[FishieNut]

I’ve got a problem with my sump return. I can’t balance it to the intake. Every day it’s either to much flow and the pump is running almost dry -- lots of bubbles into the display, or not enough and the sump is getting filled up. It also affects my salinity because my ATO turns on and dilutes my water.
I’ve got one 1.5” drain from the tank into the sump. I’ve got two returns. One Mag 18 with a valve to adjust that goes back to the tank. One Mag 5 that goes through the chiller and UV and then back to the tank, no adjustment. When it’s adjusted it works just fine. The Mag 18 is turned down about ¼ -- so ¾ flow. When I turn off my CL for feeding, however, it goes out of sync;, usually pumps too much water back into the display.
How do you balance this? Is the pump too big? I tried a Mag 9.5 and it wasn’t enough flow. My next try is a Mag 12, but I’m not ready to keep buying pumps. It gets expensive. Does everyone have this problem of balance?
Please help. I’m afraid if I got home from work late one day, I’ll have a flood or a burned out pump. What do do?

[tray262]

This is actually an easy thing. I'm guessing your tank has a built in overflow ? Either way your pumps are too large for your overflow. Or if you have a overflow box your overflow is too small. Also, you should not really close your pumps down at all. Your overflow should flow more water then all your return pumps combined. Please let me know if that helps.

[tray262]

also way do you say the 9.5 was not enough ? not enough flow thru the sump, or it did not make enough current in your tank? If it's the current you are worried about then add a powerhead

[Boostable]

Actually you can restrict the flow of a pump as long as you do it on the outlet side, you never want to restrict it on the intake side for obvious reasons.

Can you post a pic or a diagram of your setup, perhaps that would shed some light on the issue.

tray is right im sure you are outflowing your overflow. How is that setup? Dorso, external, etc? How much head?

I run a Sequence Dart which flows 3600 MAX GPH with it pulled down to about 25~2600 or so... So you should be able to make the 18 work.

Give us some more info.

JW

[FishieNut]

Here's a pic of my sump/fuge. I've got a 1.5" pipe plumbed into the back of the tank, near the 10 gallon line. No overflow box. It drains into the left side of the sump, through a filter sock, skimmer, into the refugium, then into the return. I've got an ATO (green tubing) through a Kalk reactor. I find the sweet spot, then, all of a sudden, it's too low and the ATO is pumping water into the tank, or it fill up an inch or so --

[Reefland]

That's the problem, no overflow box. You need this to control the level in the tank or your going to have flucuations. You can find an external overflow unit and just use the internal box and attach it to the bulkhead for your drain.

[FishieNut]

I don't follow. If I buy an overflow box -- external and install it instead of my bulkhead drain (which works well. I have clear water), what will that solve? I know most tanks use a overflow box, so I must be doing something incorrect, but the tank came with this set up for the drain, and I just left it in place.

[Boostable]

Show us a picture of the tank drain area, please.

[tray262]

Originally Posted by Boostable

Show us a picture of the tank drain area, please.

I 2nd that.