Life reef overflow

[Daneek155]

So I set my sump up about a week ago and I still can't get the overflow set up right as to noise and level in actual overflow box. I've adjusted my drain valve and my return valve and every time I adjust it, it either gets to full or massively low.
Any recommendations you guys have for me...
My drain is a 1 inch PVC with 2 22 angle
My return is a mag 9.5 3/4 pipe straight up with a return j tube

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss210/daneek155/20121210_132055.jpg
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[fishgate]

I would go with full flow down to the sump and crank your return flow to where you have a slightly lower water level in your overflow skimmer then your tank level. This will allow for efficient surface skimming. As the water level gets higher in the tank, you will get more flow into the overflow skimmer box and it should all level out. Your overflow should be able to flow more then your pump can return. As the return pump raises the level in the tank, the teeth will allow more water until a balance is achieved.

[Daneek155]

I adjust my drain all the way open and my return all open and there is a big difference in-between the overflow inside the tank and outside the tank.... It drains out to fast.

[todd141]

I use a lifereef and it is dead silent. I'd never put a valve on the overflow pipe down to the sump. Just like fishgate says - only throttle back the return from the sump, do not try to control the flow down to the sump.

Also, I bought the lifereef silencer with my prefilter. It helps a lot with the noise. It is kind of like a hofer gurgle buster.

[Daneek155]

I use a lifereef and it is dead silent. I'd never put a valve on the overflow pipe down to the sump. Just like fishgate says - only throttle back the return from the sump, do not try to control the flow down to the sump.

Also, I bought the lifereef silencer with my prefilter. It helps a lot with the noise. It is kind of like a hofer gurgle buster.

Do you run a 1 inch drain? I tried opening it all the way and super loud.... I can hear the gurgle sound really bad
I had the out pump on all the way and it was not over filling, what's wierd is the overflow say 550 or 650 GPS but my return in rated 950 gph and I don't have much head loss either

[JakeGr]

Use a Hofer Gurgle Buster instead of the drain you are using now.

Don't buy the Life Reef silencer. It is basically a 1.5" tube with slots cut into the bottom (for $20). It isn't as quiet as a Hofer Gurgle Buster either.

[Daneek155]

Use a Hofer Gurgle Buster instead of the drain you are using now.

Don't buy the Life Reef silencer. It is basically a 1.5" tube with slots cut into the bottom (for $20). It isn't as quiet as a Hofer Gurgle Buster either.

Thanks I will attempt to build another one to marrow the one I made today I dare melted out a little to much so the bell was loose inside

[igadget56]

First off, take that valve off of your return. Everything else you are doing is fine, I have the exact same overflow. Check out these videos of the front and the back. You will notice a lot of bubbles in the front, that is because the vortech's are making a wave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAakHYjnRCY&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAakHYjnRCY&feature=plcp

I don't used to sponge, I hate cleaning it. I fold up a small towel just big enough to cover the top. Good luck

[Daneek155]

First off, take that valve off of your return. Everything else you are doing is fine, I have the exact same overflow. Check out these videos of the front and the back. You will notice a lot of bubbles in the front, that is because the vortech's are making a wave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAakHYjnRCY&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAakHYjnRCY&feature=plcp

I don't used to sponge, I hate cleaning it. I fold up a small towel just big enough to cover the top. Good luck

So the bubbles in the overflow box are normal... I have the same bubbles and they do pass through the u tube quickly just was worried if they would ever get stuck and break siphon

Take the valve off the return as in the pump that pumps water into tank

[igadget56]

Now I'm sorry, either take the valve off from the drain, or never close it because if you do by accident your tank will flow over. Yes I get them bubbles when I have the vortech's in anti-sync mode, makes a wave. Don't worry about them bubbles. You would only have trouble with them if you had the return pump turned away down, then it can't push the bubbles because it is not enough water movement and a big air bubbles slowly forms. One thing you must do you must get a float switch, which I didn't have and a turbo snail
wouldn't you know, got in the overflow box and plugged the siphon, look like a waterfall coming out of my tank. Or you could cover it with some kind of mesh. The water in the box is always going to be about 3 inches lower.

[sirreal63]

Never put a valve on an open channel drain, remove the valve on the drain. A Map9.5 is designed to be run with 1-1/2" plumbing, so running it with 3/4 cuts the flow dramatically. With just 4' of height and 3/4" plumbing you are only getting 700 gph, now add in all those fittings and and that barb fitting (which has about a 1/2" i.d.) and you have cut the flow way down. I would be surprised if you are getting 500 gph out of it, it just wasn't designed to be run with restrictive plumbing.

The valve on the return is ok for fine tuning the flow but remove the one on the drain.

[sirreal63]

double post

[igadget56]

Never put a valve on an open channel drain, remove the valve on the drain. A Map9.5 is designed to be run with 1-1/2" plumbing, so running it with 3/4 cuts the flow dramatically. With just 4' of height and 3/4" plumbing you are only getting 700 gph, now add in all those fittings and and that barb fitting (which has about a 1/2" i.d.) and you have cut the flow way down. I would be surprised if you are getting 500 gph out of it, it just wasn't designed to be run with restrictive plumbing.

The valve on the return is ok for fine tuning the flow but remove the one on the drain.

What he said.

[Daneek155]

Thanks alot for the help, I will upgrade my return line with a 1 inch....

Where could I get a good float switch? I looked at the ones at autotopoff.com but you have to plug them into a relay or something... Anything more simple

[todd141]

Use a Hofer Gurgle Buster instead of the drain you are using now.

Don't buy the Life Reef silencer. It is basically a 1.5" tube with slots cut into the bottom (for $20). It isn't as quiet as a Hofer Gurgle Buster either.

Not sure how anything could be more quiet than dead silent? It's also a bit more than just a tube with slots - at least mine is more than that... Yes, it costs $20 but you know it fits your overflow and it works well. Worth the money in my opinion.

I'm not saying anything is wrong with building a Hofer, just wanted to clear this up. Mine has been running for years completely silent, JakeGr didn't say if he actually owns one and is using it.

[igadget56]

A bit pricey but if it saves one flood.


http://www.marinedepot.com/Ultralife_Float_Switch_Electric_Powered_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_Plug_In_Units-Ultralife-UL1111-FIDPETPU-vi.html

[Daneek155]

A bit pricey but if it saves one flood.


http://www.marinedepot.com/Ultralife_Float_Switch_Electric_Powered_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_Plug_In_Units-Ultralife-UL1111-FIDPETPU-vi.html

Thanks