The Mediocreef

[Mschmidt]

Um @Fishy888 @tbrown3589 and anyone else with eshopps overflow experience, how do I keep a relatively consistent flow? I topped off the sump yesterday and woke up to an empty sump and this...

So naturally the first thing I did was take pictures (look how level it is) before trying to fix it before work.

Every time I fill the sump I need to adjust the flow.

 

[rmorris_14]

Um @Fishy888 @tbrown3589 and anyone else with eshopps overflow experience, how do I keep a relatively consistent flow? I topped off the sump yesterday and woke up to an empty sump and this...

So naturally the first thing I did was take pictures (look how level it is) before trying to fix it before work.

Every time I fill the sump I need to adjust the flow.

What kind of valve is adjusting the flow? I know nothing but it seems like an important question.

 

[Mschmidt]

What kind of valve is adjusting the flow? I know nothing but it seems like an important question.

gate valve. I got the 1200, plumbed the two lines together because I can't handle those flow rates (and didn't want to buy two gates), then the gate, then soft tubing, then the filter sock. everything is one inch.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Only need one pipe on the gate; the other picks up the slack.

is water flowing from the tank to the sump still or did it just stop? did your overflow loose siphon?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Only need one pipe on the gate; the other picks up the slack.

^^^ THIS

 

[Slocke]

I had a lot of issues with my HOB overflow on one tank but none on the other. From a lot of googling the best I could find is that the flow needs to be fairly high. Im trying that now and so far so good.

 

[Projects with Sam]

I thin air got in his overflow tubes and is stifling his flow.

 

[Mschmidt]

Only need one pipe on the gate; the other picks up the slack.

ideally I would avoid replumbing to add the second line. I'd then need to set the overflow hights in the box to match, but that can be done.

is water flowing from the tank to the sump still or did it just stop? did your overflow loose siphon?

it's still draining, just slower.

I thin air got in his overflow tubes and is stifling his flow.

I checked that and didn't see anything. but it was a little dark.

I had a lot of issues with my HOB overflow on one tank but none on the other. From a lot of googling the best I could find is that the flow needs to be fairly high. Im trying that now and so far so good.

The return I'm using was off the 120 I got, moved to the 75 (the tank in question) No idea what it's rate is but I'd guess around 350-400gph.

I took out an overflow tube as it was losing syphon regularly enough to be useless anyways. do I cap one of the two drains to keep pace consistent? as above, I'd like to avoid replumbing the whole thing.

 

[Slocke]

ideally I would avoid replumbing to add the second line. I'd then need to set the overflow hights in the box to match, but that can be done.

it's still draining, just slower.

I checked that and didn't see anything. but it was a little dark.

The return I'm using was off the 120 I got, moved to the 75 (the tank in question) No idea what it's rate is but I'd guess around 350-400gph.

I took out an overflow tube as it was losing syphon regularly enough to be useless anyways. do I cap one of the two drains to keep pace consistent? as above, I'd like to avoid replumbing the whole thing.

I’m terrible at DIY so I’m not much help.
i just turned my pump up. I sized it for the overflow but had been too scared to turn it up all the way.

 

[tbrown]

I leave the drain wide open and stick a piece of airline tubing down the "throat" to stifle the gurgling sound. Throttle the flow at the return pump side by adding a ball valve off a tee that i can open slightly as a reliever valve.

Like Sam said, it's likely that one or both of your u-tubes got air locked. Mine does that frequently so I run the water level low enough that if 1 gets air locked the water level rises but stays a half inch or so below the top of the tank.

 

[Projects with Sam]

ideally I would avoid replumbing to add the second line. I'd then need to set the overflow hights in the box to match, but that can be done.

it's still draining, just slower.

I checked that and didn't see anything. but it was a little dark.

The return I'm using was off the 120 I got, moved to the 75 (the tank in question) No idea what it's rate is but I'd guess around 350-400gph.

I took out an overflow tube as it was losing syphon regularly enough to be useless anyways. do I cap one of the two drains to keep pace consistent? as above, I'd like to avoid replumbing the whole thing.

no! you want to provide more paths for drainage or fix the ones you have.

 

[Mschmidt]

I’m terrible at DIY so I’m not much help.
i just turned my pump up. I sized it for the overflow but had been too scared to turn it up all the way.

I can't find the gif I want but: we're giving her all we've got.

I leave the drain wide open and stick a piece of airline tubing down the "throat" to stifle the gurgling sound. Throttle the flow at the return pump side by adding a ball valve off a tee that i can open slightly as a reliever valve.

Like Sam said, it's likely that one or both of your u-tubes got air locked. Mine does that frequently so I run the water level low enough that if 1 gets air locked the water level rises but stays a half inch or so below the top of the tank.

only one u tube in place now.

no! you want to provide more paths for drainage or fix the ones you have.

cap off one and cut the rate in half, or try to keep plants with 1k gph turnover in a 75? plumbing two lines means I need a much larger pump to keep up.

 

[tbrown]

 

[Mschmidt]

that's the one!

 

[Fishy888]

I agree with the above. You need to have the gate only on the one pipe or you’ll stifle the flow. You need a good flow rate to keep air out of your U-tubes. If air bubbles form in there it’s trouble. Ideally you’ll have a larger drain than return line. Otherwise your overflow WON’T be able to handle your flow without constant babysitting. Ask me how I know. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about U-tubes anymore.

 

[Mschmidt]

I agree with the above. You need to have the gate only on the one pipe or you’ll stifle the flow. You need a good flow rate to keep air out of your U-tubes. If air bubbles form in there it’s trouble. Ideally you’ll have a larger drain than return line. Otherwise your overflow WON’T be able to handle your flow without constant babysitting. Ask me how I know. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about U-tubes anymore.

learned it in a dream?

 

[Fishy888]

Yeah, a nightmare is more like it. It could’ve been much worse though. 5 gallons on the floor trumps the 20 or so that were on the floor after the 75 leaked.

 

[Mschmidt]

Yeah, a nightmare is more like it. It could’ve been much worse though. 5 gallons on the floor trumps the 20 or so that were on the floor after the 75 leaked.

5's not bad. and where my level usually is, the tank takes the whole sump without issue. if the pump shuts off I'm in trouble as I have no syphon break.

Maybe I should give more than a half-donkey...

 

[Fishy888]

5's not bad. and where my level usually is, the tank takes the whole sump without issue. if the pump shuts off I'm in trouble as I have no syphon break.

Maybe I should give more than a half-donkey...

lol it’s bad when it happens a month after move in. Thankfully I caught it when I did. No damage occurred so not as nightmarish as the 20 gallons from the leak. Even that wasn’t as bad as it could have been. No real damage there either although it took out a power strip and two extension cords.

 

[tbrown]

5's not bad. and where my level usually is, the tank takes the whole sump without issue. if the pump shuts off I'm in trouble as I have no syphon break.

Maybe I should give more than a half-donkey...

A small drill bit works wonders on return piping... I think I drilled (2) 3/32nd inch holes just at the running water level.