need advise for diy sump w/ diy overflow

[fitznacio]

I am currently using a setup with the diy wet/dry sump filter (using rubbermade approx 30 gal tub) along with a mag drive 7 pump with a pair of 1 inch pvc overflows. I am currently having a problem with the water levels inside the tank eventually getting too high, the ball valves help little however is there anything that i should consider or am i overlooking?

 

[ethnics]

what you wanna do is make sure your overflows are rated at high gph then ur pump, then ur level will always stay the same. no need for ball valves honestly. those can be restricting flow and be whats causing ur water level fluctuations if not fine tuned properly.

 

[fitznacio]

so basically should i up the size of the overflow pipes from 1 in to 1 1/4in only and use the remaining of the 1 in piping to drain to the sump or would i have to increase the entire size of the plumbing to the sump?

 

[hmt321]

so basically should i up the size of the overflow pipes from 1 in to 1 1/4in only and use the remaining of the 1 in piping to drain to the sump or would i have to increase the entire size of the plumbing to the sump?

increase the entire size of the plumbing to the sump

You need 1.25" pipe all the way to the sump, if you reduce down to the 1" you are still reducing flow, you may try 2 overflows at 1"

what happens is the pump moves water into the Tank faster than it can drain into the sump. If you do have a ball valve on the pump turn it down slowly until your water lvl stabilizes. If you do not have a ball valve then you need a bigger overflow.

 

[fitznacio]

Well I am currently using two 1" overflows at the moment so for now I will attempt to stabilize the water level using the ball valve instead, i really am limited on time building another pair of overflows with the plumbing to the sump, (maybe later in the spring), just curious has anyone on the board used three 1" overflows on their system? If so did they encounter any problems? I was thinking of possible using three 1" overflows draining into a 1.25 pvc drain line into the sump.

 

[WeeNe858]

if you do use the 1" thats only going to allow you so much output. its best you change all the plumbing and i would say to 1.5 inches and if you want adjustable output throw a ball valve on there.. i think its better you go bigger that way you dont flood your room >.<


simply put.. your input rate is to high for the output and all your water is cramming to get out.. so you widen the path and they can go out at the same rate as your pump is putting in

 

[fitznacio]

I will then increase the size of the overflow when I get a chance and i'll keep you informed regarding the results. thanks

 

[ethnics]

do not increase the size of your pipes above 1 1/4". i am currently using 2 1" overflows on my 150 and it handles 600gph perfectly fine. on my 400gal im using 1.5" drilled holes, but for pvc pipe overflows, everyone said try not to use bigger then 1 1/4"

 

[fitznacio]

If that is the case with you using 2 1" overflows then the only thing I can think of is that the one way valves I have installed must be leaking air inside it restricting the flow. The funny thing is that for a week the water level was pretty consistant only going up slighly and then dropping going back and forth, however after I performed the waterchange it notices that the water level over a time of hours would gradually increase, hmm. I think that I may have to re-purge the air out of the overflows. I didn't think that i alittle air would restrict the flow, I thought that too much air would break the siphon effect. What do you think?

 

[ethnics]

there should be no syphon effect. its an overflow. if there is air in ur pipes, it will not flow how its supposed to. 1 day, 1 of my overflows had water to much air in it and stopped flowing. forcing my other overflow to make up for the water and it caused my tank water level to rise on me and kinda kept my sump almost dried out. sucked on the lil check valve to get the air out and badda bing, back in action.