Sump question please

singold · 03/15/2009, 08:33 PM

Setting up a sump right now. How high should the water level in sump be before starting up return pump for first time?

singold · 03/15/2009, 09:06 PM

Does it just have to be higher than return pump & water level will balance itself out from extra water in display tank?

kraze3 · 03/15/2009, 09:14 PM

The water level needs to be higher than the pupm yes. There needs to be enough water to stay above the pump until the DT starts overflowing back to your sump. The level is also needs to be a certain height if your running a skimmer, should be about 3 inches above pump intake

singold · 03/15/2009, 09:17 PM

Thanks kraze3, no skimmer in sump. I use a hang on one. Water level is about 4 inches higher thank my return pump. Should this be enough? Water is level with top of baffle that squares off the compartment where pump is.

singold · 03/15/2009, 09:34 PM

Plugged in but can't seem to get overflow box to kick in. Tank almost overflowed. Any advise would be greatly appreciated

kraze3 · 03/15/2009, 09:37 PM

What kind of overflow box? or pics?
This would concern me. If there is ever a power failure and the box doesnt hold a siphon youll be in trouble.

lordjnx · 03/15/2009, 10:03 PM

sounds like your pump is over-running the overflow box

if thats the case a simple solution would be to make a dump valve in the sump.....

T off the return line just above the pump output place a ball valve on this line and dump SOME of the water back into the sump..

this will help slow the flow going back Up to the main display tank.

what size pump?

and as stated before pics of overflow?

singold · 03/15/2009, 10:20 PM

CS 100 Overflow box, I also have the aqualifter on it. It seems I can't get suction of water into Overflow box. I do have a knob on return pipe where I can slow down return of water to Display tank...any advise???

Sisterlimonpot · 03/15/2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by singold
CS 100 Overflow box, I also have the aqualifter on it. It seems I can't get suction of water into Overflow box...

yeah that one shouldn't have a problem with losing it's siphon. so unless you had air trapped in the overflow you shouldn't have a problem. keep the air out and it should work fine.

singold · 03/15/2009, 10:33 PM

How could the air get trapped?

Sisterlimonpot · 03/15/2009, 10:44 PM

you'll need to prime the overflow to get it working properly. Do you have an Aqua Lifter pump to bleed the air out or a pwer head?

gradth · 03/15/2009, 10:46 PM

Melevsreef

Check here. Will answer almost all your sump questions.

singold · 03/15/2009, 11:06 PM

Got it working but water in overflow keeps going lower then refilling, going lower again, etc.

singold · 03/16/2009, 02:03 PM

To avoid overflow box water level from going lower then refilling, going lower again, making obnoxious gurgling sound etc. constantly, would the ball valve to slow down pace of water draining down overflow box pipe be the quick fix? Is the reason it is doing this due to too much water draining at once?

03/15/2009, 08:33 PM	#1
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Sump question please Setting up a sump right now. How high should the water level in sump be before starting up return pump for first time? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/15/2009, 09:06 PM	#2
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Does it just have to be higher than return pump & water level will balance itself out from extra water in display tank? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/15/2009, 09:17 PM	#4
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Thanks kraze3, no skimmer in sump. I use a hang on one. Water level is about 4 inches higher thank my return pump. Should this be enough? Water is level with top of baffle that squares off the compartment where pump is. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/15/2009, 09:34 PM	#5
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Plugged in but can't seem to get overflow box to kick in. Tank almost overflowed. Any advise would be greatly appreciated __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/15/2009, 10:20 PM	#8
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	CS 100 Overflow box, I also have the aqualifter on it. It seems I can't get suction of water into Overflow box. I do have a knob on return pipe where I can slow down return of water to Display tank...any advise??? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium Last edited by singold; 03/15/2009 at 10:28 PM.

03/15/2009, 09:14 PM	#3
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	The water level needs to be higher than the pupm yes. There needs to be enough water to stay above the pump until the DT starts overflowing back to your sump. The level is also needs to be a certain height if your running a skimmer, should be about 3 inches above pump intake

03/15/2009, 09:37 PM	#6
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	What kind of overflow box? or pics? This would concern me. If there is ever a power failure and the box doesnt hold a siphon youll be in trouble.

03/15/2009, 10:03 PM	#7
lordjnx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 46	sounds like your pump is over-running the overflow box if thats the case a simple solution would be to make a dump valve in the sump..... T off the return line just above the pump output place a ball valve on this line and dump SOME of the water back into the sump.. this will help slow the flow going back Up to the main display tank. what size pump? and as stated before pics of overflow?

03/15/2009, 10:33 PM	#10
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	How could the air get trapped? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/15/2009, 10:44 PM	#11
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	you'll need to prime the overflow to get it working properly. Do you have an Aqua Lifter pump to bleed the air out or a pwer head? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

03/15/2009, 10:46 PM	#12
gradth Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver WA Posts: 517	Melevsreef Check here. Will answer almost all your sump questions.

03/15/2009, 11:06 PM	#13
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Got it working but water in overflow keeps going lower then refilling, going lower again, etc. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

03/16/2009, 02:03 PM	#14
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	To avoid overflow box water level from going lower then refilling, going lower again, making obnoxious gurgling sound etc. constantly, would the ball valve to slow down pace of water draining down overflow box pipe be the quick fix? Is the reason it is doing this due to too much water draining at once? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium