Drainage problem...

[EZMAC114]

So this morning I noticed that my tank was looking a little high...I checked everything possible that I could think of but couldn't get it to drain any faster. I was on the verge of overflowing so I unplugged the pumps and just put in a big powerhead to aerate the water...I'm getting some good movement with it some I'm hoping it'll be ok until I get this figured out. Here are some pictures of my setup if anyone has any suggestions and it seems like the left drain is the one with the problem but I don't see any clogs.

 

[ritter6788]

Brush your overflow teeth?

 

[EZMAC114]

Brush your overflow teeth?

They all look clear...this happened the other day and that was one of the things that I did and it helped. Maybe I'll try and do a better job

 

[EZMAC114]

Morning bump!

 

[Maximo]

Snake out those drains!

 

[EZMAC114]

Snake out those drains!

I'll have to try that when I get home tonight

 

[AZDesertRat]

Eliminate the 90 degree elbows and the tee in your overflow line and run each overflow to the sump individually using 45 degree elbows where necessary or just reinforced vinyl tubing so you have smooth bends and changes of direction. The 90's and tee cause backpressure and where the two drains meet it a big restriction as they fight each other to get down to the sump.

 

[EZMAC114]

Eliminate the 90 degree elbows and the tee in your overflow line and run each overflow to the sump individually using 45 degree elbows where necessary or just reinforced vinyl tubing so you have smooth bends and changes of direction. The 90's and tee cause backpressure and where the two drains meet it a big restriction as they fight each other to get down to the sump.

I'm planning on redoing a lot of the plumbing kind of soon anyways because I'm going to add a refugium but I haven't had any real problems with draining and it's been running for 7 months.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised how much more you can overflow by eliminating the backpressure the fittings cause. Between the 90's and the tee you have added several feet of head when you want as little headloss as possible on a gravity overflow. Smooth transitions are important unless you grossly oversize the overflow. It also appears you have a further reduction is size at the vinyl tubing which looks like it is smaller than the PVC, 3/4" versus 1"? Dumping two 1" standpipes capable of 960 GPH each into a single vinyl tube via a barbed nipple with a reduced inside diameter only capable of 660 GPH is a big restriction.
GPM/GPH Flow based on PVC Pipe Size, ie, How much water can flow through Sch 40 Pvc Pipe Size 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1.5" 2" 2.5" 3" 4" 6"

If anything get a 1"x1" x1.5" increasing tee or a 1.5" tee and a couple 1" x 1.5" bushings and use 1.5" vinyl from where the oveflows meet to the sump.

 

[EZMAC114]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised how much more you can overflow by eliminating the backpressure the fittings cause. Between the 90's and the tee you have added several feet of head when you want as little headloss as possible on a gravity overflow. Smooth transitions are important unless you grossly oversize the overflow. It also appears you have a further reduction is size at the vinyl tubing which looks like it is smaller than the PVC, 3/4" versus 1"? Dumping two 1" standpipes capable of 960 GPH each into a single vinyl tube via a barbed nipple with a reduced inside diameter only capable of 660 GPH is a big restriction.
GPM/GPH Flow based on PVC Pipe Size, ie, How much water can flow through Sch 40 Pvc Pipe Size 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1.5" 2" 2.5" 3" 4" 6"

If anything get a 1"x1" x1.5" increasing tee or a 1.5" tee and a couple 1" x 1.5" bushings and use 1.5" vinyl from where the oveflows meet to the sump.

Thanks! I'll be saving that link

 

[EZMAC114]

Well I cleaned out the left side drain about an hour ago and everything is up and running...the level has been maintaining at it's normal spot. I'm just nervous to go to bed now and wake up with 20 gallons of water on the floor and two burned up pumps lol. And I am going to upgrade my drains...I'm going to keep my 1" drains on the tank side and then increase them to 1.5" on the filter side.