Ive built my first sump and drilled tank, I have an eshopps overflow and a Current USA return pump (large) that I can turn it with a dial. My return flow has a valve and so does my flow going into the tank. What's the best way to turn this? Just trial and error? It seems like when I dial things forwards and backwards it either overfills or underfills, should I leave one of the valves wide open and play with the pump or vice versa? At first, it was loud as hell but after tuning the flow back into the tank it became quieter but this is more frustrating the building the tank! Any advice?
Fine tuning flow for sump
- Thread starter Shawn4455
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Sailingeric
Valuable Member
My pump is Varios 4 and I have set around 80% and then I dialed in my gate valve until my water level in my sump stayed constant.
Sailingeric
Valuable Member
Overflow
W1ngz
Failed Padawan
ok so here's how I'd get started:
Turn the return pump wayyy down. Not sure exactly which pump you have, but the 'large' current USA eflux pump is a 3170 gph pump. That's 25 times more than you need, and could be dangerous. Consider exchanging it. Total turnover you want is about 5x the display volume per hour after you consider the height up to the display. If I'm wrong about which pump you have, post the exact model.
Open the valve on the return line.
Open the valve on the drain line wide open.
If there's a valve on the emergency, open that too. There's never a reason to slow the flow in the emergency drain.
Start the pump. Watch things carefully.
Tune the pump speed so the overflow is running just a bit of water down the emergency drain, then dial it back a little.
Use the gate valve on the drain to fine tune so the overflow water level is just at the top of the emergency, or with a little trickle down the emergency.
At that point you may find things noisy. Slow the pump a little at a time, and re-tune the gate valve until you get reliable flow, with the gate valve partially closed. You need the gate valve partially closed, in order to be 100% certain the emergency can take all the flow and then some if things get blocked.
Turn the return pump wayyy down. Not sure exactly which pump you have, but the 'large' current USA eflux pump is a 3170 gph pump. That's 25 times more than you need, and could be dangerous. Consider exchanging it. Total turnover you want is about 5x the display volume per hour after you consider the height up to the display. If I'm wrong about which pump you have, post the exact model.
Open the valve on the return line.
Open the valve on the drain line wide open.
If there's a valve on the emergency, open that too. There's never a reason to slow the flow in the emergency drain.
Start the pump. Watch things carefully.
Tune the pump speed so the overflow is running just a bit of water down the emergency drain, then dial it back a little.
Use the gate valve on the drain to fine tune so the overflow water level is just at the top of the emergency, or with a little trickle down the emergency.
At that point you may find things noisy. Slow the pump a little at a time, and re-tune the gate valve until you get reliable flow, with the gate valve partially closed. You need the gate valve partially closed, in order to be 100% certain the emergency can take all the flow and then some if things get blocked.
W1ngz
Failed Padawan
Ah ok, you should be alright. Look at blue line on the graph on this pdf. At about say, 4' high, that pump will push around 550GPH, so turning it down to about 25% should be about where it's happy. Start with that, and the rest is easy.
The eshopps overflows can be a bit tricky to get quiet, but by making small changes to things you should be able to keep some decent flow and get it quiet.
The eshopps overflows can be a bit tricky to get quiet, but by making small changes to things you should be able to keep some decent flow and get it quiet.
ill try it when I cool down, I was so frustrated with this because I've been working on this tanks for months and I found a leak then I couldn't get the flow correct. I noticed if the eshopps overflow is basically full like you are saying its relatively quiet. Will update with results.
Arcticfirefighter
Active Member
It's all trial and error in this hobby. Whether it's flow issues on your return pump, flow issues with your wave makers (if you have), issues with coral placement, and everything else. Just remember nothing good happens fast in this hobby, and take it slow. Good on you for asking the forum for help, there are a ton of people on here with a wealth of knowledge. Good luck to you.
W1ngz
Failed Padawan
Most of the noise on mine came from inside the inner box from the water cascading down. It's quiet if you keep the bulkheads covered, but don't overfill it, you want as much space as possible above the red emergency pipe before the water can overflow the rim.
W1ngz
Failed Padawan
Do your best to keep it dry if you can, but unless you're a magician or a jedi, you won't get the flow in and out exactly equal, and the level in your overflow will slowly creep up or fall. If it falls it gets noisy. By trying for a trickle, it lets you use the emergency to set the external overflow water level.
thats why I asked, I noticed its extremely difficult to get it JUST right. that being said, ill need to pipe my overflow a little closer to the water, I have it like a good 12 inches off the water and if it starts to trickle it splashes or is super noisy (which is what you want from what I read) but i want it a little quieter. Ill get it a tab bit closer to the waterline.
W1ngz
Failed Padawan
I wouldn't worry too much about it being above the waterline in that setup. The next test you should do is the blocked primary where you close the main drain valve completely (or just stick a piece of tall PVC in the overflow bulkhead to cut the flow).
Make sure your emergency isn't too high first! You want a good 1" between the top of the emergency and the rim of the overflow.
If all is well, the emergency will take the full flow, and you'll see what's called 'surging' where it gets close to a full siphon and the water level falls again. It'll make a god awful sucking noise. and cycle up and down. You'll definitely know when something isn't right.
Make sure your emergency isn't too high first! You want a good 1" between the top of the emergency and the rim of the overflow.
If all is well, the emergency will take the full flow, and you'll see what's called 'surging' where it gets close to a full siphon and the water level falls again. It'll make a god awful sucking noise. and cycle up and down. You'll definitely know when something isn't right.
