Drain issues

tom obrecht · 11/22/2015, 07:36 AM

I have a redo on a 3 tank system all plumbed into one sump. All three tanks are feed by a Reef Octo dc 5500 pump. I have a 30 long, a 60 cube and a standard 120 tank all draining to a 125 sump. All three tanks drain to the same sump and are all fed by the same RO dc pump. Here's the issue.

The 120 and 30 long run fine. Water is pumped in and then drain out fine. The 60 cube surges when it drains. I have a 1" drain on this tank just like the others (actually the 120 has 2-1" drains) but they work fine. The 60 cube sits the furthest from the sump that is approx. 12' away from the sump. I have a ball valve on the feed water into the cube and have it turned way down with no solution...the drain still surges. Next I tried a durso on the drain. I tried different size vent holes with no luck. I next added a T on the drain pipe way down the line where the water empties into the sump. No luck it still surges.

I have a hard time believing with vents on both ends of the drain it still surges. A couple of things that might be needed for info.

1. The cube is drilled out the back of the tank close to top. It does have an overflow box siliconed to the back, but the drain takes a 90 degree turn right after it collects the waste water before it travels down the back of the tank and turns down towards the sump.

2. The exit of the drain pipe is submerged in the sump water and am wondering if this is contributing to the issue? The other drains are under the surface as well with out issue.

The system worked well before this redo and I just wanted a cleaner looking area so I thought I had it figured out. Now I'm tearing my hair out! Ideas are appreciated!

Vinny Kreyling · 11/22/2015, 08:44 AM

Easiest is to raise the drain out of the water, next is to change the 90 to a 45.
After that I got nuthin!

tom obrecht · 11/23/2015, 05:57 PM

So the latest is: I cut the end pipe just above the water level and replaced the durso with a 1 1/4" durso both with no positive results. Still surging like before. I'm baffled! Could the waste return pipe have any effect of surging? The 30 long has 1" drain with no surging?

Danielpyz · 11/23/2015, 06:31 PM

why nt put a gate/globe valve... to control the downflow of the overflow pipe

tom obrecht · 11/23/2015, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielpyz

why nt put a gate/globe valve... to control the downflow of the overflow pipe

I only have one 1" drain with a small overflow box No room for a valve and I feel it would be an issue with flow.

11/22/2015, 07:36 AM	#1
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	Drain issues I have a redo on a 3 tank system all plumbed into one sump. All three tanks are feed by a Reef Octo dc 5500 pump. I have a 30 long, a 60 cube and a standard 120 tank all draining to a 125 sump. All three tanks drain to the same sump and are all fed by the same RO dc pump. Here's the issue. The 120 and 30 long run fine. Water is pumped in and then drain out fine. The 60 cube surges when it drains. I have a 1" drain on this tank just like the others (actually the 120 has 2-1" drains) but they work fine. The 60 cube sits the furthest from the sump that is approx. 12' away from the sump. I have a ball valve on the feed water into the cube and have it turned way down with no solution...the drain still surges. Next I tried a durso on the drain. I tried different size vent holes with no luck. I next added a T on the drain pipe way down the line where the water empties into the sump. No luck it still surges. I have a hard time believing with vents on both ends of the drain it still surges. A couple of things that might be needed for info. 1. The cube is drilled out the back of the tank close to top. It does have an overflow box siliconed to the back, but the drain takes a 90 degree turn right after it collects the waste water before it travels down the back of the tank and turns down towards the sump. 2. The exit of the drain pipe is submerged in the sump water and am wondering if this is contributing to the issue? The other drains are under the surface as well with out issue. The system worked well before this redo and I just wanted a cleaner looking area so I thought I had it figured out. Now I'm tearing my hair out! Ideas are appreciated! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

11/22/2015, 08:44 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Easiest is to raise the drain out of the water, next is to change the 90 to a 45. After that I got nuthin! __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

11/23/2015, 05:57 PM	#3
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	So the latest is: I cut the end pipe just above the water level and replaced the durso with a 1 1/4" durso both with no positive results. Still surging like before. I'm baffled! Could the waste return pipe have any effect of surging? The 30 long has 1" drain with no surging? __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

11/23/2015, 06:31 PM	#4
Danielpyz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 22	why nt put a gate/globe valve... to control the downflow of the overflow pipe