Return pump upgrade

[Jimbo662]

I've got a mag 18 that's been working great. The problem I'm having is I can't get the overflow to stay dialed in. It'll run totally silent for maybe up to a week then without messing with anything it'll start dribbling down the emergency overflow. When I make any adjustments I end up with a waterfall. After making more adjustments i can get it silent again. And I have learned to wait a while between adjustments. I've been going through this process for about 2 months now. I've got a gate valve on the drain to be able to make minute adjustments and it's currently set at about 1/3 open. I have the return line fully open. I'm wondering if maybe going with a bigger pump and opening the gate valve a little more will possibly solve the issue. I've tried rounding off the top of the emergency drain pipe like others have suggested in other threads to minimize the noise but that hasn't helped.

James

 

[Mike in CT]

I don't think a different pump will make a difference.... Mine does the same thing. All it takes is a tiny snail to get stuck in there (you will hear it go down the pipes after you open the gate valve up to adjust it when the emergency pipe is flowing) or algae starting to form in your inlets restricting the flow a bit and all a sudden your emergency pipe will be getting some water going down it. I pretty much have given up trying to get get it perfect so I always seem to have a little trickle going down the E pipe. BTW, that's why people use the beananimal 3 pipe system because it uses the 2nd pipe to be the one getting the trickle, and the 3rd as a true dry emergency pipe. 90% of time it's a snail for me causing the trouble, keep saying I am going to put some mesh up to keep them out but still have not got to it yet.

 

[Jimbo662]

I used the bean animal on my last tank but the new tank only has two drains.

 

[Reefing Madness]

No valves should be placed on the overflow or drain portion, it should on ly be on the return line, there is where you T off the pump, one to the tank, one to the sump, thats where you dial in the flow to the tank, and thus keeping the overflow at a constant level.

 

[ethridge78]

No valves should be placed on the overflow or drain portion, it should on ly be on the return line, there is where you T off the pump, one to the tank, one to the sump, thats where you dial in the flow to the tank, and thus keeping the overflow at a constant level.

You need a gate valve if you are using a herbie overflow that's what I think he has.

 

[tigerdragon]

Herbie uses two drains one that is valved the other is wide open in case the other becomes blocked.

 

[tigerdragon]

here is mine on my 90 once dialed in it is silent

 

[Reefing Madness]

Got ya.
If thats the case, then theres supposed to be a trickle going down the emergency drain at all times.

 

[tigerdragon]

The pic in overflow has two 90 deg elbows main is pointed down on angle other is straight up

 

[tigerdragon]

Water level could do that but adj for it to be right at very edge

 

[tigerdragon]

Gate valve allows for finer adj ball valve works in retrospect knowing what i know now would have used gate

 

[tigerdragon]

I am running a mag 18 wide open

 

[tigerdragon]

this my rtrn line

 

[tigerdragon]

Running 3 45's 2 90's head loss has me at around 950-1000 gph

 

[tigerdragon]

Overflow box rated at 1200gph

 

[ethridge78]

I have the herbie on my 300 and love it you just get a little trickle down the emergency I dont have the gate valve on mine it just makes it easier for tuning than a ball valve like I have .

 

[tigerdragon]

I have the herbie on my 300 and love it you just get a little trickle down the emergency I dont have the gate valve on mine it just makes it easier for tuning than a ball valve like I have .

Do you control by valve on rtrn pump outlet?

 

[ethridge78]

I have one on my return right above my pump but its all the way open. I have one ball valve on under each overflow on each side so two valve controlling both overflows.And I have a reeflo dart gold pushing water over the back of the tank.

 

[tigerdragon]

Nice

 

[ethridge78]

Thanks