Overflow always empty - PLEASE HELP. i've tried everything

[Swift Productions]

Hi guys,

im new to owning a fish tank so please bear with me if i dont make any sense but i'll try to explain everything about the tank and the problem as clearly as i can.

Ive got a mini reef set up with an overflow at the back left corner of my tank which has a 29mm whole leading into my sump below.

My tank size is 300L and im using a RESUN SP-6000 submersible pump which apparently pumps up to 3000 l/hours. The exit hose at the pump is no more than 1.4m high in to the tank.

The problem im having is my overflow is always empty (water does fall into it but i can't keep it full). A friend of mine has a similar setup and his overflow is full all the way up to the top (same level as the tanks water). Its very loud and enoying.

Does anyone know why and how to fix this problem?

my friend has tried, ive spoken to aquarium stores and googled the problem and i still can't work it out.

please if some one can help me i would really really appreciate it.

ive attached 2 photos of the tank with examples of the problem.

http://swiftproductions.com.au/pic2.jpg

thanks again in advance


also just incase you guys needed to know its going to be a fresh water tank.


regards

danny

[joz]

Hi danny.

If the only thing that annoys you is the the sound of water dopping because its loud.
Try getting a peice of pvc pipe that will fit into the diameter of the hole.
This will raise the water level to the top of the pipe so you won't have the water splashing down the inside of the glass in the overflow.(this is what I used to do)
Just make sure that you don't make the pipe cany higher than the sides of the overflow, if you do you will raise the water level in the tank and it will overflow onto the floor.

or

reduce the flow of the pump in the sump by putting a tap onto the outlet, this should at least reduce the amount of water splashing as it drops.

[Swift Productions]

ok joz i got ya... that might work for now but it would look heaps better if it was empty. do you know why mine drains out so quick? like i said my friend has a setup similar to mine (his is a little bigger) but has his over flow all the way up to the top. He said normally he has to get the pump and over flow working together and his is perfect however ive tried and tried and i can't seem to get it to work.

the pipe inside might do the job but becuase my tank is right smack in the middle of my lounge area i really didn't want to show any pipes or anything which is why i got the sump setup with my heater and evrything inside it so my tank is nice a clean/empty. any other suggestions on to why its doing that?

i appreciate your feedback though, thanks heaps.

regards

danny

[joz]

The only thing I can think off is that the hole down the drain area is too big.
So it goes down as fast as its pumped into the tank.
Not a problem other than the splashing and gurgling noise.
I'm not sure if i'd be game to restrict the overflow, knowing my luck the tank would overflow.

[Swift Productions]

ok thanks for the advice... i guess bu the sounds of this i have no choise but to put a pvc pipe to raise the water level...

i appreciate your time in this

thanks again

danny