Anyone know anything about sumps?

[greatfulxdead]

I have it all set up, but there is close to no flow going through my bulkhead.

Here is my 3/4" bulkhead



Here is the sump



There is barely any flow coming out of the tube from the bulkhead.



Here is the output from the pump.


Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[invisyblegypsey]

looks like your water level is to lowe in the tank. and the outlet pipieing is to small. get an adapter that will screw on the blukhead. looks like a 1 1/4" get a 1 1/4"x 1 1/4" threaded x slip and use 1 1/4" pipe to the sump.
but try more water in your tank just to see how much flow it gives you.

 

[greatfulxdead]

looks like your water level is to lowe in the tank

Well, it's an overflow, so the water can't be way over the bulkhead or it would defeat the purpose

 

[MyFishEatYourFish]

if thats all your pump is pumping and its submerged completely then there's something wrong with it. most pumps should always be run completely submerged and all submersable ones last longer submerged. whats the head height?
if your pump is just overpumping the sump and emptying faster than it can be filler add water to the system.
this is how i do it.
1. turn off return pump
2. fill sump via filling the tank, all the way to the top of the sump, or wherever youre comfortable with the max water level being.
3. let settle and allow all water that can, drain to the sump, overflows should be completely above water at this point.
4. the water in the sump is now at its power failure/clogging height, it takes the guessing out this way.
5. turn the pump on.
6. the water level in the tank will find a point where theres enough water overflowing to keep up with the pump and stop there.
7. emmediately mark the water level in the sump so you know the running height of the sump.
if after you turn the pump on it drains the sump again and begins to run weak, get a smaller pump or a bigger sump.

 

[Pharaoh]

Hard to tell from the pics, but it doesn't look like your pump is getting water. Its either that or it is not capable of pumping to the head height that you currently are running.

 

[greatfulxdead]

The pump pumps all the water out before the sump can refill.
It's pretty much just a trickle coming out of the tube from the tank though even if the water level is over the grate on the bulkhead.

I had the same setup with a DIY pvc overflow and it worked fine, so I think it's the intake to the sump that's slowing things down.

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Your getting water resistance from your overflow in your tank,
My overflow gose 1" over the leval you think it would need before it cycles correctly. Its all about resistance.
It looks like your using 1" diamitre tube try using a 2" outlet
look at my pic, its not the same as yours but same idear. You will see in the second pic the water leval is much lower than in the tank.
Hope this helps you

 

[greatfulxdead]

I used 3/4 inch pvc with my old overflow and it worked fine.
I am using 3/4 inch bulkhead and tubing with this one.

So, it should work the same right??

 

[Rivermud]

I'll reply inline, it'll make is easier

I have it all set up, but there is close to no flow going through my bulkhead.

Here is my 3/4" bulkhead
View attachment 338697
View attachment 338696

Here is the sump - it looks seriously as if you need more water. Keep adding water to the sump until it reaches a level that stays constantly above that of your pump while the pump is running.
View attachment 338701
View attachment 338700

There is barely any flow coming out of the tube from the bulkhead. - That's because your pump is only getting that much to the bulkhead to outflow. Needs more water.
View attachment 338699


Here is the output from the pump. - You sump is nearly dry, thus not outflow.
View attachment 338698

Any advise would be appreciated.

I could be entirely wrong but that's what the pictures look like. I know in a previous post you said the pump pumps the sump dry before your overflow can catch up. An easy way to avoid this is to fill the tank until the water goes though the overflow. Then make sure the sump is filled to just above the maximum height you want your water to be at when the pump is shut off. Start the pump. The overflow should be able to keep up with that pump. I would recommend added a second overflow as a precaution incase one gets plugged or fouled. Just an opinion though. GL

 

[greatfulxdead]

I'll reply inline, it'll make is easier



I could be entirely wrong but that's what the pictures look like. I know in a previous post you said the pump pumps the sump dry before your overflow can catch up. An easy way to avoid this is to fill the tank until the water goes though the overflow. Then make sure the sump is filled to just above the maximum height you want your water to be at when the pump is shut off. Start the pump. The overflow should be able to keep up with that pump. I would recommend added a second overflow as a precaution incase one gets plugged or fouled. Just an opinion though. GL

Even if I fill the tank above the bulkhead, the water still just trickles out of the tube, so it's not a pump issue.