Setting sump water height

[atnixon]

Hello people...

Am filling my new system tonight to check for leaks etc etc...Was wondering, how do determine the maximum and minimum water height of the sump?

Thanks in advance for responses...

Niko

 

[Christeon]

What I do is put in enough water to get everything circulating with no air sucking.

Shut it down let it drain back into the sump.

Then Top the Sump off to Max I'm comfortable with the water draining back into it. mark water level with black marker.

Cut pumps Back on.

Once fully Circulating Mark the Water Level again as running Max level.

That way when you top off it won't overflow when the power goes off or you turn the pumps off.

 

[ChrisRD]

I generally figure it out with simple volume calculations while planning the setup. Calculate the volume of water (ie. height (inches) X width (inches) X length (inches) / 231 = gallons) that will syphon down to the sump when the power is off. Then make sure you have enough room above the level you intend to run the water line in the sump to handle that extra volume.

This sketch might help illustrate:

 

[Anonymous]

Another thing you may want to check is to simulate is an over flow failure. Block the overflow or break siphon if it's an hob type. Then make sure the pump starts sucking air before the tank floods.


And in case you didn't considerbe sure to break the back siphos through the return lines during power out.

.02

 

[Mpls reefer]

one thing to make sure is that you have a hole right below the water line on your drain line to the sump, this will suck in air and stop the water flow to your sump, therefore the water level should not be too much. when you have this done do a power test as in stated in the above post. you should then have no problems.

 

[atnixon]

Thanks alot for all your replys...Now sorted...Did a full test run on all my new plumbing, with great sucess..A little gurgling sound from the overflow bulkead from the tank...Seems like the water is going back into the tank faster than its coming out of the tank..What am going to try and do is T off the return and send a pipe back to the fuge area with a ball valve on and see if i cant balance the flow...

Niko

 

[ChrisRD]

A word of caution about relying on a syphon break hole on the sump return line - if the hole gets clogged, covered with coralline growth, etc. it may not work and you could have a problem. Just remember to periodically check and maintain these openings if you go this route.

Best of luck with your setup.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks alot for all your replys...Now sorted...Did a full test run on all my new plumbing, with great sucess..A little gurgling sound from the overflow bulkead from the tank...Seems like the water is going back into the tank faster than its coming out of the tank..What am going to try and do is T off the return and send a pipe back to the fuge area with a ball valve on and see if i cant balance the flow...

Niko

On the gurgling noise, if your drain at the tank is horizontal or pointing up, the noise of the water rushing down the pipe escapes to the room and is heard. If it is pointing down under the water, the noise is trapped in the drain pipe. But then you need a small air bleed hole to allow air to escape in not be trapped in the pipe.

.02

 

[atnixon]

Cheers for the wise words chris...

After looking at an article, it sounds easiest to drill a hole on the bend that comes out of the tank, and inside a air tube from the outside..Easier to check as well i think...

Niko

 

[atnixon]

beaslbob...Its not the noise really of the water going down the pipe, its very quiet that bit is...its the gurgling sound due the water level at the top of the weir where the overflow bulkhead is keeps going up and down, thus causing the gurgling noise....Thats the bit i have to overcome matey...

Niko

 

[mr_X]

A word of caution about relying on a syphon break hole on the sump return line - if the hole gets clogged, covered with coralline growth, etc. it may not work and you could have a problem. Just remember to periodically check and maintain these openings if you go this route.

Best of luck with your setup.

yes, mine gets clogged every so often!

 

[Anonymous]

beaslbob...Its not the noise really of the water going down the pipe, its very quiet that bit is...its the gurgling sound due the water level at the top of the weir where the overflow bulkhead is keeps going up and down, thus causing the gurgling noise....Thats the bit i have to overcome matey...

Niko

sounds like you have trapped air in the drain line. To test have you tried raising the other end at the sump above the sump water level? Or allowing more"vent" air at the top?

.02

 

[atnixon]

I aint tried that no beaslbob....Well, its all drained now as i am getting it properly up and running on thursday....D Day...besides the noise from that overflow, everything else is spot on and works just great....

Will keep you's informed on thursday..

Thanks for all the input people...

Niko