Plumming is a nightmare i need help with in/out PLEASE! (W/Pics)

[GetITCdot]

Sorry I only have a camera phone.

So i am ready to start cycling my tank however I cannot get this STUPID THING to work right.

Here is the problem.

Here is the inlet for water coming into the sump/ref

Note Originally I had a ball valve on the input however the stream of water coming in was eather to much or to little and the pump would eather catch-up or not pump enough out i couldn't get an equal ballance. The gate valve however WIDE OPEN does not keep up with the pump

Here is the return:

Note: This is a Quit1One 400 (1017 GPH)
The hose connected to it is not the hose pictured, thats a siphon hose. The hose connected is about 1 foot.

any ideas?

 

[Toby_H]

Your pictures are not working

 

[GetITCdot]

do these pics work better?

 

[Toby_H]

The new pictures work…

The ball valve should be placed on the pump, return line, not the aquariums overflow line… Slowing the volume of water entering the aquarium will automatically limit the water overflowing… limiting the water leaving the tank via the overflow will not automatically limit the pump therefore allowing the aquarium to literally overflow (over the rim not down the pipe).

If the pump flowing without restriction from the ball valve does not push enough water into the tank to make you happy, then you need a larger pump… if the pump is pushing too much water into the aquarium you can use the ball valve inline between the pump and the aquarium to slow down the pumps flow…

 

[GetITCdot]

The new pictures work…

The ball valve should be placed on the pump, return line, not the aquariums overflow line… Slowing the volume of water entering the aquarium will automatically limit the water overflowing… limiting the water leaving the tank via the overflow will not automatically limit the pump therefore allowing the aquarium to literally overflow (over the rim not down the pipe).

If the pump flowing without restriction from the ball valve does not push enough water into the tank to make you happy, then you need a larger pump… if the pump is pushing too much water into the aquarium you can use the ball valve inline between the pump and the aquarium to slow down the pumps flow…

I'm wondering if its just the pump i have? Its a Quite1One model 4000 1017GPH i would have guessed it would do the job.

 

[hndakd]

its probably the drain pipe diameter thats actually hurting. 1 1" drain can do about 600 gph depending on how you use it. You should put the valve on the output side of the pump that way you can restrict flow and not harm anything. if you use a valve on your drain you are asking for problems. that being said i use a valve on all three of my drains....... i use the "bean" method. i have a coral life pump that does 1300 gph, and my drains take it without a hiccup they could really do a heck of alot more.

 

[KaiserSousay]

Valve, gate or ball, on pumps output..could also "T" off of the output, still need the valve, and redirect some flow back into the sump.
I did have a valve on my drain line, on a skimmerless overflow and it made the unit completly silent.

 

[hndakd]

Valve, gate or ball, on pumps output..could also "T" off of the output, still need the valve, and redirect some flow back into the sump.
I did have a valve on my drain line, on a skimmerless overflow and it made the unit completly silent.

if you do that and dont have an emergency drain you are asking for a flood. yeah the T idea is pretty good. You can use that line to run media reactors that way your not adding another pump(heat). I do that and it works well.

 

[KaiserSousay]

if you do that and dont have an emergency drain you are asking for a flood.

That is what everybody said..ended up with a pair of canisters, instead.
Got tired of fighting the "sump wars".

 

[hndakd]

That is what everybody said..ended up with a pair of canisters, instead.
Got tired of fighting the "sump wars".

i dont like canisters for a couple of reasons. I cant stand the way the plumbing looks. I dont see much surface skimming to remove oils that block gas exchange.. this can be fixed with power head placement or return placement. Im really lazy so taking the thing apart and cleaning it is not very appealing to me.

I love the sump because of the added water volume. Place to put heaters and other stuff. i like the skimmer box that helps with oil break up on the surface.

My opinions are probably a little jaded mostly because i have had mostly saltwater tanks. My large tank that was just set up uses alot of things that i would have done on a salt tank... coast to coast overflow, large return pump, sump, closed loop.