Surface water not skimming clean via overflow

[d3rryc]

The water at the surface of my tank isn't skimming itself clean by running into the overflow like I want it to. My tank is 60" long and 20" front to back. The overflow box is in the back right corner, and the return hose comes out of the top of the overflow box. The hose itself is 3/4" Loc-Line with about a 3" flare nozzle on it. When I position the return hose to discharge along the back wall of the tank, from right to left, I end up with a bunch of little wavelets around the nozzle that bounce back and forth between the front and back glass. This creates a dam effect, preventing the scum that collects on the water's surface from reaching the overflow box. I've tried all kinds of different angles and attitudes with the return hose to keep the wavelets from building up, but without success. Is there a trick to the positioning of the hose that will keep this from happening? Thanks much!

[jtrux]

With that long of a tank you might of been better off having two overflows or one long one across the back. I would say buy a maxi jet 1200 and position it on the side the scum is building up on and use it to push the scum back.

[erikharrison]

Try putting a rock in the path of the flow, close to the nozzle.
What is the gph of the return in comparison to other powerheads?

Personally, in a tank with a corner overflow, I would try to position powerheads so the water moves in a circular motion, constantly pushing water in the path of the overflow.

[Bill S]

I like the circular flow, and have it in my 215. I'm planning on adding that to my 55 when I get around to replacing the sump. As suggested, I'd have the return run parallel to the back of the tank along the long back edge, and try a powerhead under it to help the circular flow.