Help with Red Sea E260 w/sump

[Zachary Roy]

I recently picked up an Eshopp R-100 sump and retrofit the Red Sea down-pipe sump kit to work with it.

I've had a heck of a time adjusting the Red Sea gate valve to get the water level just right. I've been fighting it for the past couple weeks. Just when I think I've got it, I add my Tunze ATO and it seems to kick on all day so I have to make adjustments again.

I have read to make very fine adjustments with the gate valve but its driving me nuts not being able to dial this thing in.

I've gone today with the ATO only turning on once (which is a good sign) but I've come across a YouTube video of another E260 w/factor sump and his water level in the main display is much higher than mine. Mine doesn't even clear the weir.

I'm able to raise the water level in the main display by closing the gate valve but when I do the return chamber in the sump drops too low and pumps air bubbles into the tank.

Any input would be greatly appreciated as there is very little information out there on these E260's with sumps.

 

[cwalton00]

Is your drain running uphill? It's the new white pvc correct?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to r2r zach! Beautiful tank Long story short you need more saltwater. When you adjust the gate valve to increase the water level in the tank, you take that water away from the sump. So you need to replace in the sump what you put in the display and do I see it correctly your drain line makes a u shape forcing your water to run up and over?

#welcometor2r

 

[Zachary Roy]

Man, you guys are quick! Yes it's the white PVC pipe. I was wondering about that.

Is your drain running uphill? It's the new white pvc correct?

 

[cwalton00]

I agree you need some more water. How far open are you on the gate valve?

 

[Zachary Roy]

Welcome to r2r zach! Beautiful tank Long story short you need more saltwater. When you adjust the gate valve to increase the water level in the tank, you take that water away from the sump. So you need to replace in the sump what you put in the display and do I see it correctly your drain line makes a u shape forcing your water to run up and over?

#welcometor2r

Correct, It does U over to the filter sock inlet.

 

[408Dartfish]

Hello there I have an E-Max 260 w/sump but I have the Redsea one. Here’s a pic of where my water in DT sits at. I close my valve enough to have the 2nd overflow working just alittle. Also have a fuge built into my setup not attached to sump makes dialing in valve little tougher. Am using a Reef Octopus varios 2 return pump in sump. Dustin

 

[Crabs McJones]

Correct, It does U over to the filter sock inlet.

Getting rid of that U will help tremendously. By having the water fall, and then have to work it's way back up and over, it may be why you're having such a hard time dialing in your gate valve.

 

[Zachary Roy]

Hello there I have an E-Max 260 w/sump but I have the Redsea one. Here’s a pic of where my water in DT sits at. I close my valve enough to have the 2nd overflow working just alittle. Also have a fuge built into my setup not attached to sump makes dialing in valve little tougher. Am using a Reef Octopus varios 2 return pump in sump. Dustin

Thanks for the info!

 

[Zachary Roy]

Tough to say since there are so many turns. I would say it's mostly closed.

I agree you need some more water. How far open are you on the gate valve?

 

[Zachary Roy]

Getting rid of that U will help tremendously. By having the water fall, and then have to work it's way back up and over, it may be why you're having such a hard time dialing in your gate valve.

I had a feeling it would cause problems. It seems to be flowing into the filter sock compartment fairly smoothly though.

 

[Zachary Roy]

I guess I can try and add water first..

 

[lancesmith1]

Here is my E260 with a sump. My water level is about 5/8 to 3/4 over the bottom of the weir. And about 3/4 to 1 inch from the tank rim. In the rear sump the water just barely is flowing into the 2nd (taller)

drain.

 

[Zachary Roy]

Here is my E260 with a sump. My water level is about 5/8 to 3/4 over the bottom of the weir. And about 3/4 to 1 inch from the tank rim. In the rear sump the water just barely is flowing into the 2nd (taller)

drain.

Thanks, another thing I noticed was the water in the rear sump seems to be stagnant. Is this the case in yours?

 

[lancesmith1]

I think having a small amount of flow into the 2nd drain keeps it moving. Are your two rear pumps installed and working?

 

[Zachary Roy]

I think having a small amount of flow into the 2nd drain keeps it moving. Are your two rear pumps installed and working?

Yes, both caps are replaced with flow through caps and both pumps are running.

 

[lancesmith1]

Ok. those pumps do effect the water level in the tank.

 

[Zachary Roy]

This seems to have done the trick, here's the next problem I've discovered. Water is just trickling over emergency now and seem stable. I just tried a power test and it seems the sump I'm running is too small and will overflow at this new level.

When I shut all pumps off, I get a back siphon from all 3 heads, return from sump and 2 x flow return nozzles in back compartment.

It seems the water will drain all the way down to the 2 return nozzles as they are the lowest siphon point in this tank.

Has anyone tried a check valve on both circulation pumps to prevent this??

Thanks

 

[lancesmith1]

i use the red sea sump so have not needed to. sounds like it may work though. I think i would get a bigger sump.

 

[Zachary Roy]

i use the red sea sump so have not needed to. sounds like it may work though. I think i would get a bigger sump.

I probably will eventually and put this sump on another tank. Thanks for the input