Need some help with flow

[Krazy]

I have a mag 9.5 on my 90 with a 20 gallon sump/ref-fuge combo...

Well I was having problems with my other overflow so I replaced it with a spare I was given with the tank, well now my flow down in the sump has near doubled and literally killed half my cheato algae within the past 2 days, and the flow is FAST down there, it used to be somewhat slow, I know put the old overflow in, but its broke so thats no option... How can I slow my flow down a good amount ???

Also does anyone have a descent amount of chaeto they can give me

Thanks in advance....

 

[Lakeside518]

Going to need to throttle the outlet side of the pump. Use a ball valve or may need to down size your return pump to say a Mag 7

 

[ChrisBuono]

Keith, I've had a similar problem. Mine had to do with water velocity, not flowrate. I ended up putting a ball-valve between the overflow output and the sump. Turned it down just enough to slow down the drop.

 

[Ken668]

I'm not sure how you have your sump set up, but as Chris mentioned it sounds like a velocity issue. I would recommend splitting the drain with a couple PVC Tee pieces within the sump. This will allow all the water to drain through multiple locations and overall velocity should be minimized. When dealing with issues like this, you have to get creative......and buy stock in Lowes because you'll be spending all your money there! Remember, PVC is your best friend.

 

[DanConnor]

I'm unclear why the flow would increase with a different overflow- I would expect the flow rate to be dictated by the pump, no?

As said above, a ball valve on the outlet is the simplest option.

 

[Ken668]

I agree with Dan, doesn't make sense that the new overflow would add any more flow through the sump. It's only going to drain what is being pumped by your Mag. The only thing I can think of is, like I said before, it's just more velocity through the drain. Create multiple outputs for the water to drain from and it will "slow" down a bit.

 

[michaelg]

Personally I find putting ball valves on return lines eerie. You must have changed the line configuration from the overflow box to the sump, or hose size or something. Have the line go into a "chambered" area as suggested. Give a "crash" area (like a tube or something in the sump of larger size, and this will break the flow. Baffles would as well.

 

[Krazy]

Thanks for the quick replies

So I should just add a tee or 2 into my plumbing huh?

I already have the ball valve installed but I was afraid to turn it as it would add stress to the pump ? But with a tee or two installed I can see it'd be ok...

OR could I run my berlin skimmer off the pump as well ? Would that help reduce the flow/velocity ??

 

[michaelg]

I think everyone is talking about putting a ball valve on where the hose comes out of the overflow and goes to the sump. Describe how it is plumbed.

 

[Krazy]

I have a ball valve before it enters the sump as well, should I tee it there as well ?

I'll try to take a picture in a little while ...

I have the overflow line into the first chamber of the sump, 3 baffles, then the refuge area/ then 1 baffle and the return chamber (sump)

Both have ball valves that are wide open..

 

[ChrisBuono]

I have the overflow line into the first chamber of the sump, 3 baffles, then the refuge area/ then 1 baffle and the return chamber (sump)

If your chaeto is in the fuge area, given all that lies between your overflow outlet chamber and the fuge area, I doubt the flow is killing it.

 

[Krazy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8415781#post8415781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChrisBuono
If your chaeto is in the fuge area, given all that lies between your overflow outlet chamber and the fuge area, I doubt the flow is killing it.

I'm not sure it died, I think the flow pushed it all against the sponge I have before the return chamber, I gotta get the flow to slow down this weekend.. "it always something"

 

[michaelg]

Yeah, not sure restricting the flow is the way to go. Can you partition off an area just for the algae? My refugium which I will get online this weekend finally will have 3 partitioned areas (this in not a dual use sump, but a dedicated refugium). First area where flow enters (about 400gph into the 1x2x1ft- 15 gall-tank) is where there will be rock rubble and a type of hair algae. The second region will have sand and algaes of sorts (chaeto, odium, and a real cool red algae I got in DC), and the 3 area will have the mangrove tree I've been growing and non-photosynthetic animals with some live rock. then the return to the sump area.

 

[Rainer Feyer]

I am with Michael - restricting the flow would not be needed, getting the Chaeto in a partition would be your best bet!

Could you send a picture which could show your current set up?

If you remember my fuge, I have the chaeto in it's own section. Works great,

 

[WinkeyWoneye]

Krazy K's fuge/sump is partitioned off already. It has 3 chambers, the first being the overflow from tank, partitioned with 2 or 3 baffles, I forget. The second area is the fuge, with his chaeto, baffled only once after that. The third chamber is his sump. Changing the float piece in his overflow has changed the amount of water coming thru the overflow I believe. His old one looked to be modded with silicone or something, was that way when he got it. The new one he put in was un-modded, thus changing the amount of water dumping down. I think a combo of adding in a tee on the overflow pipe (down inside the 20 gal long below water level) to mix up the flow direction inside the fuge, plus possibly adding one more baffle to either side to slow the flow up a bit more will help, possibly adding it to the sump side of the tank as that is only a single baffle as of now. Dont mean to hijack this thread on ya Krazy, but possibly could some of yas post up pic's of your fuge/sump setups. I will be doing my plumbing and baffling for my sump/fuge this weekend on the new tank and would love to see as many others as possible to get some ideas on what the best layout will be. Possibly seeing some pic's will maybe give Krazy a idea to better his flow problems also.

 

[Krazy]

No problem on the hijack dan...

Well what happend was there was to much water in my sump after the new overflow piece that was dumping more water down, I've let it evap over the past 2-3 days and the flow is back to normal, I am going to add 2-3 more baffles as well to make my sump area a tad larger

Thanks for the replies everyone