Tidepool SOS Overflow - starting it

[yourpalcm]

OK...I must be missing something obvious. I THOUGHT I followed the directions...
* I poured water into overflow until it overflowed into the main chamber of the sump
* I then added water to the main tank until the level rose to 1/4" above the teeth of the skimmer box.
* I started siphoning through the tube, and let it siphon until it stopped.
* Then it tells you to start the pump.
That's where I'm obviously missing something. It pumps water into the tank until the sump is practically empty. I even tried manual starting the siphon while it was pumping from the sump into the main tank and it IS siphoning...but it's such a tiny tube. How is that tiny tube suppose to start the siphoning of all of that water from the skimmer box into the overflow box. It doesn't seem like it's physically even possible...so obviously I'm missing something.
Help please!

 

[scubaguy]

Bump

 

[dmc888]

Did you make sure you have no large air bubbles in the u tube?
If i have alot of air bubbles in mine it slows the flow towards the sump bigtime. I have a 125g wetdry filter. My u tube is like 1 inch in diameter.
Try putting the air hose in the u tube right in the middle than suck out the air and make sure not to drink the water.

I have a clear u tube so i can see the bubbles in it.
You could also try lowering your skimmer box if possible, it will only give you a lower waterline and you can move it up later. Maybe more water will help.
And do you have the right gph pump and stock u tube?
Keep an eye out for overflowing the tank. Just unplug the pump if the water gets too high.