Synergy Shadow Overflow Flow Adjustment

Tonii · Mar 9, 2021

Good evening,

So I made a mistake when I plumbed my shadow overflow. I only added 1 gate valve to the main drain pipe. I left the other two drain pipes fully open. The drain pipe in the middle is causing a lot of salt creep on the sump. The third drain is just for emergency which hasn’t drain yet.

So my question is. Can I do something to the intake of the middle drain pipe to reduce the flow without adding a gate valve? I know that adding a gate valve will be the best solution but it would be kind of hard to get behind the tank to re do the plumbing.

Any help will be greatly appreciate.

Kershaw · Mar 9, 2021

Can you add a gate valve right before sump where it is accessible ?

Tonii · Mar 9, 2021

Kershaw said:
Can you add a gate valve right before sump where it is accessible ?

Yes but right after the sump there are two 45 degree elbow then straight up to the overflow. Not impossible but I was trying to avoid messing with the plumbing behind the tank. Was just hoping for something that could be done to the intake of the pipe. Like I said just hoping

Kershaw · Mar 9, 2021

Tonii said:
Yes but right after the sump there are two 45 degree elbow then straight up to the overflow. Not impossible but I was trying to avoid messing with the plumbing behind the tank. Was just hoping for something that could be done to the intake of the pipe. Like I said just hoping

Got any pictures ? Maybe if I can see it I can give better advice. Either way a valve will most likely be the best option

JumboShrimp · Mar 9, 2021

Check out "reducing spigots" and "reducing couplers" on BRS. You might have to modify one, but it could work, "IF" I truly understand what you are trying to accomplish without a photo. Best wishes!

Tonii · Mar 10, 2021

Kershaw said:
Got any pictures ? Maybe if I can see it I can give better advice. Either way a valve will most likely be the best option

I used 1 1/2” pipes. The gate valve for that size is huge don’t think it will fit there it will have to go behind the tank.
I was thinking of maybe reducing the size or using a ball valve as they are smaller. But I don’t know if the ball valve will work for what I’m trying to do.

Tonii · Mar 10, 2021

JumboShrimp said:
Check out "reducing spigots" and "reducing couplers" on BRS. You might have to modify one, but it could work, "IF" I truly understand what you are trying to accomplish without a photo. Best wishes!

Yea I might give that a try before cutting the plumbing.

Tonii · Mar 10, 2021

That’s how I have the main drain. I was able to make all the bubbles disappear with the gate valve and still get a nice flow.

JumboShrimp · Mar 10, 2021

I'm assuming the top of your pipes inside the overflow box itself are just open cut pipes. That's why I'm thinking you can just jam a reducer in there and reduce the flow coming into the top of one. Even if you have to go open pipe / cut down piece of regular coupler / reducer. Typical-- it's easier to do than explain. LOL. Put you don't have to glue anything inside the box (just pressure fit)-- so if you don't like it / can't make it work, pull it off.

Tonii · Mar 10, 2021

JumboShrimp said:
I'm assuming the top of your pipes inside the overflow box itself are just open cut pipes. That's why I'm thinking you can just jam a reducer in there and reduce the flow coming into the top of one. Even if you have to go open pipe / cut down piece of regular coupler / reducer. Typical-- it's easier to do than explain. LOL. Put you don't have to glue anything inside the box (just pressure fit)-- so if you don't like it / can't make it work, pull it off.

Yes they are just open pipes with U shape fitting on top

NabberNate · Apr 2, 2021

Wow I have the exact same problem! I have an sca 150 with 1.5" drain plumbing with a very pricey spears gate valve on the primary. When i dial down my primary to make it quiet my secondary creates bubbles and has more flow than the primary. I'm thinking of reducing the secondary to 1" at some point above the sump and see if that helps. I do have room for another gate valve but don't want to spend the 60 dollars. I'm also wondering if I can just raise the water level too if that might help.

minus9 · Apr 2, 2021

You shouldn't get bubbles when it's tuned properly. I have the same overflow and 1 1/2" drains and a single gate valve on the main drain. Are you using the "U" fittings on the main and secondary drains? The only thing I had to do was find the right length of pipe inside the external box for the main and secondary drains. Also, are you extending the drains in the sump so they are completely submerged?

KStatefan · Apr 2, 2021

NabberNate said:
Wow I have the exact same problem! I have an sca 150 with 1.5" drain plumbing with a very pricey spears gate valve on the primary. When i dial down my primary to make it quiet my secondary creates bubbles and has more flow than the primary. I'm thinking of reducing the secondary to 1" at some point above the sump and see if that helps. I do have room for another gate valve but don't want to spend the 60 dollars. I'm also wondering if I can just raise the water level too if that might help.

Your main should be flowing in a full siphon. There should only be a small amount of flow in the secondary drain

Shirak · Apr 2, 2021

Tonii said:
Good evening,

So I made a mistake when I plumbed my shadow overflow. I only added 1 gate valve to the main drain pipe. I left the other two drain pipes fully open. The drain pipe in the middle is causing a lot of salt creep on the sump. The third drain is just for emergency which hasn’t drain yet.

So my question is. Can I do something to the intake of the middle drain pipe to reduce the flow without adding a gate valve? I know that adding a gate valve will be the best solution but it would be kind of hard to get behind the tank to re do the plumbing.

Any help will be greatly appreciate.

You did not make a mistake. The 2 and third drains are emergency drains and should have no restrictions. There should only be the tiniest trickle of water, if that, down the second line and nothing down the third when setup and tuned.

If you are getting more than a trickle down the second after adjusting the main gate valve to stop sucking air, something isn’t set up correctly in the overflow. Can you post some photos showing the three drains inside the overflow?

zukihara · Apr 2, 2021

Mine sounds like I'm standing on top of the Empire State building in a wind storm eating a York peppermint patty. Hate the stupid thing.

NabberNate · Apr 2, 2021

I bought the precut pipe from Synergy reef and I thought or I guess hoped it would be closer to being tuned and yes I'm using both of the u fittings and yes my pvc is submerged into the sump too. Is your gate valve on the middle drain or one of the ends? The middle is taking alot more flow no matter how I try to get this thing tuned. I guess I can try to shorten both stand pipes and see if that helps or put more water in the tank to raise the level. My gut tells me reducing the secondary from 1.5" to something smaller ( 1.25" maybe ) would help too though.

Jbell370 · Apr 2, 2021

NabberNate said:
I bought the precut pipe from Synergy reef and I thought or I guess hoped it would be closer to being tuned and yes I'm using both of the u fittings and yes my pvc is submerged into the sump too. Is your gate valve on the middle drain or one of the ends? The middle is taking alot more flow no matter how I try to get this thing tuned. I guess I can try to shorten both stand pipes and see if that helps or put more water in the tank to raise the level. My gut tells me reducing the secondary from 1.5" to something smaller ( 1.25" maybe ) would help too though.

I have 1.5" pipes with 1 gate valve on the main and with gradual changes or turns if the gate can go from wind tunnel to dead silent. My main drain is under the sump water level, the secondary is using a longer pipe with slices as provided by bashsea and the emergency is out of the water so I could hear that there was an issue. No need to reduce or change any of the plumbing. I tried that at first and it didn't solve anything.

NabberNate · Apr 2, 2021

minus9 said:
You shouldn't get bubbles when it's tuned properly. I have the same overflow and 1 1/2" drains and a single gate valve on the main drain. Are you using the "U" fittings on the main and secondary drains? The only thing I had to do was find the right length of pipe inside the external box for the main and secondary drains. Also, are you extending the drains in the sump so they are completely submerged?

Really confused by all this. Should water level in tank be too the top of the weirs?

Jbell370 · Apr 2, 2021

NabberNate said:
Really confused by all this. Should water level in tank be too the top of the weirs?

In the external overflow the main drain without the hole in the top should be the lowest pipe and covered with water, the secondary should be higher than the main and mine anyway is about half way covered. The emergency is obviously the tallest and should be exposed. My main has about 3/4-1" water above it.