Any way to increase my Overflow drain speed

[ShawnSaucier]

So I've been redoing all of my plumbing tonight, and tackled my return section first. I upgraded my pump from a Waveline DC10000 to a Vectra L1. I'm at this moment unable to turn the L1 past two LEDs without draining my sump. I have two 1" drains feeding my sump and I find it hard that I can't pass "2" on the pump. I'll be replumbing the overflow/drains in the morning, any suggestions to increase my drainage flow?

BTW: Tank is 190g with two 1" drains and a 1" return

 

[willthethrill]

A full siphon drain will increase your flow rate dramatically

 

[Scotty LaBeouf]

exactly what will said, I set up a herbie style drain system on my 20g shallow and at a full siphon that thing moves some serious water. The only other way to get more drainage to keep up with the pump is bigger drains which means bigger bulkheads and redrilling which Im not sure is possible now

 

[jasonrusso]

I have two 1 1/4” (choked down to a 1” bulkhead) durso stacks. I have 2 Eheim 1262 pumps running full out and the overflows could easily handle more.

 

[mcarroll]

+1 to Will's comment.

But I have to ask: why all the flow through the sump? (For most cases it doesn't take too much to get the job done – like 400-800GPH on a tank of your size.)

 

[ShawnSaucier]

it's not all that much flow at this time really. Plus this will feed all of my reactors, UV and refugium. I figured as the Wavelike was 2500-2900 mph then the Vectra L1 would be fine. I had the Wavelike at 100% but I can hardly open up the L1. I have to calibrate it this morning and then off to Home D to get the stuff for the returns

 

[ShawnSaucier]

So in the overflow I currently have the two drains which are just 1" straight up and down. No 90* on top. If I'm understanding correctly, adding the 90 will help increase the flow?

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Also would you suggest to T off the main drain to feed the refugium?

 

[mcarroll]

it's not all that much flow at this time really.

Just curious, have you measured the current flow rate so you know it in GPH, or are you estimating from (e.g) the flow in the tank?

If you know GPH (or are willing to measure it) I'm curious what it's doing now....before and after?

I'd feed the refugium and reactors with separate pumps, but you're headed down a different road than that.

So in the overflow I currently have the two drains which are just 1" straight up and down. No 90* on top. If I'm understanding correctly, adding the 90 will help increase the flow?

Minimally, but yes.

Instead, I'd thread a valve onto one drain to create a siphon. Make it flow just enough that the other drain still flows, but barely. Full siphons and gravity drains that aren't run too hard are both virtually silent. I'd be careful upping the total flow rate too much because there is increased risk of blockage due to the small diameter and weird shape of the siphon.

You don't want a situation where the 2nd drain can't handle it. So make sure you test for that....block the siphon drain and see what happens. It'll probably be loud and may cause lots of bubbles, but it just can't cause an overflow. Throttle the pump and or drain as needed. Make sense?

 

[Artisan]

I did some experimentation with this and found that an increase in water volume will allow you to increase your overflow speed. However, you need to make sure that you don't add so much water that your sump overflows if the power goes out.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Ok, I've got 90% of the system replumbed, just reactors and fuge left. On my drains I bumped up the pipes to 1 1/4" under the display, with the 1" standpipes in the overflow, still set in a Herbie style. I am considering jumping to 1'1/4 and adding a durso for the drains and 1 1/2" for the return line. The return line I am thinking of T-ing off and adding multiple 3/4" loc-line outputs (maybe 4 Total) almost like a spray bar with adjustable flow direction. I've calibrated the vectra at 70% power as my max, and the system is quiet and been stable so far.Will also add a 90* elbow to the intake of the vectra to help eliminate an air vortex getting sucked in, 1/4" in water level will cause this. I assume once the reactors/fuge are online I'll have to recalibrate. Pics will follow soon, rewiring everything today hopefully

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Spent the day rewiring, just got the carbon reactor online, but not permanently plumbed yet. I had the sump offline for a day and a half, letting the pvc cement cure. I'm pretty happy with the flow, though my temp has jumped up from 78.5 to 80.2/5. I think it's the addition of the UV unit (72 watt). Still have the electrical dry box to finish rewiring, reactors and fuge to plumb, and then possibly replumb the overflow with larger piping (1 1/4" from 1").
Here's a pic of the sump area so far..

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Spent the day rewiring, just got the carbon reactor online, but not permanently plumbed yet. I had the sump offline for a day and a half, letting the pvc cement cure. I'm pretty happy with the flow, though my temp has jumped up from 78.5 to 80.2/5. I think it's the addition of the UV unit (72 watt). Still have the electrical dry box to finish rewiring, reactors and fuge to plumb, and then possibly replumb the overflow with larger piping (1 1/4" from 1").
Here's a pic of the sump area so far..

 

[tj w]

Looking great! Nice job