trouble with Mag7

[ride928]

I've had my system up for over a year and finally decided to add a sump. Here lies my problem. I installed an Amiracle overflow to my sump and a Mag 7 return pump. The overflow won't keep up with the return pump. The return is about 3 feet back to the tank. What can I do to make this work. The tank is a 55 gallon with a 12 gallon sump.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Get a bigger overflow, get a smaller pump, or tottle back the pump a little with a valve.

 

[Len]

Yeah, the simpliest way is just to get a ball valve and reduce the flow a little so the overflow can keep up. Don't dial it back too much or the pump will overheat.

 

[lawndoctor]

A gate valve will enable you to make fine adjustments, which is particularly important when restricing the outflow on a pump.

 

[ride928]

Well, I kinda McGyvered it a little bit. I cut three small slits in the return tube right after the Mag. Thanks for the help.

 

[jorcutt]

Not sure how big the slits you cut in the return are, but be sure to keep them clean. I used to be running a Mag 7 from my refugium/sump back up to my tank, and drilled a few 1/8 inch holes in the return tube instead of using a valve (figured why not get more water movement out of it). Even with the sponge pre-filter on there, these holes clogged up a little on me and I came home one night to find my main tank slowly overflowing. So if your slits are small, just be sure to clean them out every once in a while.