Lots of time and money wasted- HELP!! - Page 6

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 11:35 AM

Ok, after much thought, and guessing, I have noticed the overflow box, the part that hangs on top of the tank, the left side of it set jacked up slightly due to the stress from the flex pipe against sump wall, once he cut that off, no more stress....and the box sets flush with tank rim. I never noticed, even with my pictures that is was jacked up slightly on the left side. Knowing there had to be a reason for this water level difference, looked back at some pictures we took, and sure eneough,it was jacked up slightly.
Can anyone help with ideas on the silt issue I am having? I am going to do the clean up of sump return now and see if this helps. Completely open for ideas and suggestions.

alextheromanian · 07/19/2008, 11:39 AM

would help a whole lot if you took pictures of everything and posted them so people can see for themselves maybe theres a mistake youve made.

sounds tho that the pump is either to strong in which case youd need a valve put in the return line or bigger overflows...

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 03:16 PM

[IMG][imghttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167027thur4.jpg [/IMG] this is what I am talking about. I don't know if you can see it very well in the one and only picture I have of this up and running.

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 03:18 PM

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 03:21 PM

The above mistery is solved!

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 03:28 PM

This was taken the next day I believe after it was all up and running, and you can see the silt in it and it still looks this way, even after cleaning the sump and sucking all the fine particles out. As soon as it filled back up, it became cloudy............sigh. My next thing is to put the little white pvc pipes back on the bulk heads inside the over flow box my son took off so the over flow would move more water.

findingnemo2 · 07/19/2008, 03:29 PM

You can also see by the picture above, the sand has been pushed back where the water tumbles over the bubble trap.

FBNitro · 07/19/2008, 03:59 PM

In Melev's photo, the sand is pushed over also. I think you still have too much flow going through there, if it were me I'd slow the return pump down (restrict it with the ball valve) some more.

Alternatively, you could get some heavier grade substrate in there. The stuff you have is pretty fine looking.

robot2222 · 07/19/2008, 04:27 PM

hello , I think you shoulplumb in 3/4 see if that helps

findingnemo2 · 07/20/2008, 01:28 PM

We redid all plumbing from 1 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch a few days into this project. It did help, but I still had different issues.
1. Water too high in display tank. Cutting off spa flex from the over flow box fixed this, as it seems they were wedged in, which made my overflow box hike up a little on one side. With the spa flex cut, it is only 1 inch under water, its not wedged against the glass bubble divider in sump, overflow box lays flat on rim of tank.
2. Silt in my display tank.
I got up this morning, slowed the pump down, didn't really want to have to do this, wanted all the pumps ump, but I did it, using the ball valve on the return, (the silt in the display tank was the only issue left to tackle.) Low and behold...

....no more silt in the display tank!!!! Yay!!!

I want to say Thank you all so very very much for helping me and having patience with me! Ya'll were with me from the beginning and helped me thru it all, even when I felt like giving up, ya'll were here to encourage me! Thanks again and hope everyone has a Great Day!!
P.S. I also hope I have no more problems for a long long long long time!

Everyones Hero · 07/20/2008, 09:46 PM

Here's a link that might help you out.

http://flexpvc.com/WaterFlowBasedOnPipeSize.shtml

You're not the only one with headaches setting up your overflow. I made my entire setup by myself & I couldn't figure out why my feed wasn't working right until I started looking at overflow boxes. I realized what my problem was & I'm in the process of fixing it.

For your feed your should probably be using 1" (it's what your overflow is setup for anyway.) If you increase the flow of the feed & reduce the flow of the return it should be a good compromise.

I was using a 1/2" feed & a MJ-1200 return. Had I gone outside to grab a smoke like I wanted to I'd have a flooded bedroom. I stepped down to a MJ-600 & my siphon kept breaking. I was bashing my head against the wall until I realized how an overflow actually worked.

findingnemo2 · 07/21/2008, 02:20 PM

Thanks for the link. I changed the 1 1/2 inch for returns to 3/4. It seems the perfect size for the velocity I was wanting. Now having issues with one of the U tubes holding water on each end, but not in the middle and no flow running thru. Tried sucking the air out, and it worked, but only for a few minutes and resumed the no flow thing. I am thinking maybe I slowed down the mag 12 too much? Would that be a cause? I read where someone was having this problem and it seems that was the cause,(slowed the pump down too much,) if anyone could and would help I would appreciate it very much. Brenda
P.S. I am back with other problems WAY too soon!

likemike99 · 07/21/2008, 06:24 PM

are you talking about about the u tubes in the overflow boxes? if so there might be too many bubbles on your surface, or the tube might be cracked. air has to be getting in somehow. try to watch and see where it is coming from.

findingnemo2 · 07/30/2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by likemike99
are you talking about about the u tubes in the overflow boxes? if so there might be too many bubbles on your surface, or the tube might be cracked. air has to be getting in somehow. try to watch and see where it is coming from.

Yes, I was talking about the U tubes in the overflow box. I turned up the mag 12 slightly, and both tubes are flowing water now and no air bubble in at the top of tube like before, so, I am thinking I have corrected this issue or so it seems. Its been several days and it is running fine now, never a syphone break. Thanks everyone!

07/19/2008, 11:35 AM	#126
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	Ok, after much thought, and guessing, I have noticed the overflow box, the part that hangs on top of the tank, the left side of it set jacked up slightly due to the stress from the flex pipe against sump wall, once he cut that off, no more stress....and the box sets flush with tank rim. I never noticed, even with my pictures that is was jacked up slightly on the left side. Knowing there had to be a reason for this water level difference, looked back at some pictures we took, and sure eneough,it was jacked up slightly. Can anyone help with ideas on the silt issue I am having? I am going to do the clean up of sump return now and see if this helps. Completely open for ideas and suggestions. __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 11:39 AM	#127
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	would help a whole lot if you took pictures of everything and posted them so people can see for themselves maybe theres a mistake youve made. sounds tho that the pump is either to strong in which case youd need a valve put in the return line or bigger overflows... __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

07/19/2008, 03:16 PM	#128
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	[IMG][imghttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167027thur4.jpg [/IMG] this is what I am talking about. I don't know if you can see it very well in the one and only picture I have of this up and running. __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 03:18 PM	#129
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	__________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 03:21 PM	#130
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	The above mistery is solved! __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 03:28 PM	#131
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	This was taken the next day I believe after it was all up and running, and you can see the silt in it and it still looks this way, even after cleaning the sump and sucking all the fine particles out. As soon as it filled back up, it became cloudy............sigh. My next thing is to put the little white pvc pipes back on the bulk heads inside the over flow box my son took off so the over flow would move more water. __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 03:29 PM	#132
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	You can also see by the picture above, the sand has been pushed back where the water tumbles over the bubble trap. __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/19/2008, 03:59 PM	#133
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	In Melev's photo, the sand is pushed over also. I think you still have too much flow going through there, if it were me I'd slow the return pump down (restrict it with the ball valve) some more. Alternatively, you could get some heavier grade substrate in there. The stuff you have is pretty fine looking. Last edited by FBNitro; 07/19/2008 at 04:04 PM.

07/19/2008, 04:27 PM	#134
robot2222 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: phoenix, arizonia Posts: 1,283	hello , I think you shoulplumb in 3/4 see if that helps __________________ 14 gallon biocube Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront

07/20/2008, 01:28 PM	#135
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	We redid all plumbing from 1 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch a few days into this project. It did help, but I still had different issues. 1. Water too high in display tank. Cutting off spa flex from the over flow box fixed this, as it seems they were wedged in, which made my overflow box hike up a little on one side. With the spa flex cut, it is only 1 inch under water, its not wedged against the glass bubble divider in sump, overflow box lays flat on rim of tank. 2. Silt in my display tank. I got up this morning, slowed the pump down, didn't really want to have to do this, wanted all the pumps ump, but I did it, using the ball valve on the return, (the silt in the display tank was the only issue left to tackle.) Low and behold... ....no more silt in the display tank!!!! Yay!!! I want to say Thank you all so very very much for helping me and having patience with me! Ya'll were with me from the beginning and helped me thru it all, even when I felt like giving up, ya'll were here to encourage me! Thanks again and hope everyone has a Great Day!! P.S. I also hope I have no more problems for a long long long long time! __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/20/2008, 09:46 PM	#136
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Here's a link that might help you out. http://flexpvc.com/WaterFlowBasedOnPipeSize.shtml You're not the only one with headaches setting up your overflow. I made my entire setup by myself & I couldn't figure out why my feed wasn't working right until I started looking at overflow boxes. I realized what my problem was & I'm in the process of fixing it. For your feed your should probably be using 1" (it's what your overflow is setup for anyway.) If you increase the flow of the feed & reduce the flow of the return it should be a good compromise. I was using a 1/2" feed & a MJ-1200 return. Had I gone outside to grab a smoke like I wanted to I'd have a flooded bedroom. I stepped down to a MJ-600 & my siphon kept breaking. I was bashing my head against the wall until I realized how an overflow actually worked.

07/21/2008, 02:20 PM	#137
findingnemo2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 200	Thanks for the link. I changed the 1 1/2 inch for returns to 3/4. It seems the perfect size for the velocity I was wanting. Now having issues with one of the U tubes holding water on each end, but not in the middle and no flow running thru. Tried sucking the air out, and it worked, but only for a few minutes and resumed the no flow thing. I am thinking maybe I slowed down the mag 12 too much? Would that be a cause? I read where someone was having this problem and it seems that was the cause,(slowed the pump down too much,) if anyone could and would help I would appreciate it very much. Brenda P.S. I am back with other problems WAY too soon! __________________ To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart. Brenda Current Tank Info: 110, 30 quarantine tank, 300 gallon in the works

07/21/2008, 06:24 PM	#138
likemike99 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 117	are you talking about about the u tubes in the overflow boxes? if so there might be too many bubbles on your surface, or the tube might be cracked. air has to be getting in somehow. try to watch and see where it is coming from.