Oops.

Well I tried my hand at a diy overflow, and let me tell you what. Does it overflow. Overflowed right on to the carpet. I found a diy guide on how to make one for 120gph and I figured if I upped the size of the tubing it would up the gph. Man did it work. It filled up my 20 gal sump in secs and started over flowing. Thankfully I was smart and added a shut off valve and I quickly closed it. I only lost a few gallons. I attempted to partially close the valve to restrict the flow and it seemed to work for a little while. But it will end up gurgling and burping for air and it shuts it self down. Atleast I know if I lose power it will stop flowing. I guess I need to make a few modifications to it to allow it to breath. I will post pics and drawings in the diy tomorrow. Maybe I could get some pointers from some of the more experienced experimenters out there.

There's no reason for trial and error, there are calculators out there that will help you in determining the right size piping and flow for your particular set up.

Is 20 gallon your display or your sump? If it's your sump, I'm curious as to how it overflowed?? Pictures will defenitely help me understand. The total amount of water that is in your set up shouldn't exceed the total amount that the sump and main tank can hold when all your pumps shut off, simulating a power outage. Water that is flowing back to the sump shouldn't exceed what the sump can hold. if it's too much then you have to remove some water and dial back your return pump so it doesn't push more water into the main tank then your return can handle, in other words slow things down.

When I decided to make my first tank with an overflow and sump, I stumbled upon this site which helped me understand what I needed to focus on. Plus it has a great visual aid to help you understand it.

That diagram has a hob overflow but the same concept works for an internal overflow as well.

HTH
Jimmy

I am going to see if i can come over and look today, not sure as I have to take care of my daughter(the whole ER trip last night has us doing a lot today) but,the question I have is are you doing all this with SW? Anytime you set something like this you need to do a wet test... outside,with regular water. You could theoretically do it with SW but if you have an overflow your just wasting your money. Do it with a completely bare tank and check that everything is good. If you do have live stuff in your tank(you shouldn't have fish that I know of) aka rock sand, go get a really big rubbermaid transfer it all over and stick a pump and heater in there till the tank is ready to go.

Well for now I'm setting the overflow to the side. I put the skimmer back in the tank and I will see how it goes.

sorry I didn't make it there today. I had friends over that stayed longer than expected. what's you schedule lime tomorrow?

I'm free all day tomorrow.

post your number in the members only thread. I will call you tomorrow.

SLP, I checked it out, I have seen his set up before, I think it would be best to drill his tank like mine....