Need Help Sump/No enough flow

boxer385 · 03/17/2010, 09:11 AM

i built a sump from a 20 gal long tank it for a 82 gal, rimless tank
i have a skimmer and a mag 9.5 return pump, when the system is running thier is no enough flow to keep water in the return pump section.

Could the pump be too big for the sump? i have a 150gal tank with a rio 20 hyper flow should i switch them?

boxer385 · 03/17/2010, 10:08 AM

any suggestions?

rdlisby · 03/17/2010, 04:56 PM

I am not sure what you have going on in the setup, how are you getting the water from the display tank (82 gallon rimless) to the 20 gallon sump below?

ddevlin · 03/17/2010, 05:21 PM

It sounds like you increased the volume so you will need to add more saltwater to bring your sump return area to the min level required.

moondoggy4 · 03/17/2010, 06:09 PM

I think your problems are with the return what type do you have? Do you have baffles in the sump?

boxer385 · 03/17/2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddevlin

It sounds like you increased the volume so you will need to add more saltwater to bring your sump return area to the min level required.

and you were right i was baffled and i talk with Mario from lfs and that is the advise that was given, i did that and its fine. But the overflow is noisy

troyman · 03/18/2010, 11:19 AM

you can put a flow valve on your return to cut back amount of water going out as to comming in keep in mind if you get a bigger overflow box the more water goes in sump if pump goes off you know what that means

floydie83 · 03/18/2010, 11:28 AM

You're going to have to restrict your return rate. If your overflow gets loud you might have to restrict that too (but its not recommended).

rdlisby · 03/18/2010, 02:36 PM

If your overflow is not bigger than your return line you could in theory overflow your display tank. It is a pain to try and evenly match them. Hopefully your pump can handle being throttled back with a ball or gate valve. I can throttle back by dolphin amp master because my overflows couldn’t handle the 3000GPH it is rated at. Although they never push as much as they are rated to do to various head pressures inherent with plumbing your tank.

03/17/2010, 09:11 AM	#1
boxer385 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: University Park, illinois Posts: 1,718	Need Help Sump/No enough flow i built a sump from a 20 gal long tank it for a 82 gal, rimless tank i have a skimmer and a mag 9.5 return pump, when the system is running thier is no enough flow to keep water in the return pump section. Could the pump be too big for the sump? i have a 150gal tank with a rio 20 hyper flow should i switch them?

03/17/2010, 10:08 AM	#2
boxer385 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: University Park, illinois Posts: 1,718	any suggestions?

03/17/2010, 04:56 PM	#3
rdlisby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 324	I am not sure what you have going on in the setup, how are you getting the water from the display tank (82 gallon rimless) to the 20 gallon sump below?

03/17/2010, 05:21 PM	#4
ddevlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 472	It sounds like you increased the volume so you will need to add more saltwater to bring your sump return area to the min level required.

03/17/2010, 06:09 PM	#5
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I think your problems are with the return what type do you have? Do you have baffles in the sump?

03/18/2010, 11:19 AM	#7
troyman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: troy ny Posts: 1,025	you can put a flow valve on your return to cut back amount of water going out as to comming in keep in mind if you get a bigger overflow box the more water goes in sump if pump goes off you know what that means

03/18/2010, 11:28 AM	#8
floydie83 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 287	You're going to have to restrict your return rate. If your overflow gets loud you might have to restrict that too (but its not recommended).

03/18/2010, 02:36 PM	#9
rdlisby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 324	If your overflow is not bigger than your return line you could in theory overflow your display tank. It is a pain to try and evenly match them. Hopefully your pump can handle being throttled back with a ball or gate valve. I can throttle back by dolphin amp master because my overflows couldn’t handle the 3000GPH it is rated at. Although they never push as much as they are rated to do to various head pressures inherent with plumbing your tank.