Overflow and Return Pump Help

surfnturf · 01/08/2010, 12:13 PM

Ok so I have an Eheim 1260 as my return pump, with about 4' of head (no 90's and no splits). I have an Eshopps 800 as my overflow box. For some reason when I start the syphon in the overflow and turn the return pump on, the water level in the tank steadily rises. The first time I did it it started to overflow so I turned everything off, and the second time it got right to the lip of the tank before I turned it off again.

I've already taken the spongy guard and piece of pvc out of the overflow because I thought that might have been limiting the flow and it seemed to help a little, but it still couldn't keep up with the Eheim.

Anyone know what the problem could be, and how I could fix it?

slowwrx137 · 01/08/2010, 03:10 PM

I have a Eshopps 1000 and a mag 9.5 pump and was also having issues with the pump pumping more water into the tank faster than it could drain to the sump. What i did is got rid of the foam and added a Hofer Gurgle Buster to the overflow. I also added a T with a ball valve on the return plumbing that dumps water back into the sump so I could adjust the amount of water the pump was pumping back into the tank. Now my tank water level always stays the same and the evaporation shows up in the sump.

If you look at the reviews of the Eshopps box on Dr Foster and Smith some people are only flowing 450gph even though its rated at 800gph.

surfnturf · 01/08/2010, 06:28 PM

My return line is just the clear, flexible plastic tubing, so I'm not sure how I would put a T valve on it but that sounds like a good idea. I will look into to doing that, thanks for the help.

three-spot · 01/08/2010, 06:38 PM

There are barb fittings available that simply slip into the flex tubing, try a hardware store, I know my local lowes has them; home depot was pretty lacking though so you may have to try a couple places (maybe order on line).

Sisterlimonpot · 01/08/2010, 09:27 PM

You're on the right track that the overflow is being restricted but you're checking the wrong end. It sounds like the overflow plumbing is under the water line in the sump/fuge, raise it out of the water or just slightly below the water level, that way the weight of the water from the display tank doesn't have to fight to overcome the air caught in the overflow tubing.

surfnturf · 01/09/2010, 12:27 AM

Limonpot, I hadn't even thought of that, but now that you mention it the end of the overflow tube is well below the water in the sump. I will raise it up tomorrow and hopefully that will do the trick.

If not I'll be heading to Lowes. Thanks for everyones help.

01/08/2010, 12:13 PM	#1
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	Overflow and Return Pump Help Ok so I have an Eheim 1260 as my return pump, with about 4' of head (no 90's and no splits). I have an Eshopps 800 as my overflow box. For some reason when I start the syphon in the overflow and turn the return pump on, the water level in the tank steadily rises. The first time I did it it started to overflow so I turned everything off, and the second time it got right to the lip of the tank before I turned it off again. I've already taken the spongy guard and piece of pvc out of the overflow because I thought that might have been limiting the flow and it seemed to help a little, but it still couldn't keep up with the Eheim. Anyone know what the problem could be, and how I could fix it?

01/08/2010, 06:38 PM	#4
three-spot Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: windsor, ontario, canada Posts: 201	There are barb fittings available that simply slip into the flex tubing, try a hardware store, I know my local lowes has them; home depot was pretty lacking though so you may have to try a couple places (maybe order on line). __________________ Julian

01/08/2010, 09:27 PM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You're on the right track that the overflow is being restricted but you're checking the wrong end. It sounds like the overflow plumbing is under the water line in the sump/fuge, raise it out of the water or just slightly below the water level, that way the weight of the water from the display tank doesn't have to fight to overcome the air caught in the overflow tubing. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/08/2010, 03:10 PM	#2
slowwrx137 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 174	I have a Eshopps 1000 and a mag 9.5 pump and was also having issues with the pump pumping more water into the tank faster than it could drain to the sump. What i did is got rid of the foam and added a Hofer Gurgle Buster to the overflow. I also added a T with a ball valve on the return plumbing that dumps water back into the sump so I could adjust the amount of water the pump was pumping back into the tank. Now my tank water level always stays the same and the evaporation shows up in the sump. If you look at the reviews of the Eshopps box on Dr Foster and Smith some people are only flowing 450gph even though its rated at 800gph.

01/08/2010, 06:28 PM	#3
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	My return line is just the clear, flexible plastic tubing, so I'm not sure how I would put a T valve on it but that sounds like a good idea. I will look into to doing that, thanks for the help.

01/09/2010, 12:27 AM	#6
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	Limonpot, I hadn't even thought of that, but now that you mention it the end of the overflow tube is well below the water in the sump. I will raise it up tomorrow and hopefully that will do the trick. If not I'll be heading to Lowes. Thanks for everyones help.