DIY sump refugium overflowing problem!

[mooputingtong]

hello guys i recently bought a 5 gallon tank and drilled turned it into diy refugium for my red sea 250. The problem is pump is sucking more water than its going out and its overflowing. Water level wont stop at where i drill its keep going up and eventually overflowing. Im not sure whats causing this issue. Is is due to strong pump or i just drilled two wholes way to high?

 

[WIReefer]

I would think the pump is too strong can you dial it down or restrict it?

 

[mooputingtong]

I would think the pump is too strong can you dial it down or restrict it?

im using sicce 0.5 (185GPH) i restricted the flow half way. Should i close it all the way up?

 

[WIReefer]

im using sicce 0.5 (185GPH) i restricted the flow half way. Should i close it all the way up?

I would just watch it and keep adjusting, do you have any pictures of the setup?

 

[Shorebreak]

Not sure how you have it all plumbed, but it sounds like a flow balance problem. If you add a gate valve on the supply you should be able to restrict the pump, or reduce pump speed if its a variable flow pump.

Just close valve until the water level sits at a height you like. Half of 185 gph is about 1.5 gal per minute of flow, probably a little less with any plumbing loss. The pump will still fill the 5 gallon sump within a few minutes, even at half flow.

 

[Shorebreak]

Not sure how you have it all plumbed, but it sounds like a flow balance problem. If you add a gate valve on the supply you should be able to restrict the pump, or reduce pump speed if its a variable flow pump.

Just close valve until the water level sits at a height you like. Half of 185 gph is about 1.5 gal per minute of flow, probably a little less with any plumbing loss. The pump will still fill the 5 gallon sump within a few minutes, even at half flow.

Just thought, if you have pump pulling from 5 gallon, it means the pump isn't fast enough for the drain and you need to increase the pump speed or restrict the drain to balance it the other way. All depends on how its plumbed.

 

[mooputingtong]

I would just watch it and keep adjusting, do you have any pictures of the setup?

 

[mooputingtong]

Heres a pics

 

[mooputingtong]

I would just watch it and keep adjusting, do you have any pictures of the setup?

how would u adjust it? Its my first time diy so im not familiar with it.

 

[WIReefer]

I would slice into the plumbing and add a ball valve so you can restrict/adjust flow.

 

[mooputingtong]

Not sure how you have it all plumbed, but it sounds like a flow balance problem. If you add a gate valve on the supply you should be able to restrict the pump, or reduce pump speed if its a variable flow pump.

Just close valve until the water level sits at a height you like. Half of 185 gph is about 1.5 gal per minute of flow, probably a little less with any plumbing loss. The pump will still fill the 5 gallon sump within a few minutes, even at half flow.

So does the water have to be pumped water into my refugium? I filled my 5 gallon refugium a half way to start and it just over flows within 10 sec or so.

 

[WIReefer]

Looks like you did a nice job though for your first time!

 

[nereefpat]

Looks like the new fuge is on the right, and the sump is on the left. The sump has a pump that's feeding the fuge, and the fuge drains back into the sump by gravity. Is that right?

Is the fuge overflowing? If that's the case, then I agree to slow the pump down until the drain can handle the flow.

 

[mooputingtong]

Just thought, if you have pump pulling from 5 gallon, it means the pump isn't fast enough for the drain and you need to increase the pump speed or restrict the drain to balance it the other way. All depends on how its plumbed.

Its pulling water from current red sea 250 sump to my diy sump. So should i close the pump all the way up or let it open? Im not sure how this actually works sorry.

 

[dominion813]

hello guys i recently bought a 5 gallon tank and drilled turned it into diy refugium for my red sea 250. The problem is pump is sucking more water than its going out and its overflowing. Water level wont stop at where i drill its keep going up and eventually overflowing. Im not sure whats causing this issue. Is is due to strong pump or i just drilled two wholes way to high?

I would say yes I’d dial the pump down a notch or two if u have that type of pump or not but sounds like the overflow won’t keep up with ur pump

 

[mooputingtong]

I would slice into the plumbing and add a ball valve so you can restrict/adjust flow.

Thats alot of work. I cant afford to do any more cutting or diy. So sad

 

[WIReefer]

Thats alot of work. I cant afford to do any more cutting or diy. So sad

You can buy a cheap one from a hardware store under $10 it would be a easy job in my opinion maybe a 2 minute job. And fix it

 

[mooputingtong]

Looks like the new fuge is on the right, and the sump is on the left. The sump has a pump that's feeding the fuge, and the fuge drains back into the sump by gravity. Is that right?

Is the fuge overflowing? If that's the case, then I agree to slow the pump down until the drain can handle the flow.

Yes your correct. So should i close the lid all the way up? I did like half and it was overflowing crazy.

 

[mooputingtong]

You can buy a cheap one from a hardware store under $10 it would be a easy job in my opinion maybe a 2 minute job. And fix

You can buy a cheap one from a hardware store under $10 it would be a easy job in my opinion maybe a 2 minute job. And fix it

So install control valve just on where the pump is connected?

 

[WIReefer]

So install control valve just on where the pump is connected?

Correct