Worries of an overflowing tank

[William Dennis Lang]

I've been setting up a sump tank below my tank for a while now. I've taken my time getting all the parts together and setting it up. For the input/output I have a CPR style overflow box hanging on the back of the display tank and a electric pump in the sump tank to return the water back up to the display tank. Both of these are connected through pvc pipes. What I'm worried about is that the water being pumped into the main display tank will get pumped in faster than the speed that gravity can pull it down out of the CPR overflow. The return pump does not have any type of controls on it. Is there anything I can do to slow down the speed of the input water being pumped in by the pump?

[okiestranger]

You could set up a bypass from the return with a ball valves to control gpm allowing the bypass to flow back into the sump that's what I did.

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[tst400]

I used gate valves


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[Reefing Madness]

You could set up a bypass from the return with a ball valves to control gpm allowing the bypass to flow back into the sump that's what I did.

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+1 Thats how you fine tune the return.

[William Dennis Lang]

I will post pictures of my current setup below
-1st here's my tank

[William Dennis Lang]

Ok, lets start at the CPR overflow and work our way circling around through the whole system and back to the Display tank.

[William Dennis Lang]

The the PVC pipe runs behind my display tank(in the first picture the piping seen in the background) and into the back right corner of my sump tank(as seen in the second pic).

[William Dennis Lang]

Then flows into the back right input area of the sump tank(which if you look closely you can see that I drilled 16 holes in the bottom of the input pvc pipe). Then that back right section spills over into the right section of the sump tank(where the protein skimmer currently sits) which is where I'm going to put at least a 4-5 inch. sand bed. From the right section water filters through the bubble trap(going over under and then over the 3rd barrier) and finally spilling into the left (return) section(where the return pump currently sits). From there it goes up the pvc pipe turning at 2 elbow joints to end finally back up at the display tank.

[William Dennis Lang]

One concern I have about the return piping shown in the picture below is that my livestock(fish, small snails) may get in that piping. What is something I can do to prevent this?

[William Dennis Lang]

Can ya'll give me some suggestions looking at these pictures and tell me what you think and also show me some pics of a bypass like ya'll are talking about....thanks friends =-)

[William Dennis Lang]

Also my input(shown in the picture below) is pumping in too many bubbles. I'm guessing this is due to the water level being level with the input hole on the pump itself. If I put a bypass on the return will this slow the water flow down enough to keep the pump completely submerged?

[Reefing Madness]

Reverse Flow Pre-Filter Sponge
Take this and put a rubber band on the open end. this will keep critters out, and force the water through the filter and you will not see any bubbles either. I have one on my Skimmer return.
and i can't tell either here, but do you have a couple of small holes drilled into that return line in the tank, just above the water line, to break syphon when you lose power?

[William Dennis Lang]

and i can't tell either here, but do you have a couple of small holes drilled into that return line in the tank, just above the water line, to break syphon when you lose power?

Do you mean above the waterline in the Display Tank? If that is what you mean then no I don't have any yet but thats a good idea....thanks

[Reefing Madness]

Do you mean above the waterline in the Display Tank? If that is what you mean then no I don't have any yet but thats a good idea....thanks

Yea, my bad, inthe DT. Thats break the water back syphoning into the sump.

[Reefing Madness]

Do you mean above the waterline in the Display Tank? If that is what you mean then no I don't have any yet but thats a good idea....thanks

Actually you got it right in your other thread, and I got it wrong. Its supposed to be below the water line, so that when you lose power, the water start to syphon back into sump, hits that line and releases. Geez, I'm losing it.

[William Dennis Lang]

Actually you got it right in your other thread, and I got it wrong. Its supposed to be below the water line, so that when you lose power, the water start to syphon back into sump, hits that line and releases. Geez, I'm losing it.

Thanks

[dufybug]

if your pump is much too big for your overflow, it is possible to pump water in faster than it can drain. your overflow should tell you what its capacity is, and you should use a pump that matches your overflow. there is a bit of self-regulation built in. the weight of the water filling the overflow determines how fast the overflow drains. a faster pump causes the water to rise higher on the slots for the intake, thus they take in more water which overflows the inner wall faster. as long as your pump isnt completely overwhelming your overflow they will regulate themselves.

the biggest problem i see at the moment is your return is too deep into the tank. if you lose power it will start a syphon and drain back into the sump until the water drops below that return. either drill some holes near the surface or shorten that pipe.

hope that helps.

[William Dennis Lang]

if your pump is much too big for your overflow, it is possible to pump water in faster than it can drain. your overflow should tell you what its capacity is, and you should use a pump that matches your overflow. there is a bit of self-regulation built in. the weight of the water filling the overflow determines how fast the overflow drains. a faster pump causes the water to rise higher on the slots for the intake, thus they take in more water which overflows the inner wall faster. as long as your pump isnt completely overwhelming your overflow they will regulate themselves.

the biggest problem i see at the moment is your return is too deep into the tank. if you lose power it will start a syphon and drain back into the sump until the water drops below that return. either drill some holes near the surface or shorten that pipe.

hope that helps.

I've already drilled two holes right below the water line to break the syphon effect if the power goes off. Thanks for the idea though =-)