DIY Sump help

[justfbilly]

I have built a 30g sump for my 75g reef tank. I have a dual outlet hang on overflow with 2 1" PVC lines going into my sump filtering through 2 of the filter socks. I have a 950gph mag drive pump pumping the water back into the tank through a 1 1/4" PVC return line with an in line T and a valve that returns back to the sump that helps control the amount of water returning to the tank.The Return line has to push the water about 5 feet back up to the tank.
My issue is that I am adjusting the back pressure on the return line by way of the in line valve daily to keep the amount of water in the sump at a consistent level.
Does anyone have any insight as to what I am doing wrong or am I missing something in the design?
Thanks for the help.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Your return line is way too big for your pump. That's a lot of head loss. Since you have so much head loss, I'm guessing that your overflow isn't fully functioning because bubbles are building up in the U-tube siphons, aren't they?
A mag drive has a 3/4" outlet nozzle, I would recommend sticking with a 3/4" return plumbing and a 3/4" locline as well.
Are you saying that you have a ball valve on the return plumbing? That's quite normal. What isn't normal is using 1 1/4" return plumbing. No idea why you would upsize it that big.
Since your head loss is so great... and your overflow isn't fully functioning your probably seeing the water rise in your display tank and decrease in your sump quite rapidly.
If you are loosing a gallon or so a day in your sump - then it is regular top off water that you need to add.
I'm curious though, could you please post a few pictures of your setup?

 

[justfbilly]

The reason I went with the 1 1/4 is I thought that with the 5 foot vertical return that I would get them most pressure back to the pump. I don't have any issues with bubbles in the U-Tube siphons?
Yes I do have a ball valve on the return line. I top off my water every other day but I am always adjusting the ball valve on the return line.
I will post some pictures tomorrow of the setup.
One other question...
On the hang on overflow, I have read where people say how quiet they are, mine is very loud. Do you think that the 1" PVC for the inlet is too large?
Thanks for the help!

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by justfbilly http:///t/395271/diy-sump-help#post_3518849
The reason I went with the 1 1/4 is I thought that with the 5 foot vertical return that I would get them most pressure back to the pump. I don't have any issues with bubbles in the U-Tube siphons?
Yes I do have a ball valve on the return line. I top off my water every other day but I am always adjusting the ball valve on the return line.
I will post some pictures tomorrow of the setup.
One other question...
On the hang on overflow, I have read where people say how quiet they are, mine is very loud. Do you think that the 1" PVC for the inlet is too large?
Thanks for the help!
Not really seeing your logic for putting additional back pressure on the pump. That's usually what people want to avoid. The ball valve on the return line should be set and forget. The amount of water pumping into your overflow should just be enough to push any bubbles through your U-tube siphons where they don't get stuck or caught and break the siphon.
If your overflow is too loud, your probably pumping too much water through your overflow for it to handle efficiently. External overflows for the most part are pretty loud. You can take a long piece of tubing and put it down the pipe so that it sucks in air through the tube... at a certain length down the pipe, the sucking sound will stop. When the sucking sound stops, tape your little tube to the overflow or wherever you can and it will be silent.
If you don't like the DIY fix, you can always decrease the amount of water being pushed by the return pump with the ball valve and add a Maggie Muffler to your overflow drain hole.

 

[acrylic51]

Agree the 1.25 return line is overkill, but 3/4" line is par.....If anything pump the return line to 1" for max benefit over the pump.....1" is pretty standard if you want a bit less restriction on the pump......
There are a lot of variables that can make an overflow noisy IMHO.......the biggest I think is the height in which the water falls from the tank to the surface water in the overflow.....As far as sump water level fluctuation.....Again could be a couple things.....Evaporation which I think Seth mentioned as well as the overflow not keeping pace with the return pump......The valve regulating water flow back to the tank should be set and forget IMO.