Sump Flow issues

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creativityasaweapon

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 22, 2011
150
1
48
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Okay, I've spent the last week trying to setup our sump and have had to run to the store about a million times before settling on a setup I thought would work. I built a 1" pvc overflow and have it plumbed to a megaflow 3 which is setup for 1". I should be getting around 600 gph out of that, which is great for our 120 that also has 2 Emperor 400s on it. The pump I'm using is the quiet one 3000 plumbed with 8' of 1" vinyl hose , which after 4' of head height and 2 elbows and a T for a spraybar would theoretically be pushing a bit less than 600 gph. Well, after setting it all up, the overflow can't keep up with the pump. I also have a steady stream of water coming out of the check valve, which is strange because it shouldn't be under any pressure. A few days ago I had it set up with just 5/8" vinyl hose and I had to close the overflow to match the pump. I know that the 5/8" was letting less flow though, but I assumed that with the new setup (the 90s and T), the flow should be about the same.

I have read that some folks have had 4000s keep up with 1" overflows so I believe there is something going on with the overflow (especially with the water draining out of the check valve). I can certainly take pics if need be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Something isn't right...No water should come out your check valve..If anything it would suck air in and stop the overflow. Do you have some pics of your overflow.
 
I have a couple pictures, but those will have to wait until I'm done with work. I think that where I placed the valve my be an issue. Instead of between the two 90s, I drilled a hole and put it on the rear 90. I wonder if there is pressure on the valve there, because water is starting to make a descent. I'll get the pictues up here asap. Am I incorrect in thinking that a 1" overflow will keep up with the 3000?
 
creativityasaweapon said:
I have a couple pictures, but those will have to wait until I'm done with work. I think that where I placed the valve my be an issue. Instead of between the two 90s, I drilled a hole and put it on the rear 90. I wonder if there is pressure on the valve there, because water is starting to make a descent. I'll get the pictues up here asap. Am I incorrect in thinking that a 1" overflow will keep up with the 3000?
Click to expand...


If you made the 1" overflow with these dimensions or longer then it will siphon 600gph. If made correctly.

overflow1.gif

If you made your overflow with pipes A & B shorter in length from the dimensions on this pic then no it will not flow 600GPH.

Your Quiet One 3000 is rated at 611 GPH at 4 foot. You might have to put a ball valve on the pump output to close it a touch to match the overflow.

First you need to figure out if the overflow was made correctly... Sounds weird that water is coming out your one way valve. I hope your one way valve isn't on up side down, but then you would not be able to suck the air out to start the siphon. When you get home post some pics... :)

overflow1.gif
 
Not sure where you get the 600gph but would like to for my own research info. I too started with a 1" pvc overflow and found that it could not keep up with my 3000, and definitely not my 1262, even though they are both rated at over 600gph at my head height. So either the pump manufactures have exagerated or the 600gph is wrong. Also know that at the 4' height mark, that is straight up not including any turns for fitting or separation for T or horizontal runs. Each fitting and horizontal run adds to you head pressure even though the height might not exceed 4'. What I ended up doing was upgrading to 1 1/2" overflow and putting in a ball valve, would suggest a gate valve, and letting my pump run wide open and matching the overflow to it. Now, I was just recently informed of the stockman pipe, where when the water level is balanced, the overflow does not need a valve and can only sphion what the pump puts out, BUT on my set up, it introduce a lot of air and was very noisy. To fix the noise, I raise the water level and kept the valve, so that the stockman pipe acts as a strainer.
 
I go this information off the sticky at the top of the page.

Chompers was nice enough to make this for everyone so they didn't have to do any figuring out ever time they made an overflow.

Here is the link for horizontal and vertical GPH flow through PVC overflows.... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...Pipe-Sizing-Charts-and-Flow-Rates-(1-Viewing)

It is also at the top of the DIY overflow forum 3RD post down titled ... Pipe Sizing Charts and Flow Rates ....

The shorter the overflow the less water flowing through the pvc. I made my overflow short so it doesn't go into the tank deep, but I made Dual 1 1/2" overflows T ing to 2" so between both of them it pushes about 900GPH.

If I would have made my overflow longer (20" is recommended for this size pipe) I would have only needed one 1 1/2" pvc that would push around 1350gph , but I don't like them hanging deep into my tank so I made Dual shorter ones.
 
My pipes are cut at 16" so I know I should be getting max flow out of them and the pump is dealing with 4' of head height and two 90 fittings and a T, so I'd think that that would bring the flow down even more than 611gph. I want to run the pump wide open so I don't put any unneeded pressure on it, so I may have to modify the sump a bit. Pics coming momentarily.
 
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