Need some help with overflows please

reefman76 · 07/28/2008, 07:22 PM

Hello everyone,

I have a 180 gallon with dual overflows in the corners running on a sequence dart pump. I took out one of the return pipes that is in the overflow. When i put it back and turned on the pump the water is pumping in faster than it is going down in the reutrn. I have a T-valve installed in the plumbing and even if I shut it half way the water is still a little faster coming in the tank than going into the returns down into the refugium. I have been running this setup since october with the T-valve all the way open with no problems, the flow was balanced. Any idea what the problem could be?

alpha0r · 07/28/2008, 08:22 PM

Sounds like something got into your pluming. Can you clean out all your return lines?

melev · 07/28/2008, 09:09 PM

Actually, you would need to clean out the drain lines. The return lines are already pushing too much water out.

That's quite a pump for a 180g tank, and should easily move more water than the tank can drain.

sps1-2-b · 07/28/2008, 09:14 PM

I'm trying to visualize your setup. So you have a return pipe in your overflow box or does it just cross the overflow box and drains into your main tank. Also, where is your T valve? I mean right now all I could come up with is either something is clogging your drain pipes, or you somehow declogged your return lines. In other words, the tank is draining at a rate of x while the pump is returning water at a rate faster than x. Will wait for your response.

reefman76 · 07/29/2008, 07:43 AM

Thanks for the help guys.

Thats what I believe happened as well seems like something is stuck in the return plumbing. My setup is with two overflow kits in each corner of the display tank. They have one return pipe and one pipe where the water comes in from on each side. My tank has 4 holes drilled at the bottom two for each side where the overflow kits are. My tank sits on a stand with the refugium directly underneath it. I only installed one t-valve and that is installed on the water out side of the pump meaning after the water enters the pump. It is all hard plumbing. Hope this helps if not i could try to get some pics of the setup. I'm not sure what it is called but do you guys think i could use that spring tool plumbers use to unclog toilets to unclog the return pipe.

sps1-2-b · 07/29/2008, 11:44 AM

Oh, I see where I am getting confused. What you call the return pipe, I call the drain pipe, is that correct? When you say return pipe are you talking about the pipe that drains your main tank water down to your sump? If so, then I think you could try to unclog it with the toilet tool or any tool that would fit like you said. Keep us posted.

melev · 07/29/2008, 11:52 AM

Pictures, please.

Do not use a spring-type snake in saltwater. You don't want to leave any of that metal behind, and the snake will rust after use.

The returns are the part of the plumbing that sends water back into the tank. Your 'return' pump is connected to the returns.

The drains are the part of the plumbing that drains to the sump.

You stated your tank is filling up faster than it can drain. Don't you mean the drains might be obstructed? The pictures might help us see the problem.

reefman76 · 07/29/2008, 01:56 PM

Thanks guys,

Sorry about that, yeah when I say return pipes i mean the ones that drain into the refugium. Plumbing this tank was the first time I ever plumbed anything. I will stay away from using the snake spring tool. I am at work now when I get home I will try to post some pics of my setup.

Thanks again for the help

07/28/2008, 07:22 PM	#1
reefman76 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MI Posts: 66	Need some help with overflows please Hello everyone, I have a 180 gallon with dual overflows in the corners running on a sequence dart pump. I took out one of the return pipes that is in the overflow. When i put it back and turned on the pump the water is pumping in faster than it is going down in the reutrn. I have a T-valve installed in the plumbing and even if I shut it half way the water is still a little faster coming in the tank than going into the returns down into the refugium. I have been running this setup since october with the T-valve all the way open with no problems, the flow was balanced. Any idea what the problem could be?

07/28/2008, 08:22 PM	#2
alpha0r Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 297	Sounds like something got into your pluming. Can you clean out all your return lines?

07/28/2008, 09:09 PM	#3
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Actually, you would need to clean out the drain lines. The return lines are already pushing too much water out. That's quite a pump for a 180g tank, and should easily move more water than the tank can drain.

07/28/2008, 09:14 PM	#4
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	I'm trying to visualize your setup. So you have a return pipe in your overflow box or does it just cross the overflow box and drains into your main tank. Also, where is your T valve? I mean right now all I could come up with is either something is clogging your drain pipes, or you somehow declogged your return lines. In other words, the tank is draining at a rate of x while the pump is returning water at a rate faster than x. Will wait for your response.

07/29/2008, 07:43 AM	#5
reefman76 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MI Posts: 66	Thanks for the help guys. Thats what I believe happened as well seems like something is stuck in the return plumbing. My setup is with two overflow kits in each corner of the display tank. They have one return pipe and one pipe where the water comes in from on each side. My tank has 4 holes drilled at the bottom two for each side where the overflow kits are. My tank sits on a stand with the refugium directly underneath it. I only installed one t-valve and that is installed on the water out side of the pump meaning after the water enters the pump. It is all hard plumbing. Hope this helps if not i could try to get some pics of the setup. I'm not sure what it is called but do you guys think i could use that spring tool plumbers use to unclog toilets to unclog the return pipe.

07/29/2008, 11:44 AM	#6
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	Oh, I see where I am getting confused. What you call the return pipe, I call the drain pipe, is that correct? When you say return pipe are you talking about the pipe that drains your main tank water down to your sump? If so, then I think you could try to unclog it with the toilet tool or any tool that would fit like you said. Keep us posted.

07/29/2008, 11:52 AM	#7
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Pictures, please. Do not use a spring-type snake in saltwater. You don't want to leave any of that metal behind, and the snake will rust after use. The returns are the part of the plumbing that sends water back into the tank. Your 'return' pump is connected to the returns. The drains are the part of the plumbing that drains to the sump. You stated your tank is filling up faster than it can drain. Don't you mean the drains might be obstructed? The pictures might help us see the problem.

07/29/2008, 01:56 PM	#8
reefman76 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MI Posts: 66	Thanks guys, Sorry about that, yeah when I say return pipes i mean the ones that drain into the refugium. Plumbing this tank was the first time I ever plumbed anything. I will stay away from using the snake spring tool. I am at work now when I get home I will try to post some pics of my setup. Thanks again for the help