cant figure out overflow and sump

[seawitch]

I'm trying to make a sump for my tank and I am stuck. It's a 55 gal. I had my lfs order me an overflow box because I had a bunch of credit there. It appears to be an eschopps. It has 2 u tubes for the siphoning. One is about an inch diameter and the other is smaller. there is only one outlet in the bottom going to the sump. I connected 1 inch pvc to this outlet hole (because thats how big the pipe is where it connects) I have 2 pumps now because I couldn't get it to work right with the first one I bought so I got a second one with a different gph and I couldn't get it going with that one either. they are quiet one pumps one is 780gph and the other is1017 gph I put ball valves on inlet and outlet( on the outlet because I thought it would be handy) when i turn it on the overflow box on the outside of my tank will not stay full. unless i use the ball valve (which i didnt intend to use in this way) to close it up a little it gets low an sucks air. I cannot get the overflow to match the input. no matter how much i fiddle with it the water level in my tank is either going up or down albeit very slowly. what am i doing wrong?

 

[spanko]

Open the valve on the inlet side full open, or better yet just take it off. Use the valve on the outlet side to regulate the water going back to the display.

 

[eric b 125]

+1 you dont want to restrict the flow on the drain from your tank. use the ball valve on your return line to control the amount of flow coming from your pump.

 

[seawitch]

If I leave the outlet wide open it cannot siphon fast enough to keep the box that hangs on the outside full. It sucks air. the box on the inside is full.

 

[posiden]

The ouside box isn't supposed to be full. The water level will match the drain pipe height. The fact that it isn't full is a good thing. The drain is doing what it should. Can you post a pic of the box while it is running? I am pretty sure it is running correctly.

 

[seawitch]

sorry no pic. The water level doesnt stay even with the pipe. It sucks a bunch of air making a lot of noise.

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by Seawitch
http:///forum/post/3172180
sorry no pic. The water level doesnt stay even with the pipe. It sucks a bunch of air making a lot of noise.

That is the good ol 1" bulkhead being pushed right to its limits. I have a different view of the 1" bulkhead compaired to most. I believe it will only do about 400 GPH quietly. In a full siphon I believe it will do about 800 GPH. The problem is that if you run a single bulkhead in a full siphon you are asking for trouble and a flood.
You can mod the drain pipe inside the box and increase the size of the plumbing to the sump to help with the noise. Probly gonna need 1 1/2" pipe into the sump after the bulkhead. The pipe inside will need to be modded to allow the air to get in after the bulkhead with a straw like piece in the top. For what ever reason I can't think of the name right now. Sorry.
That is just my opinion. Maybe some others will setp in and correct me or give other pointers. Good Luck.

 

[spanko]

May help if you post a picture of the pump with the two valves on it and how it is connected to your sump.