Bean drain and in tank flow issues

[rayn]

I have a 120 I drilled for a bean overflow with a center 30" overflow. There are two returns drilled, one on either side of the overflow. In the tank I am running 3 mp 40 on reef crest mode...I believe. Two in sync and one anti-sync. Return pump is a panworld 250ps and it also powers my skimmer.

My issue, it seems that at certain times when the pumps are doing their thing just right flow changes into the overflow box. I fluctuates just enough to either send the drain into to low of flow or into emergency drain. I am fighting getting the flow right so I don't have to keep playing with it.

Any thoughts on what I could change or how to adjust it for long term quiet running?

 

[Aquaph8]

I assume your hearing water flow down the emergency drain which is good cause in an emergency that's what you want. You just need to figure out how to speed up your drain to lower that water level in your overflow box. Do you have a valve on your full siphon drain?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Add a T branch off from your return pump, back to the sump, add a gate valve or ball valve to fine tune your return.
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

 

[rayn]

Aquaph8, yes there is a valve on the drain. I have tried numerous times to fine tune it with that and the valve on the returns as well. Every where water can run there is a union and a valve to control flow or shut it off completely in case of emergency. Flowing into the emergency is saving a flood, but driving me nuts that it happens.

Reefing madness, I actually have one, just in case I added something later. Never really thought to just add a line back to the sump. May just solve the problem.

I take it though that neither of you are considering the changing in the flow from the vortech as part of the problem.

 

[Aquaph8]

Add a T branch off from your return pump, back to the sump, add a gate valve or ball valve to fine tune your return.
How does a sump work? | Melev's Reef

I agree with this as well, makes fine tuning easier. If it's the vortec causing temporary overflow when it spreads up can you make the middle pipe a little higher?

 

[rayn]

When you say middle pipe, are you meaning the initial emergency drain, or secondary overflow? I could cut the 90 up higher if need be I imagine.

 

[Aquaph8]

The secondary, is the full siphon and secondary at he same height?

 

[Thunderfan]

How about some pics of your set up?

 

[rayn]

I can get pics later for you, not home now. All three are the same height with the emergency turned up though.

 

[Aquaph8]

Step that secondary drain up a bit and see if that helps.

 

[saltyhog]

Step that secondary drain up a bit and see if that helps.

This^^^^.

Then open the valve on the full siphon completely (you shouldn't have any flow then in either of the other two drains) and slowly close it 1/4 turn at a time (and wait between a few minutes between each adjustment) until you have a small amout of water running in the secondary (open standpipe) drain. It shouldn't be hard to tune. Mine operates fine over about 2 complete turns of my gate valve.

 

[Thunderfan]

Is it an issue with the syphon starting? Raising the open channel will help with that for sure. Other things of that is the problem is make sure your syphon is no more than about 3/4" below sump water line, you can also drill a couple small holes in the syphon pipe just above the sump water line. All of that helps with getting the syphon started if that's the issue.

The issue it sounds to me he is having is a power head is causing turbulence which is affecting the drain.

 

[rayn]

Here is my drain currently. Just got home, I will cut the secondary up higher and raise the drain in the sump.

Thunderfan hit it right. With the vortechs being variable, at certain times more water goes into the overflow then other times. I have them in the lower half of the tank and barely half way up.

 

[Thunderfan]

Is that hose fir the open channel under water?

 

[rayn]

Yes. That was my understanding on how it got the full siphon.

 

[Thunderfan]

No, the hose for the open channel has to suck air. That's how you get lots of quiet flow from the full syphon. The end of that hose should be higher than the emergency drain. It is actually the final emergency before a flood. It will create a full syphon on the open channel and flush the overflow box.

 

[rayn]

Will fix that now!

 

[currentking]

can you slow the return a little? i did that with mine and it helped tremendously. I am not an expert on this though.

 

[rayn]

I can. Everything is adjustable on this, drain and return. However, when I start playing with the return I also have to watch my skimmer as more water gets pushed its way if I turn the return to the tank down.

 

[Thunderfan]

If everything is right you shouldn't have to reduce flow unless your pump can out perform the size of your drain. Flow that is too low has been known to cause issues. The problem is usually something is not right.