Overflow level not stable ?!

[AnnaG]

Hi, i’m having issues with a new CADE 900 tank. Basically, the level in the flower box won’t stay level, and either fluctuates or goes really low so you can hear water sounds. Originally i tuned the gate valve so the water would be just below the emergency drain, but has since been fluctuating and getting lower. I thought maybe the display water level was maybe lowering and that caused it, but no, i left a mark and it’s been the same since. Also not really mechanically inclined - so drilling and that kinda thing is not really an option for me. I just wanna know what’s going on at least?

 

[ReeferBud]

Do you have long a horizontal run before water discharges in the sump? If so, you could have air trapped in the pipe, causing turbulence and pressure variations, resulting in the changing overflow levels that you describe.


what happens to the water level in the sump when you observe the issue with the water level in the overflow?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi, i’m having issues with a new CADE 900 tank. Basically, the level in the flower box won’t stay level, and either fluctuates or goes really low so you can hear water sounds. Originally i tuned the gate valve so the water would be just below the emergency drain, but has since been fluctuating and getting lower. I thought maybe the display water level was maybe lowering and that caused it, but no, i left a mark and it’s been the same since. Also not really mechanically inclined - so drilling and that kinda thing is not really an option for me. I just wanna know what’s going on at least?

It's a very fine adjustment. Make tiny adjustment and wait 20mins to see where it ends up. Then another tiny adjustment and another 20 wait.

It'll get there in the end.

 

[jrill]

I would suspect the return pump is inconsistent.

 

[Koh23]

Your pump/overflow is not tuned, so, the pump cannot keep up with drain line, in case water level drops, or in case that the water level rises in of box, then valve is not open enough...

It's fine tuning, with very very little turn on valve, and make sure that u give enough time between adjusting, so that water level can settle....

Maybe pump is dirty, clogged?

 

[AnnaG]

Your pump/overflow is not tuned, so, the pump cannot keep up with drain line, in case water level drops, or in case that the water level rises in of box, then valve is not open enough...

It's fine tuning, with very very little turn on valve, and make sure that u give enough time between adjusting, so that water level can settle....

Maybe pump is dirty, clogged?

The weird thing is it did settle, it was consistent for a day or 2 and then started fluctuating. If the pump was dirty, wouldn't it be relatively stable still? Maybe ill have to clean it tmr. I slightly tightened the gate valve so the water level would rise in the overflow, but previously a bit too much tightening made the return pump level drop as not as much water was going in.

 

[Koh23]

Is return pump in its own chamber in sump?

If so, level in that chamber can only drop from evaporation, IF water level in overflow is constant.....

 

[AnnaG]

Is return pump in its own chamber in sump?

If so, level in that chamber can only drop from evaporation, IF water level in overflow is constant.....

Yes it is. I thought you had to match the flow rate of the drain to the pump. If one is faster than the other you'll end up with too much or too little water in the sump. In fact if I tighten quite a bit, my return pump chamber will eventually dry up

 

[homer1475]

What kind of overflow? Durso, herbie, or bean animal? Sorry just not familiar with the cade tanks.

Depending on setup, is how we will instruct you.

FWIW, on a gate valve, even an 1/8 of a turn is a big difference.

 

[AnnaG]

What kind of overflow? Durso, herbie, or bean animal? Sorry just not familiar with the cade tanks.

Depending on setup, is how we will instruct you.

FWIW, on a gate valve, even an 1/8 of a turn is a big difference.

I have no idea about overflows but that's a pic of the plumbing system. I've been making really tiny adjustments so I know, but its weird that after a couple days the water level in the overflow fell.

 

[homer1475]

I have seen the plumbing, what I need to know is the type of overflow.

Is there:
1 pipe
2 pipes
or 3 pipes in the overflow box?

 

[AnnaG]

I have seen the plumbing, what I need to know is the type of overflow.

Is there:
1 pipe
2 pipes
or 3 pipes in the overflow box?

Right, two pipes, main drain and emergency drain

 

[homer1475]

So it's a herbie setup.

Unfortunately with a herbie setup, you will always have a small trickle going down the emergency. Set the water level so you just have a very small trickle going down the emergency line.

With a herbie setup you have to every few days adjust the gate valve. Just how a herbie works if you don't like the noise.

 

[AnnaG]

So it's a herbie setup.

Unfortunately with a herbie setup, you will always have a small trickle going down the emergency. Set the water level so you just have a very small trickle going down the emergency line.

With a herbie setup you have to every few days adjust the gate valve. Just how a herbie works if you don't like the noise.

Alright thats okay, as long as its normal lol. But what happens If i tighten it, and its at a good level, but now my return pump chamber is pumping water back in too fast, so ATO float valve is going off all the time = lowering salinity.

 

[homer1475]

You should ideally equal the output of the pump, to the overflow level. Thats the reason behind the gate valve.

If the water level goes down in the return chamber, thats where it should be noticed first. That is why we put the ATO in the return chamber.

I would turn the ATO off for now, get the valve adjusted to your liking, refill the sump, then turn the ATO back on.

 

[Koh23]

Its simple principle...

Amount of water goes up is amount of water goes down. It is impossible that more water goes up than down, or vice versa....

Thing that makes impossible possible is overflow chamber, and height of pipes inside, and only way to correctly achieve constant level in overflow box is valve.

Not to match return pump per se, but to maintant desired level in overflow.

Any drop that pump takes up to dt is same drop that will trough overflow go to pump again, if pump pumps one drop, there is impossible that two drops get to pump..... That is concept of overflow, and if there is no pipes, and no valves, this is exactly how it works...

amount of water that goes up is only amount that can go down.....

Valves restricts flow so that certain amount of.water will be.prrsent in of box, to minimize noise, splashing, etc

 

[gbroadbridge]

The weird thing is it did settle, it was consistent for a day or 2 and then started fluctuating. If the pump was dirty, wouldn't it be relatively stable still? Maybe ill have to clean it tmr. I slightly tightened the gate valve so the water level would rise in the overflow, but previously a bit too much tightening made the return pump level drop as not as much water was going in.

If it's a new pump it needs time to run in. Mine took a few weeks.