how does this sump work

i have this box thing with a filter and holes on the bottom that is goes on top of the bioballs were the water comes from. as for understanding anything about a sump am stumped.

 

also i cant get the ball valve thing just right. its ether that the cant fills up to fast or not fast enough.

 

The overflow can't handle how fast the return pump is working. The return pump can always handle how much is overflowing, as (if it's built correctly) the overflow will only bring as much water to the sump as the pump can move.

 

water flows over the bioballs creating a super oxygen saturated environment, to grow bacteria to do part of the nitrogen cycle.
then the water should flow past those glass divides called baffles, the point of them is to block air bubbles from returning to your display tank.

 

whats the ball valve on? the tube carrying water to the sump or the one carrying it to the tank.

 

HDD, post a picture of the overflow box itself. I need to know whether it's a proper overflow box, since it looks like there's nothing inside the tank other than the tube normally seen on a HOB filter.

 

it the pump caring it to the tank

 

just slow it down to the point the water level in the sump stabilizes(IE doesn't keep going down).

Your overflow(filter thing) will match its draining speed to the pumps speed(assuming it can keep up with the return pumps water movement).

 

can i buy another pump that match the overflow

 

I suppose you could but it's easier to just adjust your ball valve.