Tazzabro Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 So put piping to and from my sump this weekend. Got a leaf catched and have just lined the inside with filter sponge. Then onto the bio balls then into the next section which i dont know what it is? (think i'm meant to have volcanic rock in the second one)? Also need an overflow solution. Currently if my pump stops my sump (and lounge room) floods. I was thinking put switch in the outflow pipes so I can at least stop it too but yeah. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 u have to figure out the max water the sump can handle without overflow. to do this run it at the min depth of water (so ur pump is just covered in water) take note of the height of water in the sump (measure or mark) then turn off the pump, u will see the water height change but it should not overflow (unless u have a fundamental issue) then measure the distance between the first mark and then the new water level with the sump pump off. if u do this in cms. it will give u a basic amount in how much the water level will change with the pump off. for example. my 4ft sump will change 7cms when the pump is off and all the water flows back to the sump. I have 3 markings. MAX!!! which is absolute max and if it is at this level and the power fails it will be right at the lids of the tank. the second one is what i would like to run it at, and then the min. if it is at that level the intake is just sucking in water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
africanman79 Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 What size is the sump & how many lph is the pump?. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazzabro Posted July 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Its a 3ft. (i think) I'll have to measure when I go home. The pump is 3500L/ph seems like it would definitely be a suitable pump however I cannot get my outflow pipes to drain as fast as when they are completely submerged. Its a 20ml diameter pipes (the outflow and there is 2 of them). When these pipes are only half submerged then it just seems **** all water flow down. If the water flowed down faster I'm sure the pump would go back to normal pumping as it seems not to be pumping at the full rate as the 3rd chamber in the sump is only half full. I basically think that's my problem. Everything is new(purchased last weekend) except the 2 outflow bulk heads so maybe I need to replace them. Then if that doesn't work I'd be looking at maybe increase the pipe size although I just can't figure out why its not outflowing at a good pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazzabro Posted July 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 I have no idea why it put stars in. the sentence was meant to say.... when the 2 outflow pipes are only half submerged in my tank water it does not seem to flow nearly as fast as it should or as it does when it is completely submerged. like it flows when its under water and when its half underwater it only drips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETFISH Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 from b/head on, need's to increase in size not reduce ,you have from 25 to 20 it should be 25 to 35-40 and a t piece on b/head will increase the flow, instead of the elbow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony123 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 I just drilled 13mm holes in the top of my elbows after b/h's and stuck garden hose in which substantially increased the outflow or yeah t-piece instead of elbow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazzabro Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 So the outflow bulk head is 20ml and it has 20ml piping all the way down. So it doesn't get smaller but doesn't get larger. Do you think if I got a T and put holes in the top instead of an elbow that would fix it up. Or would you be thinking whole new piping all the way down. I guess I'm going to need a T either way. Just to confirm your saying in picture 1 is where i would have the T with the other end of the T facing upwards? I'd be so screwed without this forum haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) Tee pieces and bigger bulkheads will solve your problem. Once you have done that, do this, it will determine your max water volume. THIS IS IMPORTANT!! With pump turned off, fill your main tank until it starts flowing through pipes down into sump. When the sump is almost full within an inch of the top, turn water off. This is the max volume your system will run at without overflowing when power is off. IF when the pump is on, and it runs the chamber dry, its simple, you need to make that last chamber bigger, if you make last chamber bigger and it still runs dry, you need a larger sump. HTH. Edited July 10, 2013 by ash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazzabro Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yeah I know how to determine the max height (Thanks though) but I'm kinda just running the risk for a few days in the hope it will get my water ready. I'm going to go get T sections after work. HOPEFULLY that fixes it up. If not I'll be getting bigger bulk heads and pipes all the way down. It had a really good pace (when I had the outflow pipes completely submerged) so i'm pretty sure once i put T's on there it should fix it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazzabro Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Rahhh what the hell the T sections didn't help. The outpipes are now completely submerged and its not flowing fast like it used too. maybe bigger pipes EHH another $100 here we come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
