Return Pump too strong? Tank overflow

mphammer

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Just transferred from 110 to 40 and used the same sump setup and overflow.. even with my ball valve at the position pictured below the overflow doesn't seem to be able to keep up with the pump.. Bought pump and overflow same time per advice of LFS.. Am I putting too much strain on the pump by having the valve closed so much?
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When I ran an overflow like yours I used two tubes. Another trick is to drill a small hole in the very top of the U tube. Then glue in an air pump check valve where the flow goes out of the tube. If you shave off the end that goes in the hole you can attach a small air hose and suck out the air to re-prime it. You will be doing this enough to make it worth your while.
 
I messed with till I got it right. Here is another option at the bottom of this post. http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54956&highlight=overflow+tube">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54956&highlight=overflow+tube</a>

I think these are a little safer overflow from lost siphon wise. Maybe some else has more experience with them.

Edit: The siphon will only take what water goes down the pipe. the water moves out of the main tank from the suction down to the sump. When the pump has to much flow you tank over flows. I think i am just repeating something you already know. Anyway. Two tubes will not cause more water to go down to the sump than can fit through the drain. You may also want to look up a dorso standpipe if that was not in the plan. It will quiet it way down.

Edit: http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38715&highlight=overflow+tube
Here is another option.
 
Ok might have to try that out... I guess my real question is is my pump overworking/ being strained by the valve being closed like that?

Edit: ie If I dont make any changes and just close the valve a little more to achieve equilibrium, will my pump burn out?
 
i just learned this but the valve can be closed some as it is the same thing as head pressure but you dont want to valve it back too much. you can also put a tee in the return and loop it back to the sump but watch the through flow on the sump.

better yet get a dual BRS reactor and chnaged it from dual and run to singles off of the return and it will allow you take some of the flow off the DT and be used for something good verse just increasing the flow in the sump
 
eagle9252;783640 wrote: i just learned this but the valve can be closed some as it is the same thing as head pressure but you dont want to valve it back too much. you can also put a tee in the return and loop it back to the sump but watch the through flow on the sump.

better yet get a dual BRS reactor and chnaged it from dual and run to singles off of the return and it will allow you take some of the flow off the DT and be used for something good verse just increasing the flow in the sump

this is what i did. before i had my reactors running, i was borderline overflowing the main tank(and the drain was crazy loud). but once i opened up the valves to my reactors, everything else kind of fell into place.

fwiw, quiet one 2200 pump on a 45g

mphammer;783641 wrote: so basically T my return line..one back to DT and the other to a reactor? Would reactor dump back to sump or into DT?

i ran 2 t's off of my return and used a 90 elbow post t's to give it alittle back pressure. then have the reactor(s) dump back into your filter sock. youll want something to catch gfo/carbon dust
 
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