Ongoing Sump Fiasco

[DN328]

Reading through this thread it just seems that there was too much mechanical filtration in that small area and when it got the least bit clogged it didn't take much to overflow the sump. Try using a filter sock in the first chamber and the floss over your drip plate above your bio balls

+1. I would suggest using socks to take advantage of the drain entry as well.

 

[DN328]

I does both, actually--rises and flows over the first baffle (which is slightly lower than the top of the tank to provide a relief in case of clogged media) and it is seeping out between the plastic rim at the top of the sump tank and the glass wall. I do have holes drilled in the top of the first baffle and am still having the problem of overflow outside of the sump if the media in the second chamber shifts (hence the rock). Someone asked about the space under the first baffle--it's about one inch and the media in the second compartment is on egg crate that is also raised about an inch above the bottom of the tank.

I see. Let us know how some of the suggested mods work out...nothing more comes to mind at this time than what hasn't been mentioned.

 

[Tomt37]

First compartment is way too full .. it would be best to just have a filter sock and some sponge .. the rock will compress everything at the bottom restricting water flow .. add into that filterfloss that gets clogged and uve created a blockage

 

[jaws7777]

Help! I have just replaced my 125 gallon tank and keep having sump overflow disasters...given that we have hardwood floors this is becoming a divorce issue with my husband. I need advice!

Basically, I had an old scratched tank that I bought from Craigslist that had a convoluted 1 inch outflow pipe that started in the main tank and made a U and then went up and over the edge and down to the sump--no overflow box. The whole thing was a gigantic siphon and if I ever lost the siphon it was a nightmare.

So I just sprang for a new 125 gallon tank, with overflows in the corner and bulkheads in the bottom. I'm using the same 30 gallon sump I had on the old setup but now I keep overflowing the first compartment. I did increase my flow rate to a pump that will do 800 gallons/hour. The in-flow and out-flow are balanced, but the first compartment of my sump looks like the boiling cauldron at the bottom of Niagra falls and water keeps leaking over the top....and onto the hardwood floors which have taken on a very unhappy wavy characteristic. A lot of the water in the first compartment seems to be flowing over the divider directly instead of going under it and up through my mechanical filter media, which defeats the purpose. So my questions are

1. Do I just need to reduce the flow rate?
2. If so, how do people actually manage higher flow rates? Why can't I get the water to flow through the filter media (filter floss, sponges, ceramic beads)? I have a bunch of cranky and messy mbuna who could benefit from a higher flow rate.

Thanks in advance. Please help me save my floors and marriage.
Sharon

Reading through this thread it just seems that there was too much mechanical filtration in that small area and when it got the least bit clogged it didn't take much to overflow the sump. Try using a filter sock in the first chamber and the floss over your drip plate above your bio balls

+1
Socks would be my choice as well

 

[jaws7777]

Was the gph of the pump and drain siz3 mentioned ?

 

[Selaineh]

First compartment is way too full .. it would be best to just have a filter sock and some sponge .. the rock will compress everything at the bottom restricting water flow .. add into that filterfloss that gets clogged and uve created a blockage

I'm going to reorganize that compartment this weekend as everyone has suggested. Thanks all!