Restricting overflow

[floydie83]

Hi all,

I just got a new overflow and its bigger than i need for my tank. Can I restrict the flow out of the overflow box before the sump with a ball valve? Will that be a problem?

I plan on upgrading the size of my tank soon this is the reason for this. When I get the larger tank I could just remove the ball valve.

Thanks
Matt

[dwd5813]

you'd be much better off controlling that rate by throttling back the return pump by either using a valve or teeing it off. you generally don't want to restrict the overflow in case anything happens to flow through it that shouldn't. in an event like that you want as much room to flush straight through as possible vs. a constricted line where something could get caught.

[swjim]

you'd be much better off controlling that rate by throttling back the return pump by either using a valve or teeing it off. you generally don't want to restrict the overflow in case anything happens to flow through it that shouldn't. in an event like that you want as much room to flush straight through as possible vs. a constricted line where something could get caught.

x2 It's a much better idea to restrict the return.

[Phyxius]

you'd be much better off controlling that rate by throttling back the return pump by either using a valve or teeing it off. you generally don't want to restrict the overflow in case anything happens to flow through it that shouldn't. in an event like that you want as much room to flush straight through as possible vs. a constricted line where something could get caught.

Very much agree. Put a valve on the overflow line and all it takes is a wayward snail or jumping fish in the line to back it up and have a nice tank overflow situation on your hands. I had a few smaller tanks but ran bigger pumps at first so I could power other things down the road. Like dwd5813 mentioned I put a T on the return and a line with a valve where I could bypass some of the return flow back through the sump instead of all the flow back to the display tank.

[floydie83]

I will do that, I'm trying to slow the overall rate down. Its for a freshwater tank that I want to convert in the next few months. These fish don't like getting blasted with water like reefs do.

I will use the screen and sponge. I dont have any critters, just algae growth to worry about.

When I get it going as a reef tank I will let it go full throttle. CPR CS100 with a 1200 gph return pump with a T to restrict.