Plumbing problems....

[corwise]

When I set up my 90 gal a few months back, I purchased a Oceanic Model 1 sump. I got an overflow from Wet Pets, one of the locally made ones (someone said Chris? makes them?), and a Mag-Drive Utility Pump 700gph for the return. For the first few months it worked great, but is now driving me nuts.
Basically, for some reason, the overflow can no longer keep up with the pump. The sump is continuously getting drained, and the pump then shoots air into the tank. If I add more water to the sump, it just gets pumped into the tank and threatens to overlow the tank itself.
I've cleaned the overflow already. I glued the pvc pipe to the overflow and then directly to the sump, so I'm unable (at least as far as I can currently tell) to take that apart and clean it out. Is my only option to buy a less powerful pump to stop this from happening? Thanks.

Dave

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Your overflow should be able to handle it. Could something be stuck in the pipes? A clogged filter? I've had a snail get into my drain pipe but was a hair too wide for the ball valve.

 

[dugg]

Yup, it sounds like a snail has gotten stuck in the pipes to me. If it could handle the flow new, it can handle it now, something has to be blocking the flow. Astrea snails love to follow the water flow right into the plumbing.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199612#post8199612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dugg
Yup, it sounds like a snail has gotten stuck in the pipes to me. If it could handle the flow new, it can handle it now, something has to be blocking the flow. Astrea snails love to follow the water flow right into the plumbing.

Yup. Mine was an Astrea Snail, too. It did it MANY times.

 

[corwise]

Well, I stuck several tubes through the overflow pipe and they all came through easily, didn't get stuck on anything I could find down there. I also cleaned out the filter that the water first hits when it reaches the sump, hopefully that'll help the water flow better. It always seems worse at night for some reason, we'll see how we do tonight. Thanks for the advice.

 

[pwhitby]

i would fit a ball valve on your pump in the return to the tank.

ideally, a 1 inch return will handle 700gph. However, add a few curves/fittings/algae and it will be below that value....by a fair deal.

 

[chris4693]

I would recommend pulling the silencer in the back and cleaning it, this can be done while running just hold the side of the outbox to keep it stable, give the silencer a little twist and pull should pull out fairly easy.

If this does not help, turn the pump off and clean the U-tube, you could have an algae buildup in the tube.

 

[dugg]

If you are forcing the water through a filter when it enters the sump, the filter could be the issue. I don't run any mechanical filters in my system. A filter, even after being cleaned will flow less and less water over time. I would remove it and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[Russ Braaten]

This may be over simple, Is there a chance you just don't have enough water in the system?? If the pump ever out-pumps the overflow the water should be all over the floor. If that is not the case, you don't have enough water in the system tto fill both the tank and sump.

Am I wrong?

 

[dugg]

I always start by turning off the return pump, then let the tank drain down till it stops. Then i fill the sump to within 1 to 2 inches from the top and turn the pump back on. When the tank is refilled and running, just mark the water level in the sump with a sharpie. That is the fill level for the sump. If the power ever goes out, the sump will be fine, but it gives you maximum water level for evaporation incase you can't get to it one day to top it off.

 

[Serra]

Do you have a line and ball valve that T's off of the return pipethat goes into the sump? This is used, at least by me, when the return slows and I need more water in the sump area. I agree with others, slowness usually means a cleaning is needed on the U tube in the box.

Here are some pics of the great refugium and plumbing that Travis and pals build for me at one meeting: http://www.maddogarts.com/fug.htm

 

[corwise]

Well, I checked the tube and it was clear. I'm going to buy a ball joint this weekend and set that up, and also fill up the sump more. I do keep the sump pretty low to begin with, no where near full, so total water volume could very well be my problem. I'll fill it up this morning and see how that goes. Thanks for everyones help.

Dave

 

[mdiddy7s]

I would make sure that you can be around for a little while after you put in the extra water to make sure that it does not overflow.
Mike D

 

[corwise]

Important safety tip, true.