Shieldsy83 Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Hi, I'm having trouble stopping my sump from working correctly as its wanting to over flow the 3 chambers!I'm using a 6500lph pump with a out let pipe 40mm.Both the inlet an out let have ball joints to adjust flow.The only way to get the water to go under an over all 3 chambers is to slow the pump right down which I don't really want to do as the rank is holding 43 cichlids 4x2.5x2.Could you please help?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intangcity Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 do you run standpipes or weir or just a bulkhead.?but what im thinking is that your inlet from the sump to the tank may be submerged in the tanks water,therefor when you turn off the pump it back tracks into the inlet pipe causing a siphon.so youll be emptying the tank from the inlet not just the outlet.if your inlet into the tank is above water level this siphoning wont happoen.if on the other hand all is ok there maybe adjust the height of your standpipe or add some pvc bends to your bulkhead so when the water stops flowing it cant get down the bulkhead anymore.but im leaning toward your inlet being submerged causing a siphon when you turn off the pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shieldsy83 Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 Hi tang, mate I run a stand pipe with no angles going into the sump.My inlet does pull water back into the dump when I turn the pump off.The only way I can get the 4 stage matrix dump to work is to lower the pressure of the pump to the tank right down!I bought that size pump as I wanted to turn my tank over atleast 6-8 times an hour, I've sat there for hours on end trying to figure it out but now I have to just pack all my filter material up the top of the first 2 stages!!?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 What is the dimension of your standpipe and your return pipe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shieldsy83 Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 60mm bulk head into 42mm piping which goes striaght into the 1st chamber, each chamber is 150wide, the return line is 25mm tube with 1 90 degree angle both inlet an out let have water adjustment on them.I just don't know why this system is not working, well it's working but not as good as it should as it skips over the first 2 sections! I need a solution or have the company who made it stuffed it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noddy65 Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Ive had this issue...I found that the space between the sump chambers PLUS the filter material slowed the water flow down so much it would overflow between the chambers...I only fixed it by reducing the output of the pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccal Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Sounds likely a case of a big pump needs a big filter.Most sump filters have a optimum liters per hour flow rate.Only so much water can pass through particular medias and channels at a time.Thought of teeing of and diverting a portion into a K media tumble bio filter,,,,, or just simply tee of onto any other filter of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shieldsy83 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Hi, thanks for the info. What is the lower turn over rate per for a full stocked cichlid tank 4x2.5x2(504) litres? I'm thinking of transferring it to above wet dry filter to split the 6500lph pump!Thoughts ?? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shieldsy83 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Hi, thanks for the info. What is the lower turn over rate per for a full stocked cichlid tank 4x2.5x2(504) litres? I'm thinking of transferring it to above wet dry filter to split the 6500lph pump!Thoughts ?? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intangcity Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 i read in your comments shieldsy that the water just flows over the top of the 2-3rd chamber.is the glass on these chambers all the way to the top of the sump tank?that could also be part of the problem.i know there are sumps that have chambers that go from a high point to a lower height but then ull use a smaller pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccal Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 If the chambers are only 150mm wide and you have a 6500 lph pump,, then that's a pretty big pump I would think,, especially with media to pass through also.General rule of thumb for a safe side turn over is twice the tank volume in one hour.But if you decide to split it,,, I'd suggest to put a manual valve in line of the split.This way you can gradually open the valve till you reach the max capacity flow rate in sump when the new water level falls to the level you want it.Having the sump finely tuned like this may be beneficial as when the media gets blocked and needs cleaning, you'll know because the water will start flowing over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.