Does anything go right when you start a new tank?

[TrojanScott]

I'm ticked.

I had my new 180 gallon, polished glass tank delivered last week. Spent every day this week mixing new water to put in. 20 gallons a day, with my live rock, live sand, etc. Today, last batch of water, all ready to go...

Well, the **** overflow box.... the guys that made this for me had a piece of PVC pipe in there, with a U tipe elbow turned upside down at the top, plugged, with a small hole in it. Supposed to keep it quiet, no splashing. Well, that doesn't work. The pum, (a little Giant) is pushing water faster into the overflow than it can drain.

I tried to widen the hole in the plug, no luck. Took the plug off, no luck.
I guess my only option is to drill holes into the PVC pipe, take the elbow off, and throw some bioballs in the overflow. I'm assuming this should work, but it ticks me off that I spent a ton of cash for a custom tank and stand, only for it not to work the way it was supposed to work. Now, I'll have to dig bioballs out once every other month to clean, with means taking my canopy off, etc, etc, etc.

Unless anyone has a bright idea on how to fix it... I'm just venting and mad.

[motorslave]

What is the overflow set up? You said this is a custom glass so I take it this is not a hang on overflow? Can you get a pic of the set up? Why do you need the bio-balls in the overflow?
Dont give up yet, with all the DIYers here Im sure someone can find a solution. Hang in there.
A pic or diagram would be a big help in figuring it out.

Robert

[TrojanScott]

www.DursoStandpipes.com.

This is exactly what I have in my tank. It just fills too quickly in the overflow, will not drain fast enough. (and correct, not a hang on the back, it's a built in overflow)

[Doug1]

What size pipe is in the overflow and what size bulkhead is the actual drain?
Next question, what pump and how much water is it pushing after you factor in head height and resistancen from plumbing bends and what not.

[candian bacon]

I would think that maybe your pump is to strong. Is there a way you can install a valve to control the flow rate.

[TrojanScott]

I have a valve on it, I can control the flow rate. I just didn't want to take away from the current.

I seem to have fixed it... something as simple as buying a new plug, and drilling a smaller hole up top. It's doing what it's supposed to do now, but took some screwing with to get it right.

[Geoff]

your pump is way to small. if you have a 1" drain, which is normal for overflows, than you should stick with a pump that can pump no more than 600gph at the head height of your tank. that LG pump should be used for CLS and not for return.

ok, to really annoy you. i would drain the tank and get it drilled for at least 1 CLS using that LG pump.

G~

[bgi]

This is not intended to annoy, but this story is a good reason to get all of your equipment running and tested before adding anything other than fresh water into the tank.