Correct Flow in and out in my sump?

[MySaltwaterisHotter]

In my 20 gallon DIY sump, I am struggling with how to keep the incoming water the same as the outgoing....without overflowing the sump tank, or running the water pump dry. How do you get the water flow the same rate? I am sorry if this is an easy answer I overlooked somewhere, but I can't figure it out! Thank you in advance!

 

[Zach B]

This is usually done by having a gate valve installed somewhere after your drain pipe/line. You can then adjust precisely how much water is going into the sump to match your return pumps output. Hope this helps and sorry if you already have one. If so might be a pump issue

 

[Cell]

Or vice versa, get a DC pump that you can adjust the flow rate of. Both a gate valve and DC return pump is optimal.

 

[Gtinnel]

It depends on what kind of drain you have coming from the tank. With my system (durso) there is no adjustment on the drain, so as long as I don't push more water up to the tank than the drain can flow back down it doesnt matter.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Wait a sec. if you have different rates, you have a fundamental problem.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Sump flow 101: when the return pump is off, there’s no flow into the sump or display. When the return comes on, it moves water from the sump, into the display, raising the level of the display. This increased water level then flows over the edge of the weir in the overflow box and begins draining, via gravity, to the sump. If set up properly, the system stabilizes once the flow from the return pump is matched by the draining via gravity. If this isn’t happening, there’s a problem.

All the talk of valves and DC pumps has to do with noise. It doesn’t change the physics.

 

[Gtinnel]

All the talk of valves and DC pumps has to do with noise. It doesn’t change the physics.

While I do agree with this statement, if using a herbie style drain the adjustments that could have already been made to account for that noise could cause a fluctuation in how much flow the drain is capable of passing through it...well at least until reaching the emergency drain.

 

[alton]

All posters here have great answers, the only thing I would add is buy a smaller pump

 

[Gtinnel]

OP a description of your plumbing would be a big help in getting a better answer, or if you're not sure what type of drain you have a picture could help too.

 

[parkwaytrash]

OP a description of your plumbing would be a big help in getting a better answer, or if you're not sure what type of drain you have a picture could help too.

This^
Maybe a return pump too large for system or drain line too small.
But a gate valve is a huge help with this problem

 

[ninjamyst]

What size is your tank? Make sure your sump is big enough. When return pump is off, your sump should be able to handle the small amount of water flowing back into the sump.

 

[WVNed]

When you take a shower how do you match how much water comes out of the shower head with how much can go down the drain?
Wait - you don't have to.
You just make it so the drain is faster than what's coming in. The trick is the water level is maintained in the tank by the weir. It all cant drain out.

 

[Gtinnel]

When you take a shower how do you match how much water comes out of the shower head with how much can go down the drain?
Wait - you don't have to.
You just make it so the drain is faster than what's coming in. The trick is the water level is maintained in the tank by the weir. It all cant drain out.

That is an amazing analogy of how it should work.

 

[MySaltwaterisHotter]

I appreciate everyones answers!

So, to start, it is a DIY sump...I made it out of a 20 gallon long tank with acrylic baffles and a filter area, its pretty basic. (second attempt at a sump...I just purchased a laser cutter so this should interesting hehe)

For plumbing I basically...have no clue what I am doing and I have looked online and gone to the hardware store about a dozen times....I didnt know what sizes to get of what pvc pipes, so I got the 1/2" in 3/8" od (i think those are the abbrev.) vinyl hosing and I just have the sump on the shelf below the tank. I can post pictures a bit later, its in my aquarium room, so nothing fancy. just basically going in from gravity through the tube, and the first pump I bought was 800gph and i just bought another one for 480 gph which I think is okay, might need to go down just a tad more.

Basically I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to plumbing...sorry I am sure this is making some of you cringe! Any advice is GREATLY appreciated

 

[MySaltwaterisHotter]

I appreciate everyones answers!

So, to start, it is a DIY sump...I made it out of a 20 gallon long tank with acrylic baffles and a filter area, its pretty basic. (second attempt at a sump...I just purchased a laser cutter so this should interesting hehe)

For plumbing I basically...have no clue what I am doing and I have looked online and gone to the hardware store about a dozen times....I didnt know what sizes to get of what pvc pipes, so I got the 1/2" in 3/8" od (i think those are the abbrev.) vinyl hosing and I just have the sump on the shelf below the tank. I can post pictures a bit later, its in my aquarium room, so nothing fancy. just basically going in from gravity through the tube, and the first pump I bought was 800gph and i just bought another one for 480 gph which I think is okay, might need to go down just a tad more.

Basically I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to plumbing...sorry I am sure this is making some of you cringe! Any advice is GREATLY appreciated

Just wanted to add, its not running at the moment because of the flow issue, too much going out vs coming in. I got a valve but the one I got for the water coming into the sump doesn't let enough water through...so I need to get another one.

 

[KStatefan]

What are you using for the overflow from your display tank?