missed that in the original post.
Sorry for confusion.
GPH would be gallons per hour.
I see you go by liters.
It was around 5:45 in the morning when I responded as well. Lol

 

[twentyleagues]

Yeah man I don't trust those versions of overflows at all. That's why I just did a easy water change system instead of a drip for so long. Now the sump is drilled to facilitate a drip system so will see once I get it all up and running again.

 

[BIG-G]

I’ve done the same. I have my tank pump return plumbed with a valve and a section of pipe that runs to the yard.
To do a water change I just open a valve and the water goes out close the valve and open the fill.


I had go dig this one out, it’s been in the back yard for a while.

This was used with a 400gph return pump from a sump.it worked perfectly for about 4 years.
I found that the inside loop doesn’t need go all the way to the bottom of the tank. I had this diy weir box to surface skim.
This was on a saltwater setup.

 

[BIG-G]

@mattybecks
I noticed that In the original picture the overflow is up off the rim. This little bit of extra hight could be affecting the water level in the aquarium. The water would raise higher in the tank before it drains.
Is this for a reason?
or could this have been you problem

 

[TheWolfman]

this I how I held the overflow up just two zip ties the first zip tie goes through a hole in the overflow and is used to set the water level in the aquarium. The second is to hold the first one in place. I think the major flaw in your first design is the fact that the drain downsizes when you coverted to hose. When the water gets to this spot it backs up and then goes full syphon and is braking the syphon in your overflow. Then the tank floods. If you upsize the hose and pvc here you should be good.

 

[BIG-G]

this I how I held the overflow up just two zip ties the first zip tie goes through a hole in the overflow and is used to set the water level in the aquarium. The second is to hold the first one in place. I think the major flaw in your first design is the fact that the drain downsizes when you coverted to hose. When the water gets to this spot it backs up and then goes full syphon and is braking the syphon in your overflow. Then the tank floods. If you upsize the hose and pvc here you should be good. View attachment 1403910

For this to happen the flow would have to be pretty fast.
If he was only using this for drip system I would think that the flow would have to complete stop at that point to back up?

It seems to me that a small trickle from the drip system wouldn’t be enough flow and the pipe should be able to drain that amount away.
Am I missing something else? because that’s possible also.lol

 

[BIG-G]

Also if this was happening wouldn’t it back up and drain then the drip catch up and the cycle repeat?

 

[BIG-G]

Could the distance between these two from the trap to the green drain not be enough to make a continuous flow.

 

[TheWolfman]

For this to happen the flow would have to be pretty fast.
If he was only using this for drip system I would think that the flow would have to complete stop at that point to back up?

It seems to me that a small trickle from the drip system wouldn’t be enough flow and the pipe should be able to drain that amount away.
Am I missing something else? because that’s possible also.lol

I agree for a drip it should be fine, In Op he said he’s using it as a flow through rather then a drip. I’m assuming that the water can’t get out the drain of the overflow fast enough. I also agree that lowering the hose would help. It shouldn’t be a elbow at all.

 

[BIG-G]

I assume what he meant by flow through was that the drip was constant and the overflow should constantly drain this away.