First Sump Start Up Issues? Herbie Overflow Help needed

[malawi500]

Evening

I've finally got my sump set up for my 90g Fluval 1200, it is set up as follows:



Although I have just gone for two straight pipes with no overflow box. It is a herbie system.

The pipes run into a 20g sump which is set up similar to this:



It is then pumped up via an Eheim 1262 through an Eheim spray bar, soon to be changed for a Fluval outlet.

I set it up last night by doing the following:

1. Fill the tank up to the main drain level
2. Fill the sump to max
3. Set the emergency drain to desired height
4. Turn the pump on with main drain set to fully open with a ball valve:



As expected the water level stayed at main drain level, I then closed the main drain with the ball valve and the emergency drain worked etc. However I cannot seem to get the desired water level?

I make minor adjustments and it either reaches emergency drain level or main drain level. No happy inbetween?

Any tips?

As an aside, I have already lost a Convict which got sucked down, I knew I needed to put a stariner on it.

Tips please







A 20g tank underneath, the stand pipes are

 

[malawi500]

anyone?

 

[ruddybop]

Is that your picture of your tank at the top pic.....And do you have a ball valve on the output of your pump? Almost sounds like your pump is faster than your overflow can handle..... If you have a ball valve on your pump you can cut the flow back slightly to match your overflow pipe....

 

[Blackumbi]

1+


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[emj920]

Use a gate valve. They are a lot easier to adjust.
Is there an emergency drain?


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[prskiller]

I don't see anything Herbie about this other than you have 2 drains same height. In a Herbie you will have your main drain which would be about 6" below the water level which means your emergency drain is just at and above water level.

 

[ruddybop]

I don't see anything Herbie about this other than you have 2 drains same height. In a Herbie you will have your main drain which would be about 6" below the water level which means your emergency drain is just at and above water level.

That's why I was asking if the pic was his......Both of the drains are the same in the pic....and they are the same level......

 

[malawi500]

sorry, I have two vertical stand pipes, one is about an inch below the other. so yes there is an emergency drain.

the gate valve is on the main drain, the pump does not exceed the drain rate. The drains are 1" diameter

 

[ruddybop]

Do a test run.... Try this ...Plug the emergency drain and run the pump with the main drain (only) until you get the desired water level. If you get the desired water level in your tank and the water level is higher than your emergency drain then your emergency drain is to low.

If you don't have the room to make it higher then you will have to experiment on the height of both pipes..

 

[malawi500]

that doesn't achieve anything. the only thing blocking the emergency drain would do is flood the tank unless the main drain valve is either fully open or spot on