I'm confused !!!! Pump question

[cjrudy]

I bought an Iwaki 55rlt for my 90 gallon tank with a 40gallon basement sump and about 10-12 feet of head height.


I have to throttle back the pump in oder to keep the water level in the tank from oveflowing but the result seems to be very weak flow from my return lines.


What am I missing, can I correct this ?






Thanks

 

[ktg113]

What size pipe are you running in and out of the tank

 

[Planedoc]

Your overflow teeth and the overflow plumbing is the limiting factor on how much water you can pump from your sump into your display tank. Remember your primary means of flow should not come from your sumps return pump but from powerheads inside the display tank. A 1000 gph powerhead runs on 6watts while to do 1000 gph from your basement would take 200 watts or more

 

[redfishbluefish]

Roughly speaking an Iwaki 55 at 10 to 12 feet should be putting out 650 to 700 gph. Not sure what you have in the way of a return, but a single 3/4 inch return should be able to handle this. If need be, tee off in the basement and run this back into the sump.

 

[cjrudy]

Well, its a standard 90 gallon Marineland tank with a corner overflow. Drain is 1 1/2 inch with a 1 inch return.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Missing something. If your drain is 1.5", you should be more than able to run that pump wide open with that head loss. That drain should be able to accomodate 2100gph.
So if you have to throttle it back, then I'd recommend using a T off the pump with a ball valve to fine tune that return flow. But strange that you have to throttle it back. That pump only puts out 1104gph with minimal head loss.
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"

 

[kschweer]

My guess is that it is a 1" bulkhead with a 1 1/2" durso. This is pretty standard with factory tanks and plumbing. This set up should easily drain 600-800 gph. Does your drain plumbing have a lot of bends or 90's? Also what size pipe do you have coming off of your drain?

 

[cjrudy]

I am using flex drain plumbing, pretty much a straight shot to the basement. It seemed ok when I first installed it a month ago, just came back from a week long work trip and something dosen't seem right.

Maybe I'll check for some obstruction

 

[c_healy]

My guess is a snail o r something else got stuck in the drain pipe.

 

[Reefing Madness]

My guess is a snail o r something else got stuck in the drain pipe.

Im bettin this is right.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Drill a hole in the top of the standpipe just large enough to stick a piece of airline tubing down into the standpipe snugly. Cut a foot or so of airline tubing and slowly work it down into the standpipe cap until the flow increase and the noise reduces. This usually works. Just remember to keep the other end of the airline tubing out of the water and clean or dust so it has a good uninterrupted air supply, tape it to the trim or something.

 

[cjrudy]

Drill a hole in the top of the standpipe just large enough to stick a piece of airline tubing down into the standpipe snugly. Cut a foot or so of airline tubing and slowly work it down into the standpipe cap until the flow increase and the noise reduces. This usually works. Just remember to keep the other end of the airline tubing out of the water and clean or dust so it has a good uninterrupted air supply, tape it to the trim or something.

Actually there is already a hole in the top of the standpipe, and a fewyears ago I opened it up to raise the water level in the overflow and stop the gurgling

 

[AZDesertRat]

When you raised the level in the overflow you reduced the GPH. If you reduce the hole size and feed the air directly into the flow inside the standpipe the flow will increase so you can open your return pump back up and it will be quieter since it will be a smoother laminar flow with the air injection. Too much air is as bad as not enough air or air in the wrong place. Try it, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

 

[cjrudy]

Well I did exactly what you said, opened the whole just enough for the airline, fed it a g12-16 inches down and the flow never increased the water level in the overflow remained low.

 

[cjrudy]

Also snaked out 5 ft of drain line in each direction and found nothing.

 

[AZDesertRat]

You should only have to insert and inch or two of airline at most, it needs to reach about to the water surface is all. Slowly lower it down maybe 1/8" at a time.

 

[cjrudy]

You should only have to insert and inch or two of airline at most, it needs to reach about to the water surface is all. Slowly lower it down maybe 1/8" at a time.

I did try that exactly as you said but still couldn't get it to work


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[AZDesertRat]

Thats strange, everyone I have helped with that trick says it worked great for them and I know it did for me.

 

[cjrudy]

Hmmm, Ok, I opened the hole up just enough to get a small airline down it,. As soon as I put it in the water level in the overflow drops, it does come up a bit depending on how far I put in the airline but not enough to reduce the gurgling.
Does it matter that it's very small airline, the size used for dosing pumps

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[AZDesertRat]

Is your standpipe too short for your overflow box height? I found on mine it was quietest when the level in the box was the lowest and flow was the highest. It meant there was a good mixture of air to water and the flkow was laminar, without bubbles or burps. When I insert the tube further or pull it back the flow reduces and it starts to gurgle and back up/burp. Seems like the difference between great flow and noisy flow is in tenths of and inch or less so I adjusted the tubing slowly.
If the standpipe is not tall enough the distance the water falls over the overflow teeth or wier makes noise.