Why can't my DIY overflow keep up?

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Arok3000

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 16, 2009
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Canada
I have 1.5" PVC in a DIY overflow exactly like the typical illustrated one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/joeytoe/overflow.jpg

I only have a Rio 2500 pump as my return to the tank, so it should max out at 600 GPH at the 3 feet below the tank it sits at.

Why does my pump drain my sump so quickly?
The overflow starts to pick up some speed, and if I totally fill the sump, it sounds like it's flowing pretty good, but the pump still totally drains the sump.

the only thing I can think of is after the "to sump" part of the illustration, I have a 90 to point the tube down, a pipe down, a 90 to point the tube under the stand, and a tube going from there into the sump.

Where did I go wrong?
 
you dont have enough water in the whole system to allow the sump to have any water in it you jsut need to add more and it should fix it
 
I was thinking that.
But I start everything up, the sump drains, and I add another 5 gallons afterwards.

I'll try to add 10 gallons, but I think I'm going to need to find a new sump solution unfortunately if this is the case.
 
My guess is that there is air trapped in the overflow or there isn't enough water in the system.

How big is the sump? Do you have any pics?
 
Probably not enough water.
All the air is out, I've sucked 3 mouthfuls of water through the check valve every time I set it up to be sure.

I recut some PVC and put the return to sump at the water level and just stuck a single tube in the water. This can almost keep up if I add 10 gallons after the sump is near drained.

unfortunately it's only a 10 gallon sump, since the 33 I had set up didn't properly fit in the stand.

Looks like I'll have to find a 20 long now.
Even then I think given a power out, I'll flood about 4 gallons.

I guess the other alternative is to drill my tank and put in a 2 or 3" overflow, then I won't have a problem with draining.
 
Arok3000;3720140; said:
Probably not enough water.
All the air is out, I've sucked 3 mouthfuls of water through the check valve every time I set it up to be sure.

I recut some PVC and put the return to sump at the water level and just stuck a single tube in the water. This can almost keep up if I add 10 gallons after the sump is near drained.

unfortunately it's only a 10 gallon sump, since the 33 I had set up didn't properly fit in the stand.

Looks like I'll have to find a 20 long now.
Even then I think given a power out, I'll flood about 4 gallons.

I guess the other alternative is to drill my tank and put in a 2 or 3" overflow, then I won't have a problem with draining.
Click to expand...

That is the problem with 10 gallon sumps. They do not give you enough room for the additional water required.

Have you thought about a 29G? Same footprint as a 20L, just a big taller. It might give you a little extra room for water.
 
It's not the footprint I'm concerned about.

I did slide a 33 gallon in there just fine, but I didn't have enough height for my plumbing.
If I can find a 20 long then I should be okay. I'll just keep my eyes out on the local classifieds.
 
It's a 90 gallon.

The 10 gallon sump is too small alone for it, but I did manage to essentially keep the same wet/dry section that the 33 had.

I think I can pull that 10 gallon out and jam a rubbermaid under there.
The rubbermaid is too wide, but I am pretty sure I can squeeze it into that space with a little bending.

Right now I do have it running, but there's about 8 or 9 gallons more than the system could handle given a power outage.
Also I put 3/4" tubing on the return from the 1" I first had.
 
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