Return pump issue

[tang21]

90 gallon reef ready Marineland tank supposed to be up to 700 gph. I have a 660 gph return pump that is pumping way faster than the tank is draining into sump. i cant seem to get water level to stabilize. I have a ball valve on the return line. I am trying to adjust flow but either the water in the sump rises or falls cant get it to stay at a particular level

 

[blaxsun]

Do you have a gate valve on the overflow pipe?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

You want a gate valve on the drain.
Ball works but harder to adjust. The gates are far better.
D

 

[vetteguy53081]

90 gallon reef ready Marineland tank supposed to be up to 700 gph. I have a 660 gph return pump that is pumping way faster than the tank is draining into sump. i cant seem to get water level to stabilize. I have a ball valve on the return line. I am trying to adjust flow but either the water in the sump rises or falls cant get it to stay at a particular level

Appears pump is moving water faster than water can return. You need ball valves on all and balance both flows

 

[tang21]

I have gate valve on drain and ball valve on return. Gate full open ball almost closed

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Wow. Smaller pump... Larger holes and bulkheads and plumbing maybe?
Sucks. Sorry.
D

 

[tang21]

I used the mega flow overflow kit that came with tank. And plumbed straight down into sump for drain

 

[Blazinlawn2000]

Is the drain just a pipe that is open at the top, or do they use a couple 90 degree fittings at the top of the drain pipe.

If it is just open at the top, then it is a gravity drain system, and those don't drain water very fast. If the pipe has elbows to make a "U" shape so that it can create a siphon, this will move about 3x more water than just a gravity drain setup.

 

[tang21]

It has a u shape