Return Pump Question

[molotov]

So I've just hooked up my Reeflo return pump and I'm having a bit of a problem controlling water volumes. Here are some system details:

Beananimal overflow
reeflo Dart return
Hole drilled in sump to keep reeflo flooded always

My problem is when I start to dial in my beananimal, the return pump sucks all the water out of the chamber of the sump that feeds the return pump. I can dial back the return pump but when I start to tune the beananimal the return pump sucks all the water out of the sump return chamber.

Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[neoh]

do you have valves on your return?

[apexifd]

sounds you need a valve for the return pump. or a smaller reef flow pump

[daplatapus]

My initial impression is either your return chamber isn't big enough, your pump is too big, or you don't have enough water in the system. Is your sump as full as you can get it with everything turned off?

[molotov]

Hey daplatapus, long time reader first time replyer

Your bang on with one of your comments. It turns out I didn't have enough water in my sump. Thank you so much. I don't want to go to bed and have my system in limbo.

One more question, i have gravity feeding my ATO on a float valve. Would I place that float valve in the chamber where my return pump gets its water from? Or the chamber just before the bubble trap? Thanks again sir.

[daplatapus]

Glad we could help! The only place you'll notice evaporation will be the chamber your return pump feeds from so that's where you'll want your float valve.

To touch on your first issue again briefly. And sorry if you already understand this, but I don't want you flooding your place With everything off, your sump should be at no more than maximum capacity. If you're at that point, then fire up your pump and you realize you still need a bit more water - you need to reconfigure your system rather than add anymore. Otherwise when you lose power that water will come back regardless of wether it fits in your sump or not