Draining problems . . . please help

[NateEvans]

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to the hobby (1.5 years) and I decided to take the proverbial plunge and bought a 90g bowfront with a ~35g sump. I have a 1" drain coming from a durso that feeds straight down into the sump below. I have an external pump rated at 250g/hr at 6 feet to provide the tank return with a ball valve on the return side of the pump. Now, my problem . . . After turning on the pump, the water level rises faster than the drain can dump it - in fact, I have to turn the ball valve to 70% closed to reach equilibrium.

1. Will this eventually cause my pump to burn-out? After running for 1 hour, it's still cool to the touch.

2. Why is my drain so incredibly slow? The durso consists of a straight pipe (1") with 2 90 degree elbows on top to give it a "J" shape. I drilled two 1/4" holes on top of the elbow to prevent a suction. This feeds straight down into spaflex tubing and directly into the sump (i.e. no bends in the line).

Any ideas???? Thanks for the help!

 

[Aquarist007]

providing the ball valve is located between the pump and the display tank, you will not burn out the pump.

A one inch drain will give you 650 gal per hour by gravity but that is without the two bends--they will make a big difference,
Also the rating of your pump is six feet---but that is exponentially less then it would be at 3 feet for eg.

 

[NateEvans]

Thanks for the response capn. Yes, the ball valve is between the pump and the display tank, so I feel better about that.

That brings up another question, though. The two elbows are not in the drainage line itself, but rather on top of the durso (so the durso looks like an upside down 'J'). Would this matter? It would probably be better to just rig it with one 90 elbow . . .

The pump I have (rated at 250g/hr) has to elevate the water 6 feet - so water should be coming in at 250g/hr. I'm just really surprised that the drainage can't handle this!

Thanks.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13009573#post13009573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NateEvans
Thanks for the response capn. Yes, the ball valve is between the pump and the display tank, so I feel better about that.

That brings up another question, though. The two elbows are not in the drainage line itself, but rather on top of the durso (so the durso looks like an upside down 'J'). Would this matter? It would probably be better to just rig it with one 90 elbow . . .

The pump I have (rated at 250g/hr) has to elevate the water 6 feet - so water should be coming in at 250g/hr. I'm just really surprised that the drainage can't handle this!

Thanks.

your welcome
why do you need the elbows--I just have a straight durso

If they are part of the durso then they are part of the drainage system

are you able to post a pic?

 

[NateEvans]

Unfortunately, I'm in the process of moving and don't have my camera yet - I know this would help, sorry.

For your durso, if it's just a straight pipe (open on top I'm assuming?), how do you prevent it from suctioning the water as opposed to draining it? or does this really matter? The reason I put an elbow on it was so that I could drill in an anti-suction hole on top of the elbow.

 

[Playa-1]

You could have miscalculated the headloss, have an obstruction in the drain line, improper air venting and drain configuration.

I would double check the pump ratings. What pump are you using?

Check the drain lines to make sure there are no obstructions. You may have to open them up.

 

[NateEvans]

The drain lines and durso are brand new (I just installed them), so I'm confident that there is no obstruction. I also drilled a few 1/4" holes on the top of the elbows to allow for adequate airflow into the tube. Would removing the elbows and just adding a cap with lots of holes drilled into it, or no cap at all and just an open tube be a good solution?

The pump I have is a Blueline 30-HDX, which should be rated at 250g/hr at 6 feet I believe - the same distance I'm pumping the water up.

It seems like there should be a simple solution to this problem, but I just can't seem to get a handle on it! Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Playa-1]

I just did a quick calculation and Im showing it to be much closer to 600 gph after headloss on 6 feet. It's likely you are closer to 5 feet which would make it even more. So If you factor that in and the way your drain line is set-up then it starts to make sense. Your pumping more then your drain line can handle. A simple solution is to partially close the ball valve between your pump and the display tank. You mentioned that the ball valve has to be closed 70%. Then that is where is will be to operate properly.

And by the way. Just because it's a new install doesn't mean there can't be obstructions. The glue itself can become an obstruction if not applied properly.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13009925#post13009925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
I just did a quick calculation and Im showing it to be much closer to 600 gph after headloss on 6 feet. It's likely you are closer to 5 feet which would make it even more. So If you factor that in and the way your drain line is set-up then it starts to make sense. Your pumping more then your drain line can handle. A simple solution is to partially close the ball valve between your pump and the display tank. You mentioned that the ball valve has to be closed 70%. Then that is where is will be to operate properly.

And by the way. Just because it's a new install doesn't mean there can't be obstructions. The glue itself can become an obstruction if not applied properly.

I agree---Playa-1 does the poster really need the 90 degrees on the durso---I thought if he raised the durso that would stop the sucking or gurgling--you would probably know better than me

 

[NateEvans]

You're absolutely right, Playa-1. The pump is rated at 600gph at 6ft, not the 250 I thought previously. This definitely explains things . . .

In addition to dialing back the return ball valve, would removing the J on the durso and instead adding an end cap with holes drilled in it be a reasonable (and safe) action?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13010178#post13010178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NateEvans
You're absolutely right, Playa-1. The pump is rated at 600gph at 6ft, not the 250 I thought previously. This definitely explains things . . .

In addition to dialing back the return ball valve, would removing the J on the durso and instead adding an end cap with holes drilled in it be a reasonable (and safe) action?

I don't see why not, you can control the flow by the ball valve you have and control the height of water in the overflow by extending the durso