Overflow and return pump

Mattdavid121 · Jan 20, 2020

Hello everyone. Being as I am fairly new to the hobby I have been confused after installing my new sump. So my overflow is rated for 300 gph. The return pump I have isn't as strong. So what is happening is the over flow is draining really weak into my sump, which is causing the sump not to flow into the filter sock. I need some help, what am I doing wrong?

mfinn · Jan 20, 2020

The drain pipe needs to go directly into the filter sock, at least that's the way I used to do it

Edit again

Looking at a BRS video, the can you lower the filter sock?

mfinn · Jan 20, 2020

what pump do you have and what size tank is it?

Mattdavid121 · Jan 20, 2020

mfinn said:
what pump do you have and what size tank is it?

This is a 3Rd generation-100 refugium made by eshopps. The tank is a 39g. The return pump is a 120gph, however my overflow is rated to 300gph...wondering if the return pump is too small?

ca1ore · Jan 20, 2020

Cannot speak to that particular sump, but after head and friction pressures, you’re probably getting much less than 100 gph from that pump.

Mattdavid121 · Jan 20, 2020

ca1ore said:
Cannot speak to that particular sump, but after head and friction pressures, you’re probably getting much less than 100 gph from that pump.

I’m going to try and get a stronger pump. See what happens

theMeat · Jan 21, 2020

If the water isn’t going into sock where is it going?
What pump do you have?

Mattdavid121 · Jan 21, 2020

theMeat said:
If the water isn’t going into sock where is it going?
What pump do you have?

The pump: Syncra 0.5 Aquarium Pump, 185gph
The sump is a R-100 Eshopps refugium. This particular pump fills up one area which also fills the refuigium up, then after enough flow it goes into the sock which goes underneath the refugium into the skimmer section and then should pour into the return section. None of this is happening, I am thinking it’s the pump being to weak. The pump is about 4ft below the DT

jose hernandez · Jan 21, 2020

Stronger pump u can always dial it down better 2 have more than less

zalick · Jan 21, 2020

With head loss and friction on that pump you will get almost zero flow at 3 - 3.5ft. check out their flow chart to get the appropriate GPH based on height it's pushing the water. The chart is in liters and meters.

Sicce Corporate

www.sicce.com

theMeat · Jan 21, 2020

if Water is falling into sump it is going to sock, unless you have an open seam or crack on sump.
That pump has like a max 4 foot head height. Not enough. The higher a pump has to push water the less gph you will get.
Would look for a pump to get around 6-10 times display tank volume per hour, with your head height figured in. Look at the pumps flow chart to determine

Silent · Jan 21, 2020

Definitely need a stronger pump for that sump. The flow does not all go through the sock. Approx. half bypasses the sock and goes into the fuge section.

Silent · Jan 21, 2020

If you are not running algae in the fuge you could also block off the flow going into the fuge so all the flow is going into the sock.

Mattdavid121 · Jan 21, 2020

jose hernandez said:
Stronger pump u can always dial it down better 2 have more than less

Other issue I have is the return area isn’t very widd, so I have to find a smaller pump that packs a punch. Man I love this hobby

Silent · Jan 21, 2020

Mattdavid121 said:
Other issue I have is the return area isn’t very widd, so I have to find a smaller pump that packs a punch. Man I love this hobby

The Syncra 2.0 is barely larger (4.05Lx2.36Wx3.07H) and has 568gph adjustable flow rate. Might be worth checking out.

theMeat · Jan 21, 2020

Just make sure you don’t go over the 300gph drain your tank has
Post some pics of tank and drainage set up

Mattdavid121 · Jan 21, 2020

theMeat said:
Just make sure you don’t go over the 300gph drain your tank has
Post some pics of tank and drainage set up

Yeah I don’t want an overflowing DT. Let’s say I go with a 568gph pump. From the bulk heads to the distance I’ll be losing some force. Might sound dumb, but how do I calculate how much pump pressure I’m losing, do you check the overflow and how it’s draining? Will post pics soon...