To much air in sump/fuge

M

Mike L

I have just setup a 58g oceaninc RR and I have built my own sump/fuge out of a 29g with 3 sections, skimmer/return/fuge. The plumbing is 1" down and 3/4 return. I am using the oceanic overflow kit with the adjustable standpipe. My problem is I am getting to much air/noise out of the outputs in the skimmer/fuge sections and I am unsure how to remedy it. I am thinking that a ball valve on the main line to the sump, that is closed just a little to back up the water into the standpipe will reduce the air intake into the plumbing.

Ideas are appreciated.
 
Mike,
the flow of water into the sump / fuge is DIRECTLY proportionate to the flow of the return pump. DO NOT PUT A VALVE ON THE LINE COMING FROM THE OVERFLOW. If anything, put it on the pipe between the pump and the tank.

In other words, if the pump will move 500 gph then the overflow box will be trying to move 500 gph..... I have around 350 gph moving into my 58 with a external pump ( Iwaki MD30RLXT (Japanese Motor) ). It's rated at 960 GPH at 4' of head pipe but I have it running everything on my tank except for the AquaC skimmer. My overflow box is rated at 600 gph with a 1" thin wall pipe.

Here is a link to a thread where my sump is, along with some explanation as to the build and parts.

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=24755

Hope this helps,
Mike
 
My pump is a mag 5 at about 4+ feet of head. That should be 300 or less gph from the data I found.

Are you saying that I need to dial the return back?
 
Mike, I would say no, if you're getting about 300 GPH return into the tank.

After re-reading your pronblem please make sure I'm understanding you correctly.....

The noise is down at the sump / fuge where the water is dumping in from the overflow box.

If that is the case, then make sure the tubes are below the water level in the sump / fuge area. Mine have about a 1/4" air gap when there is no water moment, ie: pumps off. When the pump is running and water flowing from the overflow, there is just enough water moment at the tubs to keep them from being noisey and allwos for some gas exchange at the surface. If your tubs are well below the water line then I have no idea what the answer is.


If the noise is at the overflow box at the top.... You may need a Dursa stand pipe. If so, here is a link to some for a DYI and I'm sure there's others on our forum too.
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

You're welcome to come see / hear mine working if you would like.

Hope this helps.

Mike
 
yes the noise is in the sump/fuge.

The outlets are well under the water.

Thanks for the help

If there are other ideas out there I am interested.
 
Mike,
What I had to do on my setup was to run the drain lines going into the sump off the glass at about a 75-80* angle that took care of alot of noise. I also have it coming into the sump right at the skimmer intake so that I can utilize some of the air that's being drained into the tank for skimming.
It's increased my skimmer efficiency by about 10%.
My setup currently is 2 x 1" Drains with one being split between the sump and refugium and a Mag 7 return through a 1" return into a WYE of 3/4" Locline. In the next few days I will be upgrading the pump to a laguna 1500. Your key concern when figuring drain vs. return is that the return GPH at height cannot exceed what your drain can handle. If you're running a 600GPH drain (1" pipe) then your return GPH cant go beyond that at the head height you're running (eg, Mag 5 at 4' might only give you 320 GPH and a Mag 7 might give you 425 and 4')
 
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