haveing trouble with flow rate on sump

[King Triton]

I am setting up another tank a 55 gal with a 20 gal sump;) I am haveing trouble ajusting the flow rate on the return to match the overflow I have routed the plumbing with a return in the display tank and one in the sump with a valve to adjust rate yet I ahve spent hours tryin to match the flow rate and either the sump emptys or it fills to much.I am starting to wonder if I should incorp a float switch in the sump area?I am also woundering if anyone has any info on flow rate needed to efficently cycle this sump I have a 800 gph powerhead returning the water from the sump yet it seem real slow by the time it reachs the tank.Are external pumps more fitted for this set up?Any suggestions on what pump to use?It needs to be quiet ,tank is in the liveing room next to my lazy boy.Top of the 55 display is at 5 ft the top of the 20 gal sump is 27 inchs to the top and 16 inchs to the bottom of sump measureing from the floor up.If I get a higher flow rate will this effect the effectiveness of the protien skimmer in my sump?

[Ninong]

The flow rate in the sump does not affect the efficiency of the protein skimmer in any way.

You can't use a "powerhead" as a system return pump. They aren't designed to be used that way. Powerheads are for circulation only, not for pressure applications. They can't overcome head loss.

If your "powerhead" is rated at 800 gph, that's its rating at zero head. When choosing a pump, check out its rating at 4-ft and 6-ft head to get an idea of what you can expect delivered to your tank.

Calculate head loss by measuring the distance from the surface of the water in your sump to the top of the tank where your return plumbing enters the tank (the highest point the pipe gets). Then add in for any fittings between your pump and the discharge into the tank. Figure 1/2 ft of head loss for an ell and one ft of head loss for a T. To be safe, just use the 6-ft figure from the manufacturer's pump rating chart because that will be the closest to what you are actually getting into your tank.

Good luck!



P.S. -- I have no recommendation on what brand of pump you should choose. Check around.

[Reefland]

How is water getting to the sump from the tank? If you are using an overflow box then you don't have to match the flow rate, only make sure that the return pump isn't putting more water to the tank than the overflow can handle. The balancing of the two happens on it own...

[Nemo Keeper]

I had the same problem when I purchased a new overflow box. I didnt have enough water flowing into the sump to keep up with the return to the tank from my external pump. If you have an overflow with a U-tube, simply add a second tube which will add about another 600 gph. Once I did that, everything was running to perfection again. Hope this helps.

[King Triton]

thanks to all for answering my problem was to low of flow on return pump I have added a inline pump to the equazion and every thing works fine now.