ok I am setting up my 50 gallon right now and all was going well until now. I turn on my pump and the internal overflow slowly fills up and passes well past the two 1" bulkheads. Then the thing keeps overflowing right to the same level of the tank water. Once I saw that I quickly turned the pump off. I don't get it??? I have one basket with two 1" holes drilled. My pump is a quite one 4000 which is rated for 1017gph although I used the calc and with my 4.5feet of head I'm at like 650gph. Do I just need a weaker pump or is something else causing this???
Problem with pump or plumbing???
- Thread starter Chago09
- Start date
loves saltwater
Premium Member
might be a dumb question but do you have water flowing from both 1" drains ?
kau_cinta_ku
New member
try adding a ball valve to the output side of the pump and slowing it down.
loves saltwater
Premium Member
If you have 2-1" drains that are both draining at full flow you have the capicity to move 1200-1300 gallons per hour.You are pumpimg only 650 GPH. Sometimes the drains do get air bubbles in them.I am not sure what type of overflow you have.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
also why so much flow through the sump?
ya it was the pump being to powerful which is weird... I calculated that two 1" bulkheads would work fine. I had to turn my ball valve to almost 3/4 shut. Now it's running beautifuly quite which is scaring me LOL I'm not used to it not slurping at all.
The water line in the basket seems to be sitting right at the tip of the bulkhead so no air at all is being sucked in. How is this possible doesn't it need air to flow properly??? i don't have a standpipe or anything I just simply drilled the back glass twice and put in two bulkheads. then I just added the little strainer thing. Is this safe or am I on the path for a flood when I go to sleep tonight ????? LOL is it even possible for it to flood I have two damn 1" bulkheads lol
The water line in the basket seems to be sitting right at the tip of the bulkhead so no air at all is being sucked in. How is this possible doesn't it need air to flow properly??? i don't have a standpipe or anything I just simply drilled the back glass twice and put in two bulkheads. then I just added the little strainer thing. Is this safe or am I on the path for a flood when I go to sleep tonight ????? LOL is it even possible for it to flood I have two damn 1" bulkheads lol
kau_cinta_ku
New member
you should be fine however are you sure water is draining through both bulkheads and not just one? seems weird that you would have to cut the flow back that far
yes I am positive both are flowing.... My bulkheads came in a kit that I bought at my local fish store. It came with the bulkhead, strainer and the slipfit 90 degree elbow for the back..... the 90 degree elbow seems to have a very small hole at the actual elbow. can this be constricting my flow a lot ???? do most people plumb the back of the bulkhead with something threaded around the bulkhead???
kau_cinta_ku
New member
looks like you have it set right. is the tubing also 1" going from the bulkheads? and is their any kinks in the tubing. (even little kinks can restrict flow alot)
kau_cinta_ku
New member
i doubt a leak could cause it.
is the tubing 1" also comming from the bulkhead?
is the tubing 1" also comming from the bulkhead?
yes.... all these measurements are outside diameter right??? like my bulkhead is a standard 1" but that means the inside is less. Same with all the piping and fittings. Does the aquarium hobby use the inside diameter. Because going to a plubming store and asking for a 1" pipe you get 1" OD and the ID is usually around 3/4
kau_cinta_ku
New member
yep your correct it is usually the outside diameter. dang hopefully someone else can pop in and help out cause i am stumped also lol
chemesgh
Premium Member
How far down into your sump is the water from your overflow having to travel? If it's well below the waterline, then the gravity feed is having to overcome a certain amount of head to flow into your sump, which in turn decreases the flow rate in your overflow tubing. You should be able to keep up with 650 gph on two 1" overflow lines, assuming your overflow isn't having to overcome too much head in your sump. Also, if you get water in your overflow line and there is no way to vent, it can impede your flow rate to some extent.
its really worrying me because right now the water level is exactly just above the bulkhead so it's not slurping at all.... but its never taking in air, isn't it supposed to take in air???
plus the ball valve is at like 3/4 shut.... I have like 200gph flowing and the two bulkheads are just keeping up... i think I will unplug them for the night.
plus the ball valve is at like 3/4 shut.... I have like 200gph flowing and the two bulkheads are just keeping up... i think I will unplug them for the night.
chemesgh
Premium Member
Do you have any pics of your sump and where the overflow lines are tied in there? Again, I wonder if you have your overflow lines plumbed too deep in your sump, which isn't allowing your sump to be fed fast enough to keep up with your pump. You may have it plumbed this way already, and if so, then disregard this message. 
kau_cinta_ku
New member
tank size won't matter. and no it don't need any air air just causes micro bubbles and an anoying sound lol
loves saltwater
Premium Member
If you have the valve on your pump closed 75% you will have problems with your pump over heating will cause your pump to fail and/or cause your water temp to go up in your tank.
If you have 3/4" ID on your tubing then your flow per hose will only be about 300-350 GPH X 2 is 600-700 GPH. The 90 degree bulk head will slow it some also (not sure how much) but some
Quiet One 4000- the pump curve with 4.5 ft of head will flow about 700GPH
Quiet One 4000 HH- the pump curve with 4.5 ft of head will flow 825-850
Which one do you have ?
The overflow looks small to be flowing more than 600GPH.I would suggest that you try to measure actual flow. Get a one gallon container and put the drain line in and see how many seconds it takes to fill it up. Then mulitply that times 60 do this on both lines one at a time and then you will know actual flow. This may shed some light on whats really going on.
P.S. In your photobucket picture there is pictures of blue bulkhead with hose on them and the is pictures of black bulkhead with PVC fittings and hose barbs which sett up are you using ?
Measure the actual flow as described above then you will know for sure how much water you are moving
If you have 3/4" ID on your tubing then your flow per hose will only be about 300-350 GPH X 2 is 600-700 GPH. The 90 degree bulk head will slow it some also (not sure how much) but some
Quiet One 4000- the pump curve with 4.5 ft of head will flow about 700GPH
Quiet One 4000 HH- the pump curve with 4.5 ft of head will flow 825-850
Which one do you have ?
The overflow looks small to be flowing more than 600GPH.I would suggest that you try to measure actual flow. Get a one gallon container and put the drain line in and see how many seconds it takes to fill it up. Then mulitply that times 60 do this on both lines one at a time and then you will know actual flow. This may shed some light on whats really going on.
P.S. In your photobucket picture there is pictures of blue bulkhead with hose on them and the is pictures of black bulkhead with PVC fittings and hose barbs which sett up are you using ?
Measure the actual flow as described above then you will know for sure how much water you are moving
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loves saltwater
Premium Member
Just for your information. I have a overflow setup like yours but it is about 30" long and I have one 3/4" PVC drain with 3-90's in the line and a 700GPH return pump with valve open 100% with head lose I am flowing 320 GPH measured not calculated.See pictures in my gallery
