How are you drains plumbed? I only see 1 drain pipe going back into your sump?

Looking at the sump, I noticed couple of things.
1.Try having the overflow pipe come even with the water, ti minamize the bubbles in the sump.

2. I dont think you have enough water in the sump to go to the tank. What im saying is you tank will drain the waterthur the overflow. once gravity takes over.

If you have any of the piping blocked off open the lines to the sump wide open.

What are the overflows are they 1" pvc or 1.5 "

rule of thumb is 1" pvc will handle 750-1000gph
1.5 " can handle1250 to 1500.


But IME/IMO add more water to equal out the sump...

Now saying that on my tank i have a 3MD with 1.25 PVC and it works good and that is pumping around 500 gph.

IMO

What he said... :question:

Did you join the 2 1" pipes coming from the drains :question:
Did you use 1" pipe after join :question:
If so the 1" pipe won't be able to handle the flow of 2 1" pipes

If the tank overflows when you open up the flow on your return pump the drains are being overwhelmed, 2 1" drains should be able to handle that volume

What are the linear dimentions of your overflow?

From Reef Central
Mag 18 at 4' head with 2 90's = Gallons per Hour = 1115

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 1.38 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 17 inches

HTH
Dan

the drains are plumbed INDEVIDUALY with 1" pipe. the overflows are 6x6x22.... i still dont understand. i NEED the flow cranked up but if i do, it drains that side of the sump in like 3 seconds...

How are the baffles set up in your sump? How large is the pump compartment in your sump? You may have to redo your sump if that is the case.

The sump is 20 gal right. Did you add more water to the sump like I said to try. I think that is your problem.

Or you have the baffle to high in your sump. What is the height of your main baffle


If that is the problem then tee off the pump to go into the return line. basically you are having the the return line split into two lines on going still to the tank and the other to the sump again..

THis will slow the flow down for you.

my sump is 30x13x15 which makes it a 25g. the main baffle is 10" high so that makes the pump compartment 10.5x13......ask about anything else if this isnt the problem.

SO did ya add more water to you sump yet.....Honesty looking at the picture i can't see nothing else wron. Unless its me.. Sorry i cant come over to help ya out .... i can start sitting next week so i will hopfully be able to come over and take a look for ya ok....

Ok i have to edit here i just saw something..:lol:

Ok you have 2 or 1 overflows in the tank. If you have 2 overflow why do you have it only going to one drain if that is the case. And its been mentioned before. You should have a bigger pipe drain from the 2 split lines to help with the flow.

Now if you have 1 line then i think the proble is that you have to maybe lower the 2nd baffle..other then that i'm Stumped :question:

ok.... how bout the space between baffles...

there is something wrong with the drains if your tank overflows
can you take pics of the overflow then follow the plumbing down to the sump... more pics are needed to see what your system looks like
Dan

How highare your stacks in your overflow, DUH i didnt even think of that they should be atleast 2-3" below the overflow line try that....