Help, can't figure this out

[Coleus]

Ok,

So i set up the secondary tank that hook up to my main sump. The drain is 1 inch and the return is 3/4 inch. It is power by the rio2100.

Every one or two days (can't determine exact time yet ) I got a wet floor because the secondary tank water is being overflow. I test this theory by stick a paper beside the side of my tank and it is wet when this happens. It is not because the tank was leaking because i am sure i reseal it nicely after it got leak the first time.

I has been monitory the water level of the tank but don't see the water level increasing that cause the overflow, it just randomly happen.

Anyone know why?

Thanks for any helps

[Coleus]

Oh man, I have had nothing but bad luck with this stupid cube tank. so during the night, the whole floor got flood (roughly about 10 gallon of water into my carpet). I think i am done for this hobby. @#$@#$@#$@#$@#$
But can some one help me explains why this is happening?

Thanks

[Delphinus]

A 1" drain might not be very much depending on how far it has to travel or if there are any bends or spots where it needs to travel horizontally. Also it could be that there is a snail crawling near the drain. Can you post any pictures of the overflow setup and the pipe?

[monocus]

change your drain to a 1 1/2-better a bigger drain than a smaller one-it's possable your pump is too powerful-also check your joints

[bauder1986]

hey, can you put up some pictures of your plumbing in the tank going to the sump.....with the pictures we can anylise what is happening and give you better help....Thanks

[Coleus]

ok here it is

Here is the screenshot of the second tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2885

HEre is the overflow box of this tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2888

Here is the back of the tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2886

Water is draining into the sump

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2890

The return line from the sump

ok here it is

Here is the screenshot of the second tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2885

HEre is the overflow box of this tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2888

Here is the back of the tank

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2886

Water is draining into the sump

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2890

The return line from the sump

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2889

I have put some thoughts into what Tony said in the thread, my drain does bend 90 degree and it has to travel horizontal from the ground into the sump. Thus it possible that the air got trapped inside the flexible pipe, eventually it build up enough that stop water from flowing back to the sump thus causing water overflow in my tank. After a 20 minutes or so (my assumption) it has enough pressure to push the air through and back to normal level but by then i got a wet floor already. Do you think my hypothesis is right?

I have reduce the flow of my return line but if my hypothesis is right then it is a ticking bomb

[bvlester]

your return pump is pushing more water back to the tank than the drain can handle chock the return pump by using a ball valve. then you can adjust the flow additional flow in the tank should be done with power heads.

Bill

[bauder1986]

K so I see that you already have a ball valve in the return line from the sump to choke back the pump if necessary.....try to make sure that all drain and return lines are running at a gradual down slope towards the sump, no ups and downs in the lines for air locks. umm for your drain line to the sump, if there are any 90's in the lines try to see if you can switch to 45 degree elbows instead so that water flow doesnt get slowed down too much on the way from tank to sump....also I noticed that you are using 1/2 hose for the return line when there is a 1 inch return bulkhead soo im wondering if you ended up doing the same on the return line. Did you take that 1 1/2 inch bulkhead there and slap a 1 inch hose on it for the drain? if so....dont, try to get some plumbing that matches the 1 1/2 inch bulkhead for the drain so that way you have maximum flow rate available to you for the drain. Your return line is fine for the way the hoses are except the one bend in the hose there, but the drain line may need some work on it.

[Coleus]

your return pump is pushing more water back to the tank than the drain can handle chock the return pump by using a ball valve. then you can adjust the flow additional flow in the tank should be done with power heads.

Bill

I have the ball valve so i already reduced the flow and use power head to get more flow. But the one thing i don't understand is i never got a chance to witness this happen. It happens like 20 minutes and then it back to normal

[Coleus]

Yah i would put a ball valve into the return line and get that drain line that runs all wonky there fixed so it doesnt get all air locked.....and try not to get out of the hobby too quick haha.


what do i have to do so that the air does not get trapped? Make sure the water does not travel upward for return line?

Well, I don't want to get out of this hobby but thinking of shutting down this tank. It causes me so much grief from beginning

[monocus]

try plumbing everything in pvc-i don't like the look of your return line-no clamp to hold your line-i also think it would be better not to have ridges in your line.i agree with using 45s instead of 90s

[bauder1986]

K so I see that you already have a ball valve in the return line from the sump to choke back the pump if necessary.....try to make sure that all drain and return lines are running at a gradual down slope towards the sump, no ups and downs in the lines for air locks. umm for your drain line to the sump, if there are any 90's in the lines try to see if you can switch to 45 degree elbows instead so that water flow doesnt get slowed down too much on the way from tank to sump....also I noticed that you are using 1/2 hose for the return line when there is a 1 inch return bulkhead soo im wondering if you ended up doing the same on the return line. Did you take that 1 1/2 inch bulkhead there and slap a 1 inch hose on it for the drain? if so....dont, try to get some plumbing that matches the 1 1/2 inch bulkhead for the drain so that way you have maximum flow rate available to you for the drain. Your return line is fine for the way the hoses are except the one bend in the hose there, but the drain line may need some work on it.

[Coleus]

Thanks for everyone inputs but sadly i have to shut down this tank. *Sigh*