Overflow Problem in 120 perfecto

[JackiB]

I hope someone here can help me, because this thing is driving me crazy. I have a standard 4x2x2 perfecto with corner overflow (one down, one up). My return pump is a viaaqua 330 (977 gph). I am having trouble getting good flow into the sump I think. I have the pump dialed back a bit but it is still pumping more back in than flows into the sump. Just recently it has gotten worse and I have not been able to get it adjusted at all. I have even dialed it back more to no avail. I thought I may have had a snail or something blocking the flow so I removed the overflow pipe and still no go. even with no pipe it backs up back into the tank. Any suggestions or anyone have this same style overflow? Thanks!

 

[Donkeykong]

That is wierd, there is another guy who is having a very similiar problem with his 60g perfecto on another thread. Wonder if there is some design flaw with this brand of tanks?

 

[JackiB]

That is funny, after I posted this I saw his post. It is almost just the same problem. My standpipe is done with 1 1/4" too. But given that with no standpipe my flow is no better makes me wonder.

 

[jtbgonesailing]

What is the ID of your overflow bulkhead? If the supply to the sump is 3/4 inch then your max gravity feed volumn to the sump would only be 300 gph. You a using a viaaqua 300, rated at 977 gph with no head. Calculate your head and your adjusted gph at that head and get your true gph flow. Then you can see if supply and return gph are in balance.

 

[Donkeykong]

With a 120 gallon tank I would hope it would be atleast a 1" bulkhead. I am running a rio3100 which is slightly less than your pump and I dont believe to be flowing near the max of what the 1" bulkhead can handle. You said you removed the standpipe, I am assuming you mean in the overflow area. How about from the bulkhead to the sump, how is that plumbed? Have you checked that for any blockages?

 

[JackiB]

Ever have those you are an udder moron moments? Well I just had one... So for a week I was fighting this ever slowing overflow, took out the standpipe check for blockages blah blah. Well I had had it last night and took all the plumbing going into the sump apart and voiala there was a stupid snal shell stuck inside the ball valve! So the valve was turning well so I never suspected that it would be inside it and my running wire through to the bottom to check for blocks never caught it either. Sooo.. crisis averted and everything is flowing well again. Thank you for your help!