Sump woes

vader88 · 10/18/2007, 03:37 PM

Looks like I may have cost myself and Dano999 some money. I ordered a DIY sump kit off of ebay and trusted the design in someone elses hands since I have no idea how it was supposed to work. I only went as far as to leak test in the beginning and that was fine. Now on to my problem.

Naturally water drains into the sump area where the protein skimmer will do it's job, then drains into a bubble trap which the supplies the fuge with water and finally on to the return.

Should the water in all the chambers be at the same height of should it be flowing easily between all chambers ? You'll notice where the holes ( with red ) are which lets the water drain to the next chamber.

It seems once it gets ready to drain from the fuge to the return, the flow is entirely to slow and the mag 9.5 will drain it too fast. Granted I'm only pushing water out of a garden house and the overflow kit might turnover faster, but I'm just not sure if this can keep up.

Please look over this picture and let me know if you see design problems and what I can do to correct it if there are problems, I may end up buying a tank and putting dividers in, sigh.

chatyak · 10/18/2007, 03:42 PM

I haven't seen a sump with holes like that before but then again I am new. If I am correct, your levels should stay the same in your case, except for the return area where it will lower. The only way to see if it will keep up is to hook it up and give it thorough testing with fresh water.

jessedidthis · 10/18/2007, 03:49 PM

the design looks right. I do however feel those return holds could be a bit bigger. I don't think a mag9 would be able to drain that faster than your drain pipe could fill it up.

I use a 1" drain with a dorso standpipe in a oceanic model1 reef ready sump. my return is a mag12 with 2/4" return. I keep both my ball valves completely open and i don't have a problem.

specopsteam · 10/18/2007, 03:57 PM

dont forget about head pressure when its hooked up to your tank, that should slow the pump down a little and give the return to fill up

jessedidthis · 10/18/2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chatyak
I haven't seen a sump with holes like that before but then again I am new. If I am correct, your levels should stay the same in your case, except for the return area where it will lower. The only way to see if it will keep up is to hook it up and give it thorough testing with fresh water.

actually, the water level in each overflow section are usually slightly different.

The water overflows the dividers in your sump from your drain pipe and filter sock chamber to your refugium and to your return chamber.

If the water levels are the same, you may have a problem with flow through your tank.

vader88 · 10/18/2007, 04:36 PM

I will be test running tomorrow to see how it all works connected to the tank, if it fails ... I'll just get a 20 gallon glass tank
and go from there

10/18/2007, 03:37 PM	#1
vader88 Dolphin Finatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Trinity, NC Posts: 844	Sump woes Looks like I may have cost myself and Dano999 some money. I ordered a DIY sump kit off of ebay and trusted the design in someone elses hands since I have no idea how it was supposed to work. I only went as far as to leak test in the beginning and that was fine. Now on to my problem. Naturally water drains into the sump area where the protein skimmer will do it's job, then drains into a bubble trap which the supplies the fuge with water and finally on to the return. Should the water in all the chambers be at the same height of should it be flowing easily between all chambers ? You'll notice where the holes ( with red ) are which lets the water drain to the next chamber. It seems once it gets ready to drain from the fuge to the return, the flow is entirely to slow and the mag 9.5 will drain it too fast. Granted I'm only pushing water out of a garden house and the overflow kit might turnover faster, but I'm just not sure if this can keep up. Please look over this picture and let me know if you see design problems and what I can do to correct it if there are problems, I may end up buying a tank and putting dividers in, sigh.

10/18/2007, 03:42 PM	#2
chatyak Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,090	I haven't seen a sump with holes like that before but then again I am new. If I am correct, your levels should stay the same in your case, except for the return area where it will lower. The only way to see if it will keep up is to hook it up and give it thorough testing with fresh water. __________________ Fishville

10/18/2007, 03:57 PM	#4
specopsteam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 156	dont forget about head pressure when its hooked up to your tank, that should slow the pump down a little and give the return to fill up __________________ There is no such thing as death only change RIP Duke I LOVE WILD TURKEY RARE BREED!!!!! Current Tank Info: 55 gal tank, Starting my 75 soon

10/18/2007, 03:49 PM	#3
jessedidthis Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 3	the design looks right. I do however feel those return holds could be a bit bigger. I don't think a mag9 would be able to drain that faster than your drain pipe could fill it up. I use a 1" drain with a dorso standpipe in a oceanic model1 reef ready sump. my return is a mag12 with 2/4" return. I keep both my ball valves completely open and i don't have a problem.

10/18/2007, 04:36 PM	#6
vader88 Dolphin Finatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Trinity, NC Posts: 844	I will be test running tomorrow to see how it all works connected to the tank, if it fails ... I'll just get a 20 gallon glass tank and go from there