Pvc Overflow Issue

[mh91]

Hi, I'm looking for some help here. This is my first sump experience and I'm having an issue with my PVC overflow. I used 1 1/4" PVC to make it. I got everything hooked up and then find out that my overflow siphons EXTREMELY slow. I followed a design online to make it and I have no idea whats wrong with it. Here are some images, please if anyone has any idea what I've done wrong I'd really appreciate some help here. I'm using a Rio + 3100 water pump. My check air valve has airline tubing just hanging (I really couldn't find much information about this part of the overflow build so idk if its right, I can suck air out of the overflow through it).

 

[guanl23]

In the third pic, I think i see a drilled cap over your overflow, maybe it's too restrictive? Is your pump/return valved?

 

[mh91]

Yes thats a drilled cap, I drilled 5 holes in it to act as a strainer. Do you think I should drill more?

And do you mean an air check valve on the pump? All I have is a ball valve connected.

 

[guanl23]

Instead of a cap, I would suggest a strainer like these:

Is there a valve after your pump to control flow??
Your pump should be pumping at ~~600GPH b/c of head height?
1 1/4 pvc will handle around 900GPH so the 5 holes you drilled is definitely restricting some flow.

How big is your tank btw?

 

[mh91]

Yeah I use a ball valve to control the flow of the water pump. I have a 100 gallon freshwater tank and a 30 gallon sump. I'll definitely try and do something about the cap and update after work tomorrow. Thanks for the replies.

 

[guanl23]

My bad, I forgot to check the pics for the ball valve lol
Well open the ball valve more or all the way, and if you cant get a strainer, go to a dollar store a pick up some thing with a mesh netting and zip tie it over your overflow if you don't mind its ugliness.

 

[Desdinova]

I just ordered a PF-1200 after many attempts to get a PVC overflow running fast.

It seemed that I had to pick between safety and speed. The air hole that was making sure that my tank did not flood the floor also slowed it down to an unacceptable pace. To use larger PVC got expensive, so I got a dual 1" bulkhead eshopps overflow and two 7" bag holders. I figure I'll get a kitchen trash can, so I have plenty of room to hang 32" bags in it. Should be getting my parts tomorrow, but won't do too much until the weekend.

 

[mh91]

Well I just opened up the cap quite a bit, but now its not siphoning anything at all. The water level is even above the cap right now and nothing is going through it at all.

I tried an overflow box before and could never get the utube to keep siphon, it always got air bubbles in it even though my return pump was more than powerful enough.

 

[Vanimal]

I have a 3/4" PVC overflow that works great, it handles about 500 GPH with only one small outlet tube. I didn't look at the pictures but maybe try a different design.


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[mh91]

Ignore my last post lol I just forgot to prime the overflow. I've got it working great now, just trying to find a way to match flow rates between my pump and the overflow. Thanks alot for all your help guys.