So I went out and bought a wet dry and got it all running and ran good for about 20 min. I came back inside and the section where the pump was sitting was drying out and spitting bubbles. I have tried just about everything. What could be the issue here ?? It seems like the pump is shooting water out to the tank faster than the water is coming FROM the tank. I'm losing sleep over this, please help :mad2:
Troubleshooting
- Thread starter noob1983
- Start date
FloatingFish
Member
You need to add more water to the sump. Till the water level is high enough where the bubbles stop plus a little more for evap.
Then turn off the pump to make sure that the sump doesnt over flow.
There should be a fill line on the wet/dry.
Then turn off the pump to make sure that the sump doesnt over flow.
There should be a fill line on the wet/dry.
nivram
New member
Remove the second sponge that filters water prior to chamber with the pump. See if the flow is fine after this. I had a similar issue with my HOB fuge.
The sponge would clog up enough that it would slow the flow. another issue i've run into that caused the same thing was when the water level in my tank was not high enough.
Just a thought
Ok the water level is not the problem because its filled up to the rim. I could try removing the sponge tomorrow and see what happens then. All this confuses me because this came from a co workers tank and he had the same system running (with sponge and all). He upgraded so I got the hand me down and now its not working. The funny thing he helped me get it all up and running and we are stumped. doesnt make sense.
Rogger Castells
New member
You must understand that the first couple of gallons that your pump is putting out is been used to overflow your main tank, when this happens the water will start to flow down into the sump again this should be the time when you ensure the water level in the sump is where it is marked.
The marked symbolize the running level, not the starting level.
Try placing a couple of gallons more of water in your sump, this will resolve your problem
The marked symbolize the running level, not the starting level.
Try placing a couple of gallons more of water in your sump, this will resolve your problem
PaulieWalnuts
New member
i talked with him a bit, what it sounds like to me is his pump is rated for about 780 gph and the overflow is like the one i have and thats about 300gph draining to the sump, so i suggested a ball valve be placed on the return pump to balance out the flow between the pump and the overflow. Would a wet dry set up Vs. a regular sump change my reasoning. I have had the same problems or at least what i think is happening. as to why it worked for 20 mins at first still bothers me.
-matt
-matt
The problem is not the water level and not accounting for the amount of water in the plumbing. If that were the case, once the pump was started, that amount of water would be displaced from the wet/dry and then the water would level off. Since it takes a little while for the water level to slowly fall to the critical level, it is a mismatch between overflow capacity and return flow. A Rio2500 is gonna pump way too fast for most HOB overflows. Get another return pump. Putting a ball valve on the return to decrease the flow would work, but I would be afraid of burning out a Rio by doing this.
PaulieWalnuts
New member
a smaller pump would work also, but i do not want him to get one that is to close to the overflow capacity and not account for head loss, Check you box that the Rio came in and see if it says it can be restricted, from what i under stand most pumps can be. Just not ALL the way closed. i think the intake is what is the most important part not to restrict. As to him adding a second overflow, that would seem to work but i do not think he wants to add a second overflow, that would be more plumbing then he wants, not to mention he will not need 700 gph going though his sump. Also the skimmer that he is getting, if it is going in the sump or wetdry will not like 700 gph through it as it as rated for 350 itself. Keep the ideas coming though hopefully the problem will be resolved for him soon with our help
matt
matt
Rogger Castells
New member
after reading the initial thread I started wondering what type of overflow do you have, is it the hang on the back over flow? if so, it could be that there is a bubble on the U tube (s) and the air could be restricting the flow from the skimmer box sitting in your tank to the overflow box sitting outside the tank. If this is not the case, then you can bet it is just missing water.
macawmagic
In Memoriam
but even then...if the overflow wasn't working...then when he drained the sump the water has to go somewhere...thats the part I don't get. the tank doesn't overflow, but the sump runs dry. wheres all that water going??? unless the sump is that small that the water is only adding to the tank and not enough to push water down the overflow.
and now that i wrote that...i'm wonder if the return line is low in the tank so when the powers off it drains a good amount of water down to the sump, so when he turns on the power it drains the sump but doesn't raise the water level enough to fill the overflow...
other than that...i'm baffled on where the water is going! it's gotta go somewhere...tank, floor, somewhere!!!
and now that i wrote that...i'm wonder if the return line is low in the tank so when the powers off it drains a good amount of water down to the sump, so when he turns on the power it drains the sump but doesn't raise the water level enough to fill the overflow...
other than that...i'm baffled on where the water is going! it's gotta go somewhere...tank, floor, somewhere!!!
