This is it I'm calling it quits.

[Ilia]

I bought a 40g breeder tank with sump, HOB overflow, and all of the goodies. I was ecstatic when I set it up. Now the overflow is making a slurping noise and there are many bubbles in the tank even though there is a baffle. I can't regulate the water level either. I love this hobby very much. I just can't be doing this, it's 2:12 a.m. and I'm in a mad rush to figure out what to do. I'm thinking about selling my whole setup if I don't figure out what the problem is.

Ilia

[Reefland]

I bought a 40g breeder tank with sump, HOB overflow, and all of the goodies. I was ecstatic when I set it up. Now the overflow is making a slurping noise and there are many bubbles in the tank even though there is a baffle. I can't regulate the water level either. I love this hobby very much. I just can't be doing this, it's 2:12 a.m. and I'm in a mad rush to figure out what to do. I'm thinking about selling my whole setup if I don't figure out what the problem is.

Ilia

No way, don't sell, we can get through it together.

What kind of overflow is this and what kind (if any) pipes are there connected to the bulkhead(s)? Is this the first time you've had problems with it or was it running ok at one point? It sounds to me like there is too much air (or not enough) getting into the drain lines which is causing the slurping and bubbles.

When you say you can't get the water to regulate are you talking about the tank level or the level in the external overflow?

[Ilia]

I don't know what kind of overflow it is. It has 2 bulkheads though. The return is a SEN900. This is the first time I'm dealing with a sump so I may be doing something wrong. I'm desperate because my livestock has a heater and some powerheads.

Ilia

[Reefland]

Does it look like any of these?
http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/overflows.html

Are there any pvc pipes inserted into the bulkheads that are inside the overflow; standpipes is what I am looking for? And for the water regulating, are you talking about it not regulating inside the tank? Is it just flucuating up and down or does it act like it wants to overflow the tank?

Anyhow for the noise, if there are no standpipes in the overflow then the slurping is caused from the water and air mixed going down the drains. If you have a piece of airline tubing, hold one end and let the other end slide down the drain a bit (12" or so) and see if it get's quieter.

Also, is this the first time you have tried to start it up or was it running ok at one time?

Scott

[Ilia]

This is the first time I tried to run it.

Ilia

[Minh Nguyen]

In order to get any help here, tell us what is wrong. What kind of equipments?
What the problem is. I can't guess what the problem you have from what you wrote. Perhaps ask for help from the people you bought the equipments from.

minh

[Ilia]

You know what guys. I have been tempted to get a bigger tank for a long time. I think it's time to do it. I will call Mitch from IA today and get a quote on a 36"x26"x20" tank. What equipment should I keep from the 40g? I have 36" 1250w mh and 2 552 actinics in a hood and a euroreef ES5-2 skimmer that I think I should keep.

Ilia

[Minh Nguyen]

You know what guys. I have been tempted to get a bigger tank for a long time. I think it's time to do it. I will call Mitch from IA today and get a quote on a 36"x26"x20" tank. What equipment should I keep from the 40g? I have 36" 1250w mh and 2 552 actinics in a hood and a euroreef ES5-2 skimmer that I think I should keep.

Ilia

If you have problem with small tank and don't know why, it is a bad idea to get a large tank.
Minh

[Ilia]

I had a 46g bow running for a year before I got the 40g. The 46g was perfect no problems what so ever. When I got the 40g, the first day it was a headache. The problem is that it's not drilled and the return is probaly too much. If I get the 81g it will be drilled.

Ilia

[zhenya]

If you have problem with small tank and don't know why, it is a bad idea to get a large tank.
Minh

Minh,

I've seen his tank runing and I don't think there were any problems at all with his 46g. I think he got a pretty good idea on how to run a tank,its the overflow box that gave him a problem,IMO. I think it could be solved easily if I understood what the problem was exactly(and I might just go over to his house and fix it ).

Ilia,

I would definately keep your lights and your fuge. If that tank is only 20" deep, 250W should cover it but you can always add one more.

[Minh Nguyen]

Ilia,
Sorry. I didnot know.
Did you get that overflow box fixed?
Minh

[Ilia]

Nope I didn't get it fixed. I'm going to geta drilled tank.

Ilia

[Reefland]

Drilled I love to hear!

I would also keep the SEN900 as it could be used for your main return pump or for extra circulation on a closed loop.

Going back to your original problem though, the SEN900 should be easily handled through a external overflow box with 2 drains. What you may consider if you want to keep this tank is to get a new external overflow box, probably a Life Reef is the best option, and start fresh there. It sounds to me like the overflow is the only problem and could be quickly resolved with a new one.

[Minh Nguyen]

Nope I didn't get it fixed. I'm going to geta drilled tank.

Ilia

Ilia,
Is your return pump rate exceeded that of the overflow box? I suspect that this is the case. That is why it is so noisy, and the reason you got air pump back in your tank. I think in your case, either get larger overflow box or dial back on the sump pump, you should have no problem.
Please let me know if I am correct.
Minh

[Ilia]

This is actually a great excuse for my parents to get a new tank. Do you guys have any suggestions for the tank?

It will be a 36"x26"x20" drilled starphire tank with one overflow. ES5-2 euroreef skimmer. 250w mh lighting. Please give me any other ideas for a care free tank.

Ilia

[Ilia]

I'm not sure what the rating on the overflow is. It's used.

Ilia

[Reefland]

Minh,

I'm not sure what the overflow box is rated for but the SEN900 is good for about 800-850gph at 4' and if the overflow box has 2 drains I automatically assume that it will handle that flow although I may be wrong. What are your thoughts?

Ilia, when the flow starts going through the overflow, is there a solid siphon happening or can you see air present in the siphoning? Is this through U tubes?

[Minh Nguyen]

This is actually a great excuse for my parents to get a new tank. Do you guys have any suggestions for the tank?

It will be a 36"x26"x20" drilled starphire tank with one overflow. ES5-2 euroreef skimmer. 250w mh lighting. Please give me any other ideas for a care free tank.

Ilia

Use someone else's money. I would love that.
Make sure you got a great sump with build in refugium, and get light for the sump. Make sure the tank does not have center brace. It will be hard to light it if it got center brace because then you can't use one light but two is too much.
Minh

[Ilia]

I asked Mitch for euro brace. You guys think 1 250w 10k will be enough to light a tank that size?

Ilia

[Minh Nguyen]

Minh,

I'm not sure what the overflow box is rated for but the SEN900 is good for about 800-850gph at 4' and if the overflow box has 2 drains I automatically assume that it will handle that flow although I may be wrong. What are your thoughts?

Ilia, when the flow starts going through the overflow, is there a solid siphon happening or can you see air present in the siphoning? Is this through U tubes?

Noisy, air buble and cannot regulate water level means that the sump pump is sucking air. When the pump operate fully, the overflow box could not keep up so the sump water level go down while the tank water level go up. When the sump pump start to suck air into it, the rate of flow pump back decrease, and air goes to the tank. The overflow box then able to out strip the pump causing the tank water level drop and increase the sump water level. The pump rate then increase to normal and the cycle start over again.
Infact I am willing to bet money that this is the case. May be the overflow box flow rate is too low, or maybe a kinked line, or something in the drain line, or missing u-tupe or what ever.
Minh