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10-12-2007, 12:26 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 36
Karma: 17
 |  First tank isn't going so well with set up
Well the time has come to set up my first tank! 55 gal with pro clear aquatics wet/dry and overflow set up. The pump is in the tank is a Catalina Aquarium 1800. I am having problems with the sump drying out and the tank overflowing. I raised the overflow to it's lowest and still no progress. I was told that the pump could be too powerful? Any insight would be great! Thanks for your time. | 
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10-12-2007, 01:03 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fremont, CA Age: 32
Posts: 287
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10-12-2007, 01:45 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 36
Karma: 17
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Thank you for the reply clownfish! It seems as if my pump is way overpowered for my setup. Thanks again! | |
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10-12-2007, 02:13 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 85
Karma: 14
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Hey TSouth - just so I understand, why was the pump's strength the problem? Was it expelling the water so fast that the other chambers were filling too fast? | |
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10-12-2007, 02:24 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 36
Karma: 17
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The pump's strength was causing the main tank to overfill with water The overflow was not draining fast enough to level out the sump causing the water level to become too low inside the sump and eventually drying it out. | |
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10-12-2007, 04:06 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Age: 40
Posts: 165
Karma: 98
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I had this problem before. I put a tee in the pump line to return some of the water directly back into the sump. This way, I can control how much water goes into the tan.
Just an Idea. | |
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10-12-2007, 05:23 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Australia Age: 25
Posts: 234
Karma: 92
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maybe yer over flow hole needs to be bigger with some bigger pipping lil bit more expencive id imagine or go with the T peice idea | |
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10-12-2007, 05:45 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 136
Karma: 15
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Hi,
Can't you choke back the flow from the pump that's what I do. I have valves on my overflows and return pump and I adjust both to get the right flow and it works perfectly. _________ 125gal Reef/Fish,40gal sump,Reefmania calcium reactor,MH,UVH,Moon,Aquazone plus 100,Auto Topoff,CoraLife 125 skimmer,GHL Profilux computer & special effects lighting.
Fish:Coral Beauty,Yellow Wrasse,African Clown Wrasse,BiColor Anglefish,Banded Goby,Psycodelic Mandarin Goby,Spotfin Angelfish
Inverts:Long-spinned Urchin,Crowned Urchin,Feather Dusters,Fire shrimp,Banded Shrimp,Brittle Star,snails
Corals:Cup,Frogspawn,Pink Open Brain,Yellow Dot
Zoanthid,White Tree,Leathers  | |
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10-12-2007, 05:54 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 4,024
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Hi, I feel for your problem and frustration!
I have had my fair share and will continue to do so, unfortunately! Any way, I was going to say that your pump was too strong for the overflows! I don't suggest putting a gate or ball valve inline to curb the flow produced by the pump as it will cause your pump to generate more heat and will decrease the life of your pump IMO. _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Cerianthid Stars Hermits snails Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria Kenyon Tree Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa)
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb
associated content.com
aka parrothead | |
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10-12-2007, 06:07 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Age: 40
Posts: 165
Karma: 98
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If you use a valve as a flow restrictor, it will add plenty of heat and work on your pump. If you use a valve and a tee, the flow is still flowing through the pipe. You will still have the same flow from the pump, it will just be redirected back into the sump instead of the tank. I agree that just putting a valve without a drain will add work to the pump causing it to overwork, but a tee that drains will add minimal pressure loss to the system. the pressure loss will come after the tee, not at the pump. A tee in the line should not add heat to the system. It's no different that splitting the flow at the tank into several ports. You get some pressure loss in each fitting, but the pressure and flow on the pump should be the same. | |
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