+Eckreef Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 So I finished setting up my 40g breeder and custom sump and FINALLY filled it with water. Here is a pic of the setup It is a 40g AGA breeder with custom internal overflow. Custom sump which I just built below The sump is as seen from left to right is 1" return (feed by 1.25" durso) to left chamber which will house Euro-reef RS80 Center section for refugium Right section with baffles to Eheim 1260 635gph with 3/4" plumbing My problem is that my flow through the sump is slower than the pump The water backs up in the 1st two chambers and the pump chamber is emptying too fast. Here is a picture of the slots I cut in the black acrylic I thought they would be big enough but obviously they are not I tried to enlarge the slots but it is difficult to do with the dividers in the sump and all I have is a drill. So my question is...... Do I take down the tank, pull the dividers out of the sump and completly replace/redo them or Do I go for a smaller pump. I could try a Eheim 1250 (317 gph). Would this be too slow flow? The main circulation for the tank will be a Vortec MP40w and I may add another pump for circulation if needed Opinions? Thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Daniel Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Why not restrict the output on your pump a tad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eckreef Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 How much can you restrict a Eheim pump without damaging it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Looks like that 'T' above his pump will just push the water to the left in the sump without straining the pump, correct? Or use a forstner bit in your drill to enlarge the holes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 You can restrict them quite a bit since they are a "veined" impeller. They will just churn without pushing any water. It's still not a practical idea. Have tried to enlarge the openings with a dremel yet? I have one you are welcome to borrow. Wish I had a right angle drill you could borrow. I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I'm near Gattis and Greenlawn and I see you are in RR as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eckreef Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 Thanks to all for the tips. This is why I love this club! I am going to try to enlarge the holes for now although I have the valves tweaked now to where it is working pretty well and silent. I would like to have more flow so that the system has more capicity if it is ever needed as i think that it will be less likely to overflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 just turn that ball valve closed till u get the height u want. I do the same with my mag 9, it turned down almost half way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I would drain the sump and drill more holes. You could pump the water to a bucket and save it. drill the holes clean the sump replace the water and only loose a gallon or two. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eckreef Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Update: Thanks to everyone for their advice. Big thanks to caferacermike for loaning me his dremel (greatest device ever invented). Worked perfectly especially in a tight space. I drained the sump and initially enlarged the holes. I then decided that more is better and don't want to have any issues with restricted flow through my sump so I removed the slots and made a opening that I then covered with plastic gutter guard. In the second picture you can see a crack that I made in the acrylic when trying to drill out the holes. Thanks goodness for silicone. Not pretty but it works. It's working great at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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