Help with sump and herbie overflow please...

[davidgnome]

So my tank is a 120 corner overflow that I elected to turn herbie style. I run sea swirls for return. I am having some issues. Ok, im using ball valves, 3 of them. One after my return pump, the second after a tee off for refugium. Last is my drain. I am having an awful hard time keeping my return pump area constant. With water from the refugium and the drain its difficult. Also the space I have for my return needs to be fed from both the refugium and drain or it will run dry quick. So my problem? Gate valve needed for all replacements or just drain? Or is it possible I designed my sump poorly, its a 40 breeder that I left nearly half of for the refugium. This made me have a smaller return pump section. Pictures below may give some insight. Thanks.

 

[kmbyrnes]

It is difficult to make minute adjustments to a ball valve. A gate valve on the drain should solve your problem.It will allow for much more precise control of the full siphon flow rate.
If your system requires you to redirect flow from your return pump, then your pump is over rated for your drain. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.
Once you get a full siphon running, adjust the output from the pump side ball valve to keep it flowing nicely, then use the gate valve to fine tune the flow so it stays constant.
Also, the return chamber is the place you will see water level changes due to evaporation. An ATO will help keep that level constant, once you get the drain system dialed in.

 

[davidgnome]

It is difficult to make minute adjustments to a ball valve. A gate valve on the drain should solve your problem.It will allow for much more precise control of the full siphon flow rate.
If your system requires you to redirect flow from your return pump, then your pump is over rated for your drain. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.
Once you get a full siphon running, adjust the output from the pump side ball valve to keep it flowing nicely, then use the gate valve to fine tune the flow so it stays constant.
Also, the return chamber is the place you will see water level changes due to evaporation. An ATO will help keep that level constant, once you get the drain system dialed in.

Excellent! Thanks for the imput, I have a gate valve on the way.