Overflow Question

I have a 90 gal. glass tank with corner overflow. The overflow is 3" X 6"
made of glass plates with a plastic weir on top. There are 2 - 1 1/2" holes
in the bottom of the tank leading to the sump.

My problem is that with my Little Giant pump, supplying return through 4
holes located around the tank bottom, the flow of water over the weir has
lead to the death of several fish.

I want as much flow as the pump can supply but don't know how to keep the
fish from going over Niagra Falls.

BTW, the water going over the weir is no more than 3/8" from top of tank.
If I valve down the flow to the pump, will that hurt the pump?

Dave Stewart wrote:
I have a 90 gal. glass tank with corner overflow. The overflow is 3" X 6"
made of glass plates with a plastic weir on top. There are 2 - 1 1/2" holes
in the bottom of the tank leading to the sump.

My problem is that with my Little Giant pump, supplying return through 4
holes located around the tank bottom, the flow of water over the weir has
lead to the death of several fish.

I want as much flow as the pump can supply but don't know how to keep the
fish from going over Niagra Falls.

BTW, the water going over the weir is no more than 3/8" from top of tank.
If I valve down the flow to the pump, will that hurt the pump?


Putting a valve on the pump will not hurt it unless you close it
completely and run the pump with no water flow through it.


My suggestion to you would be to replace your LG pump with a smaller
pump for the return and use the LG for a closed loop so you still have
good flow in the tank.

Kim

That's good that you have good water flow. Most people
undersized their pumps. If you put a valve to reduce the
water flow from the pump be sure you put it on the output
of the pump, not on the input of the pump.

You can set up something nice looking around the overflow
to help keep fish out.

Check out what I did to my overflow at
http://waynesallee.com/overflowpictures.htm

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Dave Stewart wrote on 7/30/2006 10:56 AM:
I have a 90 gal. glass tank with corner overflow. The overflow is 3" X 6"
made of glass plates with a plastic weir on top. There are 2 - 1 1/2" holes
in the bottom of the tank leading to the sump.

My problem is that with my Little Giant pump, supplying return through 4
holes located around the tank bottom, the flow of water over the weir has
lead to the death of several fish.

I want as much flow as the pump can supply but don't know how to keep the
fish from going over Niagra Falls.

BTW, the water going over the weir is no more than 3/8" from top of tank.
If I valve down the flow to the pump, will that hurt the pump?

Thanks Wayne. My problem is "putting something nice" around the top of the
overflow. If I restrict the flow going over the top of the weir, I'm afraid
that water will go over the top of the tank. Surge at weir is probably only
3/8" right now.
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
That's good that you have good water flow. Most people undersized their
pumps. If you put a valve to reduce the water flow from the pump be sure
you put it on the output of the pump, not on the input of the pump.

You can set up something nice looking around the overflow to help keep
fish out.

Check out what I did to my overflow at
http://waynesallee.com/overflowpictures.htm

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Dave Stewart wrote on 7/30/2006 10:56 AM:
I have a 90 gal. glass tank with corner overflow. The overflow is 3" X
6" made of glass plates with a plastic weir on top. There are 2 - 1 1/2"
holes in the bottom of the tank leading to the sump.

My problem is that with my Little Giant pump, supplying return through 4
holes located around the tank bottom, the flow of water over the weir has
lead to the death of several fish.

I want as much flow as the pump can supply but don't know how to keep the
fish from going over Niagra Falls.

BTW, the water going over the weir is no more than 3/8" from top of tank.
If I valve down the flow to the pump, will that hurt the pump?

No you don't want to restrict the flow going over the
overflow. One thing I like about all-glass brand overflows
is that they are plastic, and easy to cut down for
increased water flow. Glass overflows like yours are less
flexible in that way.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Dave Stewart wrote on 7/31/2006 4:21 PM:
Thanks Wayne. My problem is "putting something nice" around the top of the
overflow. If I restrict the flow going over the top of the weir, I'm afraid
that water will go over the top of the tank. Surge at weir is probably only
3/8" right now.
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
That's good that you have good water flow. Most people undersized their
pumps. If you put a valve to reduce the water flow from the pump be sure
you put it on the output of the pump, not on the input of the pump.

You can set up something nice looking around the overflow to help keep
fish out.

Check out what I did to my overflow at
http://waynesallee.com/overflowpictures.htm

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Dave Stewart wrote on 7/30/2006 10:56 AM:
I have a 90 gal. glass tank with corner overflow. The overflow is 3" X
6" made of glass plates with a plastic weir on top. There are 2 - 1 1/2"
holes in the bottom of the tank leading to the sump.

My problem is that with my Little Giant pump, supplying return through 4
holes located around the tank bottom, the flow of water over the weir has
lead to the death of several fish.

I want as much flow as the pump can supply but don't know how to keep the
fish from going over Niagra Falls.

BTW, the water going over the weir is no more than 3/8" from top of tank.
If I valve down the flow to the pump, will that hurt the pump?