Overflow / Sump Question on 150 Gallon Reef Tank

[uuacallis]

Hello,
I am fairly new at this, but here it goes.

My wife and I are building a 150 gallon reef tank however because she really liked the tank at PetSmart I had to get one that wasn't drilled. Thus, I am using overflows.

Unfortunatly I do not know the brand or model of the overflows, the Marine store that I purchased them at said I would need 2 for the 150 gallon tank.

I finally got the tank up an semi operational today and I had the following problems

1 - The overflow boxes are very noisy with air sucking noises. Is this normal, or does it mean I just don't have enough water in the tank?

2 - The lines are pushing a lot of air through them and if the line is submerged in the sump, I get a lot of very large bubbles or "belches" as it sounds

3 - Having trouble getting my pump back to the tank to equal out to the amount of water coming from the Overflows.
I have 2 SEN 900 pumps.

If I have only one pump running, and both overflows, it stays pretty close to equal, however as soon as I kick on the other pump, it will begin to overfill the tank and drain the sump

So I ask you guys the experts, would you either


A. add another overflow and run 2 pumps
B. continue as is and install flow valves on the pumps so that I can slow them down
C. get rid of the overflows and have a pump sucking the water out of the tank and into the sump


Also,
Can anyone give me a good reason to use PVC vs Flex Tubing?


Thanks all for you answers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[tendar]

Lets go with the easy awnsers and or opinions first.
1. Yes it is normal for overlflows to be noisy. The is a modification you can add to them which will quite them down some called a stockman overflow. Here is a link to how to make one.
http://home.att.net/~rstockman/overflow.htm
I have one on my overflow and it helps quite it down some.

2. The bubbling and belching can be worked with some. I have added pieces of pvc and other items to ends of drain hoses to try and quite them down it really is just a experiment with different things and positions. The addition of the stockman overflow will help in this area a little also.

3. Overflow boxes are rated to a Max gall per hour they can handle. From the way it sounds yours are probably around 600 gph each box. So I would just go with a single pump out of the sump to the tank. If you want you can use the other pump as a closed loop though.

A.is a option
B.is ok option
C. Not an option will not work and only cause a flood.

I prefer Flex Tubing over pvc for stuff 1" and under just much easier to work with and more forgiving seting up. Pvc is better for 1.5" and larger.

[uuacallis]

Thanks for the quick reply tendar.

I like the idea of the Stockman overflow, however I am not quite sure how I would add it to the existing overflow box.

My overflow box has a hole in the bottom and the peice of PVC that is currently there is coupled at the hole.

There is a short peice (2-3 inches) of PVC sticking out the bottom, and then a longer peice (4-6inches) in the box itself. I suppose I could just remove the 4-6 inch peice and place the same coupler on the new stockman, but I am not certain. Additionally on my long peice there is a foam pad sitting around it. What would I do with that?

I have read a couple of posts on the "Closed Loop", but I am not quite sure where to start in building one. My SEN 900 can be either submersed or inline if that helps.

Thanks,
Adam

[tendar]

The closed loop is pretty easy. Have line conected to the intake of your pump going over the top of the tank and down about half way into tank to suck water out to the pump.
Have a second line conected to the the out on your pump going back into the tank to return the water back and your done. The get the suction start and your have a closed loop.

The foam pad you wont need. It is just to help remove stuff from the water and keep stuff out of the drain.
Do you know what size the pvc is that is used for your drain? If it is 1" you should be able to pretty much be able to make the modifaction to it. Just make sure that it can be easly be replaced at the local hardware store in case some thing doesnt work right and you have to go back to the orginal setup.

[uuacallis]

Thanks for the info, I got all the PVC piping and will re do the lines with that and make the new overflow silencer.

Another quick question is, can you stop the extra noise of the bubbles in the sump?

[tendar]

That is really just some experimentation with how far it goes in the water but I have never had a lot luck getting them quite though personally.

[uuacallis]

Ok, well my wife decided she didn't like the flex line that I had running from the overflows to the sump and I swapped it out for PVC. I put a 90 angle in there and boy did it loud and annoying fast. I am going to attempt a 45 next to see if it is just as loud. can you have 90 degree angles at all?

[tendar]

You can have 90's but they do restrict some flow and do make more noise as you heard. THe 45's are better all around for flow and noice as well.

[cronicreef]

Pvc can be nice but it can cause alot of vibrations. Thats why I switching back to flex tube.

I really don't think you should go with one overflow box. Unless your going with a huge one that is rated for like 1500 gph. Could you tell us what your overflow box and sump is rated for. You want them to be almost the same rating. If you have more water flowing to your sump than you can get rid of thats a proplem. Same goes for your pump.

It took me alot of work to get mine going right. Try turning all your power heads and everthing else that you have that moves water off and try to reset your were overflows.

Just make sure you keep a eye on everything for awhile.

[uuacallis]

I am actually using 2 overflows each rated at 600 gph, and I have my to 900gph pumps turned down a bit to match up with it.

I have redesigned the sump so that it is much quieter..