Sump help - what pump to buy? Jebao? Waveline?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
+ All good suggestions from Didysis

The only addition that I would emphasize for (hard) plumbing: I would use a valve on all drains for future maintenance. Moreover, I would use at least 1 gate valve (on the primary drain) as I think that gives you better control of water flow and you can better fine tune (vs. a ball vale, imo). Not critical by any means, but you'll appreciate it later. I'm sure that you're doing the needed planning but make sure you add check valve as well for return line(s).
 
Been working on the since the last post. I have some big plans, as I overbuild things a lot - but I'm holding back on details until I make sure it'll work. The post by Didysis confirms what I've known to a degree, although I do want to divide the tank up for the sump, it's more because my OCD has everything divided already. I pick up my glass dividers later today I think, maybe tomorrow.

Since my last post I have rebuilt the stand. This past weekend was the big move - holy cow! - that was a LONG night. We emptied everything out in the tank, including gravel, and then we were able to pick up the tank and stand just enough to move it over. The new stand was put in place and then we had the hassle of lifting the tank over to the new stand. I took some before and after photos too for once. I'm really happy with the new stand design, everything is reinforced behind the legs but I had to make a few changes to be able to slide the 40 breeder underneath. For now, it's staying all natural, I haven't decided whether to stain it or to put panels on it. The tank has the fake woodgrain trim, and the canopy is natural cedar, so I may go back to cedar paneling... eventually I'll decide...

The first photos are of the old design. It does show an old canopy top as well in the first photo, the one I have now is the same design and material (raw cedar) but taller (third photo). I will not miss trying to crawl through that 16 inch opening in the middle of the front to access the canisters!

1-5 before renovation 1.jpg

1-5 before renovation 2.jpg

1-5 before renovation 3.jpg

1-24 before renovation.jpg

1-24 old stand filters crammed in  2.jpg

1-24 old stand filters crammed in.jpg
 
Here are a few photos of the new stand in place. Since plans for this week include finalizing the sump, the filters have been installed on the sides and front for easier access of the rear for tweaking the overflow. I also am planning to paint a background on the glass this week too.

1-25 new stand 1.jpg

1-25 new stand 2.jpg
 
DIDYSIS - really like your suggestions. I am planning a 250-300g tank and will also be the first time doing a sump. Thanks!
 
Quick update - I thought I was good to go on Monday night, but upon testing, I found a bad seal in the PVC I'm using for the overflow. So, tore that down a bit again and it will get resealed this afternoon. I'm hoping this is the last glitch for this project, I can't wait to have it done and over with.
 
Well, I found one more leak on the PVC flowing back into the tank, but got that taken care of finally. Today we ran the system for the first time, so far so good but I'm not happy with the flow yet. I have plenty of flow from the pump, but not getting enough on the drain side. I'm happy running the pump at a 3 right now, but the pump will begin to outrun the drain at a 4. I was hoping I would be able to run the pump at a 5 or 6 in the end (6 is the highest setting on my pump).

I'm also not happy with the noise of the drain pipe yet. I dialed the noise down as much as I could but it's just not where it needs to be. I think I may rebuild the drain system this week.
 
What's your overflow look like and consist of? What's your drain plumbing look like and consist of? Don't just go hacking the grates out of your overflow chances are this is not the restriction.
 
Here is my home made stand pipe with strainer. Runs silent. Has a little hole drilled in the top cap. uploadfromtaptalk1423505732699.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1423505640507.jpg

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I can't get the downflow right on this system. I'm about fed up and ready to throw the whole tank out. The entire reason I wanted to sump this tank was because I can't lift the canisters to clean them so I have to ask my family for help all the time, and then I can't lift the Emperor 400's off the tank because the angle hurts my back and shoulder too much, again, I'm stuck asking for help. I don't enjoy the tank anymore, it sits here reminding me I can't work on it now, and being able to work on something by myself gave me a little happiness.

So here's the current setup, I messed around with my downflow system for awhile, I rebuilt it and even got it to run full flow but I could never get it quiet. I finally decided to quit trying to build it and bought an Eshopps PF-1800 this week. I was thinking of setting it up as a Herbie design, but nothing is set in stone. So I start working on it today, mine came with a single overflow pipe of 1.5", even though I see pictures of this product with one and two overflow pipes. I'm not sure if this is reason I'm still having issues, but I can't get enough flow again. It has two 1.5" bulkheads and I plumbed both with 1.5" PVC, with a 45* angle to go under the tank to the sump, and a final 45* angle turning down in the sock and exiting under the water level.

I got everything started and it was flowing good, so I blocked off one of the two bulkheads to simulate the emergency tube design. Even with that one blocked off, the other tube flowed fast and sucked air like crazy. I could never get a full siphon flow going in it and couldn't get it quiet at all. With both running it's just as bad. I tried using the little pipe ends that came with the overflow, I tried using my own pvc, I tried nothing at all, and the only thing that quieted it down a bit - but would be completely useless was when I just shoved the sponge over the entire hole when I got pissed off. It ran almost quiet enough I would put up with it - of course, the sponge defeats the entire purpose of a free flow to the sock, not to mention it would obviously clog up.

I do not currently have a ball valve or gate valve running on this, I had planned on it, but couldn't find one in stock locally so I figured I'd try it without as I really need the most flow possible. I'm also running 1.5" pvc all the way down.

The other issue I'm having besides the noise is my flow is reduced again with the Eshopps. I'm down to setting 2 on my pump, at setting 3 the tank begins filling faster then the overflow box and pipe can keep up. I estimate I'm pushing 600 gph at this point, at the most - so how does one get this supposed 1800 gph using this overbox?

One person suggested restricting the line to 1" and see if I can get a siphon started but I don't think that is going to work.

I have stressed my fish out to the point I just spent $50 in medications now because they got sick too. I'm tired of wasting time and money now, I've broken down to the point of considering drilling my tank if that's what it going to take to get this done, but I really don't want to and I can't afford to have it done for me.
 
There are two positive things I have going - the pump is awesome and the sump tank design is working great, if I could only get the downflow fixed.
 
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