Squire's 90 Gallon Build, Now With Salt Water

[ensquire]

Issue #2) My durso drain setup is noisy, I know it isn't a conventional setup, but I thought the valve made it adjustable. The problem is the bubbles and noise. While they aren't extremely loud, I just think that I should be fixable. I have adjusted the top air valve and the lower gate valve. The noise from the Gate valve is quite loud if I throttle it back very much. Sounds like a deep fryer in a restuarant LOL I added a fitting to the bottom of the drain pipe, but it hasn't made much difference.
Is there a problem with the design of my standpipe?



Solutions:

1) Make it a Herbie. LOL I would like to make this work though. Just can't dial it in as good as I would like. The noise isn't deafening by any means. skin on stand would probably block it right out.

[ensquire]

Issue #3) Sump flow, I know the goal that all drain water should run through the skimmer before going to the return chamber. With that in mind I decided to see if my sump would make that possible. What I found is that either my pump is to big, or in combination with my drain problem, I can't throttle it back enough for the skimmer to handle the flow. My pump is a Waveline 5000 with 1300 GHP but I run it at half so probably 700 gph . The sump can handle full throttle but the skimmer can't. It's a SWC Cone 160. Not sure of handling capacity for skimmer . If I throttle back the drain enough for the skimmer to keep up, then the drain gets really noisy from all the air through the gate valve. So if I can solve the drain problem to some degree I can solve this one. Although I would like the most water flow thru the sump.
Can I live with not all the water not getting skimmed??
Can I mod the skimmer for more flow ?
Making this a herbie won't solve this one

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by ensquire

Issue #3) Sump flow

I wouldn't be so concerned about all the drain water going through your skimmer
If you sat down and calculated what it takes to cycle your whole tank through your skimmer, you'd agree
Keep your return water flow where you want it. 5 - 6 times or so per hour is fine.
My 75g, with 110g total water, flows about 650gph. I've been told that's lots, otherwise the socks and skimmer can't do their job effectively

The rest of your flow happens inside your tank

If you're thinking about 15-20gph flow, that's the total of everything with a full-blown SPS tank, not what runs through your sump, and not what a new tank needs

You and I only need about 10 times per hour to start with, give or take

[The Grizz]

When the tank is running Mike, where is the water level inside the OF box? From my experience with the durso the top of the Tee where it meets the 90 should be just below the bottom of the teeth on the overflow and your water level should be about the halfway mark on the tee to 90 section. I also cut down the top of the tee as short as possible and have cut the 90 end facing down shorter as well.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

When the tank is running Mike, where is the water level inside the OF box? From my experience with the durso the top of the Tee where it meets the 90 should be just below the bottom of the teeth on the overflow and your water level should be about the halfway mark on the tee to 90 section. I also cut down the top of the tee as short as possible and have cut the 90 end facing down shorter as well.

When the tank is running the water in the overflow is maybe a half inch below the teeth, so 3/4" below tank water level. the Tee / 90 intersection is at almost that same height, 1/2 to 3/4" below teeth.
I will mod the Tee and 90 and see where that takes me.
Thank you ol' Mighty King of the Durso.

[gregzz4]

Although The Grizz may be able to help you quiet down your Durso, I hate to say I mentioned awhile back in your build that Herbies are notoriously easier to deal with

I'm not by any means saying I told you so but it's something you should consider before you get too far along with your build

If you recall, I rebuilt my sump 3 times before I was happy with the noise and flow

It wouldn't hurt much right now to try some other plumbing, right ???

Herbies don't require downturned pipes or air inlets. Just a submersed main drain. Once the air is flushed, away they go with their full flow

I installed a gate valve on my main drain ( thought I would need it ) and I keep it wide open , with the pump bypassing in the sump as the pump is more than my overflow can handle ( my situation doesn't count here - my sump is only a few inches below my tank so there's not enough pressure to flush the drain )

I keep my main high enough that the box doesn't drain much when shut down and the emerg is close to over-full with a float valve above that to shut off the pump, just in case

Very simple
I haven't had to adjust it once since I started it last month and it doesn't go up and down more than a 1/4" in the overflow box

I wish I could say the same for the level problems I have with the other pump in my sump with the chaeto tank, uv, chiller, skimmer and reactors

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Although The Grizz may be able to help you quiet down your Durso, I hate to say I mentioned awhile back in your build that Herbies are notoriously easier to deal with

It wouldn't hurt much right now to try some other plumbing, right ???

Herbies don't require downturned pipes or air inlets. Just a submersed main drain. Once the air is flushed, away they go with their full flow

I installed a gate valve on my main drain ( thought I would need it ) and I keep it wide open , with the pump bypassing in the sump as the pump is more than my overflow can handle ( my situation doesn't count here - my sump is only a few inches below my tank so there's not enough pressure to flush the drain )

I keep my main high enough that the box doesn't drain much when shut down and the emerg is close to over-full with a float valve above that to shut off the pump, just in case

Very simple
I haven't had to adjust it once since I started it last month and it doesn't go up and down more than a 1/4" in the overflow box

I wish I could say the same for the level problems I have with the other pump in my sump with the chaeto tank, uv, chiller, skimmer and reactors

I'm right at the stage of still having these options, I just hate not being able to get this system right
I'll tweak it a bit, and try the Durso guru's advice (Grizz) and will see what happens.

[gregzz4]

I hope you get it where you want it. I'm sure you will with Greg's help
Be a shame not being able to crank up that new bad boy pump

[The Grizz]

The only other thing that bothers me about your durso Mike is the big valve you have at the top. When I built Adams ( oxymoron ) durso all it took was a very small hole drilled into the cap to get it perfect. I cant remember what size it was but it was super small, I started with a 1/16" drill bit and worked my way up until it was bang on.

What size pipe did you use for the durso? if you cant get it balanced I will send you a new Tee, elbow and cap. All you would have to do is drill the hole. I will see if I can get Adam to take a couple pics of his durso from the side.

As for the syphon break, it is really strange that what you did there isnt working. A check valve would solve the problem but I am a little stumped.

Do worry about having all the water that passed through for sump going threw the skimmer. Most if not all systems are the same, not every drop of water goes threw the skimmer before it hits the DT again.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

The only other thing that bothers me about your durso Mike is the big valve you have at the top. When I built Adams ( oxymoron ) durso all it took was a very small hole drilled into the cap to get it perfect. I cant remember what size it was but it was super small, I started with a 1/16" drill bit and worked my way up until it was bang on.

What was the flow like thru the gate valve ? I like to have as much flow as my drain can handle more than anything.
These things are all interconnected, so does one have the flow set before drilling holes. I liked the adjustability of the valve on top for that reason, but if it maybe the issue then BYE BYE it goes.

What size pipe did you use for the durso? if you cant get it balanced I will send you a new Tee, elbow and cap. All you would have to do is drill the hole. I will see if I can get Adam to take a couple pics of his durso from the side.

I used 1 1/2" pipe and fittings. I will look and see if I have a cap to experiment with. That is one fitting I can actually find in Yellowknfe.

As for the syphon break, it is really strange that what you did there isnt working. A check valve would solve the problem but I am a little stumped.

I honestly think that the issue is that the bulkead is so low in the overflow, the siphon will not break until there is no water above that point. I will try lifting the elbow inside the overflow, but I am guessing that the siphon will still draw until the water drops below the bulkhead top enough to draw air thru the bulkhead.

Do worry about having all the water that passed through for sump going threw the skimmer. Most if not all systems are the same, not every drop of water goes threw the skimmer before it hits the DT again.

Do or don't worry ??