Over-flow not flowing!??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

shierkahn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2005
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Holland,OH
I finally plumbed in my wet/dry and I got stumped. The over-flow box doesn't seem to be flowing like it should. Does the syphon tube need tuning? Or is there something I don't know that I need to do? The wet/ dry is in a 29gal. tank. I have a mag drive 12a pump, 550gph over-flow box, a ball valve at each for tuning/maintenance. It's all plumbed with 1" PVC. Thanks .........Again. :thumbsup:
 
Most likly your mag 12 is pumping water faster than your overflow box can flow water. Is the sump getting emptied faster that water returns to it? If so, that's what's going on. Mag 12 can move much more than 550 gph in most situations.

Do not put or use a ball valve on your overflow box, it needs to be full flow. Do put a ball valve on the output side of your water pump and adjust the flow down to a rate that your overflow box will handle. See if this helps...

Joel
 
The pump is not the problem. Even with the pump off the over flow takes forever to fill the sump. For example, my Dueto submersible moves more water than the over flow is.
 
Does your overflow have 1 or 2 U-tubes?
 
If that's the case, you have an obstruction somewhere.

Dump water right into the "outside box" of your overflow box, If it doesn't drain, start following "down stream" to see where the hold up is. It often times is where the drain hose enters the bio chamber, if the filter pad at the drip tray is right up against the drain hose it'll slow things way down. Try lifting the lid to your bio chamber and see if it flows more water. THis is a home made sump / filter isn't it? Some good pics might help too.

we'll get it figured out.....
 
bigger drane hose
 
The sump is DIY, the over-flow is new. It has one U-tube. No obstructions.... all new PVC. Bigger drain hose wouldn't be an option, it's not flowing enough for what''s on it. It's all plumbed with 1"PVC. The water is equaling out between tank and skimmer box. All air is out of U-tube and the water in the pre-filter box isn't much above the drain tube. I'll try to get some pics to help out. I know this hard to picture with out pics so, I'll se if I can't get some up. Thanks.
 
Well, I got it figured out last night. My buddy suggested that I remove the tube from the drain box that the pre-filter slides on to. And now it works great. :woot: The tube was solid PVC. Should this tube have slots or something in it? Should I just run it without the pre-filter on it? Again thanks for all your help.
 
Do you mean the core that the sponge slips over? If so I have a couple ideas for you.

THe pvc pipe that the sponge slides over can have slots cut in it, some pre-filters come that way. A prefilter core is better and are available from Oceanic but you may be forced to but a long section of it. Another option is the core from the carbon basket of a magnum 350 canister filter. They are available separetly from the carbon basket but most likly will be a special order from a local aquarium shop.


You do need the sponge in place to filter properly and a core is a good idea so the sponge does not collapse in on it self as it gets debris trapped in it.

If this is what your takling about but can't find one, PM me and I can ship one out to you.

Joel
 
Yeah that's the piece i'm talking about. I think I'm gonna just make one. I was just through Dayton yesterday ,could've just picked it up. Oh well. I'm getting my bigger over-flow this week though. So, Im gonna have to replumb most of it anywayz. Thanks
 
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