Return Bulkhead so deep?
 

I just got a new SeaStar tank from Mike at Hidden Reef and have now got it all set up but was wondering why the bulkhead in the overflow box is so low down. If I turn the pump off, 4+ inches of water (90 gallon tank) will drain into the sump, overflowing it.

http://members.shaw.ca/jeremywarren/1.jpg
Showing return bulkhead drilled into overflow box

I know I will need to get some locline or something to aim the returned water but I guess I am going to have to bring whatever line I have coming out of there, up to the surface so that only a small amount siphons back into the sump. Any suggestions?

Also, the drain standpipe seems to be sitting quite high in the overflow box. I screwed it down as far as I could into the bulkhead in the bottom and the rest of it was already pre-glued but right now if I open the return line up fully, the level in the tank goes too high and looks like it might overflow. The pump I am using for now will do about 500gph at 5ft.

http://members.shaw.ca/jeremywarren/2.jpg
Showing temporary sump and flow restricted with ball valve

http://members.shaw.ca/jeremywarren/3.jpg
Showing where return and drain lines come through bottom of tank inside overflow box

http://members.shaw.ca/jeremywarren/4.jpg
Showing view from inside overflow box of return line (reflection) and top of standpipe (right)

I assumed that these kinds of things should have been already set from the factory. I will obviously have to lower the height of the stand pipe which will unfortunately require cutting and rejoining the pipe because everything is already glued together.

Am I doing something wrong here or is this pretty normal? My previous 90gal wasn't drilled so I haven't had to deal with this kind of thing before. Please help. Thanks

Usually Mike does everything custom. You didn't ask him to do that?

J

Looks like you could easily put a check valve on the return to solve your sump overflow issue.

The water level in the overflow box looks too high, a lower standpipe might help. It's hard to troubleshoot these type of problems from pics. Maybe wider slots in the overflow. Anyways, you want to bring the tank water level down somehow, and have as much room as possible in the sump. Check valves can fail, then you still have the worry of an overflow. Lockline going from the bulkhead to within an inch of the surface would do the trick too.

I had no idea Mike customizes the tanks.. I assumed it came from the factory like this. I will definitely need to take the standpipe out and cut it down I guess. I supposed I wouldn't have to glue the coupler on when I join it back together would I? If I left it unglued, then I have the ability to adjust the length at any time.

I had thought about putting a check valve inline with the return but have heard that they do fail and so I'd rather fix it at the output. Would locline seal enough to prevent water from seeping back down the return line? Or would I have to put solid PVC up to the surface and then run locline from there?

I have been only turning on the return pump when I get home from work in the evenings because I'm scared something is going to go wrong. I'm glad I put that ball valve in there.

I would give Mike a call. The overflow teeth do not look like what usually comes out of Mike store. Maybe he could redo the overflow box and bring the return up over the overflow


J

Put a tee on your return with a ball valve. The straight part of the tee goes to the tank the other part of the tee goes back to the sump. Put the valve on the pipe going to the sump. This way you can control the volume of water going to the display tank without restricting your pump.

You could raise the level of the return by adding a couple of elbows after the bulkhead. I concur with Hawks suggestion for reducing the flow to the tank. Lowering the standpipe will likely not solve anything as the flow is simply exceding its capacity. You would have to have a larger standpipe if you want to open up the flow more.

Thanks again for the replies. I don't think I am going to go and redo the overflow box now... I went through enough hell getting the tank set up at our current house (floor was very uneven, rubbermaid containing livestock while tank was being leveled started leaking all over the carpet etc).

I am going go try lowering the standpipe first to see what that does. When I had the pump opened right up, I could look down the top of the standpipe and it sure looked like there was plenty of room for that much water going down there. I think the problem is that more room is needed above the opening to the standpipe in order for that much water to drain due to surface tension probably?

I will also take your suggestions and put a couple of 45's or 90's on the output of that bulkhead to bring the line up to the surface before attaching any locline.

We'll see how that goes I guess. Thanks again guys.

But is the flow through the overflow teeth large enough to keep up with the pump? Does the level drop when the the stand pipe is removed and the pump is fully opened up?