I need help with plumbing...Anyone near Cibolo wanna stop by lol?

[ZeroHour]

Ok so here it is this is what I am working with....

62 Tank....
The ports were overdrilled and I attempted to comensate so after modification and reductions this is what I am working with.


3/4 Drain line rear drilled I reduced it DOWN to that size, the head itself is bigger I used a coupler fitting and inserted it into the bulkhead sealed it to accept 3/4 tubing (high pressure line)

The return is now reduced to a standard size that fits on a rio I think its 1/2". It has a 90 elbow on it so I think I am losing all pressure.

I had a 1700 Rio and now a 2500 rio and no dice on keeping up with the drain.

I am at my whits end as I was told by forever pets (like an idiot didnt wait for gabe to come back from vacation) that this setup would work. Being that I had never done this this is where I am at.

Help me please im losing my mind.

[Regric25]

Just so I understand your pump cant keep up with the drain as in the drain is syphoning water fastewr then the pump can pump back into it? Where is the drain positioned? Can you send pics with the drain and return in place. It might be easier to understand with pics :) Are you using an overflow box? Is it like this? http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?60841-My-DIY-Sump-frag-quarantine-hospital-Tank . THis is my QT tank.

[ZeroHour]

no box yes pump cannot keep up they are positioned opposite corners about 3" down pics in a moment

[ZeroHour]

set up is identical to that picture

[ZeroHour]

except my return is drilled into the tank and I used clear high pressure line rather than PVC.

[Regric25]

and are you trying to get the drain below the water line? I know if the drain is below the water line it will create an airless syphon and the water would drain ALOT faster than the pump would drain until it got below the drain line and air could get in there. If you look at that pic I put in that elbow so that it acts like an overflow so the return would stay underwater and not splash all over the place. If you have it configured the same as I do in those pics the drain will only drain as fast as the pump will return the water.

The problem I had was the drain was too small for the return and so the return was pumping water back to the tank faster than the drain could drain it. I had to put in a bigger bulkhead and larger PVC line so it could keep up with the drain.

[Regric25]

he has both return and drain at the top of the tank on oposite ends one top left and one top right like mine on that link

[CoryDude]

So your sump is filling up too fast?

Shouldn't the drain only remove as much water as is put into the tank by the supply pump? Isn't that just a matter of removing the excess water so that you can get the correct amount for the tank + the amount needed in the sump?

IMHO, 3/4" if too small for a drain. You need at least 1" or preferably 1.5". When I tried a 3/4" drain, air pressure would build up in the drain line and restrict the amount it could drain. So the tank was always overfilling.

[Regric25]

I went with a 3/4" drain and I have had no issues. I was using a 1/2" drain and the pump was pumping too fast and the drain wouldnt drain fast enough.

oh and remember to put an anti syphon hole on your return side so if the pump fails it wont syphon the water back into the sump. Since yours is drilled you might drill a small (and I mean small) hole at the highest point on the return side inside the tank so it will be exposed to air first and suck air in and cut the syphon. When you drill the hole drill it facing to the side so when you turn the pump back on it does not squirt water out of your tank. Make sure you leave enough room in the sump so when if the pump fails and the water on the drain side syphone whats left it wont overfill/flood your sump.

[BIGBIRD123]

Chris,
I can come take a look, if you need me to. The overflow should only let out water in ratio to what the pump is putting back. Are you sure there is not a leak below the water line in the overflow? This could create more volume going to the sump. I'll PM my #.

[jrsatx20]

Do ur drains have elbows on them or are they under the water. If no elbows u will need a huge pump to keep up with the drains. The drains will just keep draining.

[Regric25]

I talked to Chris (Zerohour) and he said the drain hole was drilled too low and the water level is lower than he wants. I told him to put a 90 degree elbow on it (he is using a 45 degree elbow) and put a piece of PVC to extend it up to the level of water he wants and problem solved. I hope it works out for ya Chris let me know if you have anymore questions. Goodluck!

[jrsatx20]

If no live stock yet how bout looking to get 2 calfo boxes for the drains