Sump flow help!

[CharlieAsh]

I got a new pump because the old one broke (and was too weak for the tank). The return to the sump doesn't flow fast enough to keep up with the new pump, which is frustrating.

I don't actually understand why there is a baffle before the filter socks... is that for noise reduction?

And I'm wondering if I could increase flow by using both inputs since I have to reduce from 1.5" at the tank to 1" at the sump.

 

[Gtinnel]

What kind of the overflow do you have (herbie, bean animal, etc) because it may have a valve that just needs to be adjusted. If that’s not the issue then is your pump an ac or dc pump? If dc why not just reduce the flow rate?

 

[Gtinnel]

Also your pictures doesn’t show any drains going into the sump (unless I’m missing something) but if you only have one drain pipe I don’t see any reason you can’t split it at the end to use the two bulkheads to keep the reduction in size from effecting the flow rate.
Also, if you do only have one drain pipe then that answers my question about what is your drain setup.

 

[CharlieAsh]

Also your pictures doesn’t show any drains going into the sump (unless I’m missing something) but if you only have one drain pipe I don’t see any reason you can’t split it at the end to use the two bulkheads to keep the reduction in size from effecting the flow rate.
Also, if you do only have one drain pipe then that answers my question about what is your drain setup.

I'm mid rebuild. Pulled out the slow drain and am pulling my hair out trying to learn and succeed.

 

[CharlieAsh]

What kind of the overflow do you have (herbie, bean animal, etc) because it may have a valve that just needs to be adjusted. If that’s not the issue then is your pump an ac or dc pump? If dc why not just reduce the flow rate?

Forgive my ignorance... I have a black box in my tank where water flows into and then drains from the bottom. Not seeing any branding. Seems pretty straightforward gravity fed, no valves etc. As for reducing flow from the pump, I need it to stay where it is to get water to both of my returns. There isn't a way to shorten the journey with the way the tank is built.

 

[Gtinnel]

Forgive my ignorance... I have a black box in my tank where water flows into and then drains from the bottom. Not seeing any branding. Seems pretty straightforward gravity fed, no valves etc. As for reducing flow from the pump, I need it to stay where it is to get water to both of my returns. There isn't a way to shorten the journey with the way the tank is built.

So it’s a single drain pipe? If so and you can split it into two before the reduction to use both bulkheads that would help. If the new pump is a dc pump (most new ones are) they usually have a controller where you can reduce the flow rate. If it’s an ac pump you can install a valve to reduce the flow from it. What brand and model pump is the new one?

Also when I asked what drain type bean animal, herbie, etc those are designs of overflows and not brands. If yours is just a single pipe then it is neither of those. Both of those have multiple pipes with one of the pipes having a valve.

I would also be worried that with the higher flow rate you are going to have a really loud drain.

 

[14 foot reef]

because your pump is pushing way more water than before, it most likely just needs mor water volume in the sump. if when the power is off and youcan't put anymore water in it without the sump overflowing, then your pump is too large for your sump and set up.

 

[RocketEngineer]

The term Herbie, BeanAnimal actually refer to people, not brands. Theses two guys developed and posted drain configurations using multiple pipes that increased flow while being quiet.

@OP, how many pipes exit the tank and go to the sump? Do you have access to the inside of the overflow box? If you have two drain lines, it should be possible to reconfigure the plumbing with a Herbie style setup which employs a siphon that can move a lot more water than two open pipes. More pictures of the setup would be helpful.

 

[Gtinnel]

The term Herbie, BeanAnimal actually refer to people, not brands.

I knew they were styles of drain setups but I didn’t know they were named after the person who created the design. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because I know durso was named after the person who first made that design standpipe.

 

[krish]

HI good day

last night I had a power cut for almost 3 hours. water in my sump reached a certain level and stopped initially I thought it is under control but again when i observed it started overflowing after 2 hrs. of power cut.

What can be done to avoid this. please help me with your suggestions.

 

[Dburr1014]

HI good day

last night I had a power cut for almost 3 hours. water in my sump reached a certain level and stopped initially I thought it is under control but again when i observed it started overflowing after 2 hrs. of power cut.

What can be done to avoid this. please help me with your suggestions.

Sounds like a back syphone from your return line. Need a syphone break. Can be a small hole at the running water line in the tank or lift the return so it's at or just below the water line of the running tank.

 

[Gtinnel]

HI good day

last night I had a power cut for almost 3 hours. water in my sump reached a certain level and stopped initially I thought it is under control but again when i observed it started overflowing after 2 hrs. of power cut.

What can be done to avoid this. please help me with your suggestions.

To find out how to fix it you will need to figure out how the water got to the sump. Usually when the power goes out the water drains down to the level of the weirs initially, which happens quickly.

The other common issue is the return line creating a siphon and allowing water to drain to the point where the return nozzle is exposed to air breaking the siphon (this is usually avoided with either an anti siphon hole or a check valve in the line). Again this will happen over a relatively short amount of time and not take hours.

For it to take a long time to overfill the sump it either had to be a siphon from a very small line, or something like a check valve leaking.

How new is the tank, has it had the power off before without overflowing the sump? Is there anything in the return line to prevent a siphon? Are there any other lines going into the water in the display tank?

Pictures of the tank and sump may help with figuring out what happened.