Setting up my first sump... WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!?! HELP!!

[gveng]

like the title implies. i'm setting up my first ever sump. i followed these directions online; fill the main tank, then the sump, and then fill the CPR over flow box w/ water and then use an aqua lifter to make a siphon.

problem is... when i fill the overflow the level in the sump increases. i'm stumped.

used this video for reference.

[YT]-zVGwdRVHU4[/YT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVGwdRVHU4

pictures:

CPR overflow box

aqua lifter

water a little over the overflow lip

sump: has a baffle in the middle that glued in the middle about an 1 off the bottom.

return pump:

tank specs:
- 60 gallon cube
- 20 gallon sump

HELP!!

 

[derekp]

Are you sure your pump is good enough to keep up?

 

[gveng]

Are you sure your pump is good enough to keep up?

no, i'm not sure actually... but i bought the tank as a complete system.

i haven't turned on the pump yet because according to the directions i should fill up the overflow to get a siphon first. or is that wrong?

 

[derekp]

Ok then it should be sufficient. But the water has to be constantly moving. If you fill the overflow naturally the water is going to move down to the sump because of gravity. If the pump is not on then there is nothing moving the water out so the level rises.

 

[gveng]

Ok then it should be sufficient. But the water has to be constantly moving. If you fill the overflow naturally the water is going to move down to the sump because of gravity. If the pump is not on then there is nothing moving the water out so the level rises.

right, but my problem is because of how the CPR overflow is designed i can't get a siphon. according to the video directions, which state to fill up the overflow and then use the aqua lifter to make a siphon.

 

[gveng]

omg... I'M AN IDIOT!!

i watched the video again and i was filling up the wrong compartment.

haha!

 

[gveng]

EVERYTHING WORKS!! yayaya!!

 

[derekp]

lol thats great that it works. yay for a working sump!

 

[gveng]

lol thats great that it works. yay for a working sump!

seriously!! i guess after filling the tank up w/ ro/di water from about 12 buckets my mind is done thinking right now.

thanks for the help.

 

[derekp]

your welcome