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peiji 
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 Topic: Plumbing my overflow and sump...
Posted: May 24 2005 at 1:57pm |
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I just bought an All Glass MegaFlow 65 g tank with the Built in overflow. It 's
drilled in the bottom for a 1" drain and a 3/4 " return. I also have a Sen
900GA return pump that pumps 900 gph. When I've hooked it all up, the
overflow rises and falls about 3 or 4 inches and gushes water out into the
sump like a toilet flushing. It's extrememly noisy. I've read that others have
pumped higher gph through a similar setup with success. I can't imagine
how though. My only option that I see is to reduce the return pump return
with a valve or drill another hole and add another drain. Does anyone else
have any ideas of what I might be doing wrong? I've tried raising and
lowering the DuraStand to no effect. I'm not a plumbing expert. Maybe there
is trapped air somewhere. Anyway, I'm at a loss.
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fj40fax
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 2:29pm |
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Where are you located? I am sure someone can come by and check it out.
Fax
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Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 2:32pm |
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I'm in Highland, kind of close to the American Fork Canyon entrance.
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Xacttech
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 2:38pm |
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Sounds like your Durso Standpipe isn't setup correctly. I have a 1500GPH
pump, and it's nearly silent. I'm sure someone will run out to help ya.
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 2:44pm |
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Well, I'd certainly appreciate any help and I'd be willing to trade a frag if
someone could spend some time coming over. Is your 1500 GPH pump set
up on a 1" drain system?
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fj40fax
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 3:02pm |
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Can you take a pic? If not, I may be able to stop by after
work. I am no Durso expert, but I can snap a couple pics and see
what is going on.
PM me your number or call me at the # below.
Fax
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Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
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Xacttech
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 3:57pm |
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Mine's a 1.5" Down tube 3/4 retun.
Have you visited http://www.dursostandpipes.com/
There's some good info there.
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 4:15pm |
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This is exactly what I have.
http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/index.html
The overflow comes in a kit which I assume has been used hundreds of
times and been successful. I'm not sure why my situation would be any
different.
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 4:20pm |
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Here's something I came across. I wonder if this is the solution to my
problem.
http://www.rl180reef.com/180/pages/standpipe/mods/megaflow.h tm
Has anyone ever done this?
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Xacttech
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 4:52pm |
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I wouldn't recommend that... Looks quite unnecessary. Do you have a
standpipe in your overflow? Or do you just have it drain? I would build a
durso.
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 5:13pm |
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well, that's what I tried to explain in the previous entry. The MegaFlow
comes with a Durso Standpipe kit that I followed exactly.
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jfinch
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 5:31pm |
If your level in your overflow box is cycling up and down then your air hole for the durso is too small. You need more air. Conversely, if your water level in the overflow box is high then your hole is too big. You want the water level to ride almost right at the lower part of the elbow.
A 1" durso can easily handle 900 gph. My father-in-law is running a Mag 18 (unresticted) through a 1" drain and durso. We had to open up the overflow openings a little and even then some water flows over the top into the overflow box... but the durso handles it all.
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ssilcox
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 5:35pm |
While I am not familiar with the "kit" durso standpipe that comes with the AGA tanks, I have tried building the DIY one myself, and it should be very similar.
There should be some sort of pin hole in the top of the stand pipe that will allow air in so that the standpipe doesnt create the "flushing" effect that you are experiencing (the pinhole prevents the standpipe from creating a full on siphon). Try adjusting the size of that hole a little larger until the flushing effect goes away.
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ssilcox
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 5:38pm |
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I hit submit and Jon had already answered it... !
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 5:54pm |
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So, I should just try drilling a larger hole? That would be too easy :)
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fj40fax
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 6:00pm |
I think the problem is that the megaflow can only handle 600gph, and he is pushing 900. Is the water level going up and over the top of the overflow towers causing the rise in water level? The fix showed on the one site may be the fix, but don't do that until all other possibilities are exhausted. Jon knows way more about this than I do, but the all-glass site rates it at 600gph.
Fax
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Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 6:10pm |
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I drilled another hole in the top of the durso and that didn't do anything. The
water level still goes up and down in the overflow. Now, when you say to
open the overflow openings do you mean the top slits of the ones in teh
middle and bottom?
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 10:12pm |
It seems to me that the Durso method is too dependent on that little hole. As far as I can see the Durso is useful and was a neat idea, but is too prone to problems.
Why not do what the big boys do?  Just screen the opening to the bulkhead to keep snails from gong down and place a valve near the bottom of the down line to make the water back up to an inch or two below the overflow teeth. This way the water rushes down with full on pressure. Because of the pressure it gives maximum flow and also gives the effect of having a small powerhead in your refugium/sump. 
P.S. Make sure the sump/Refugium has room for the water from the overflow when the pump is off.
Edited by Mark Peterson
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peiji
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 10:15pm |
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After talking to Fax, I made my 2nd hole even bigger and finally, I saw some
progress. The water doesn't fluctuate anymore. I still think that perhaps the
pump is still too strong because there is a lot of water gushing out and it's
pretty noisy. But at least it doesn't shoot out every 10 seconds like a toilet
flushing. Does anyone have any methods for quieting the water going into
the sump? I intend on putting a filter sock on the drain but should that be
above the water line or below? If any of you could share pics of your sumps,
I'd appreciate it. I'm new to the whole sump thing. I've had a tank for over 3
years and never had a sump. Admittedly, I think I could have done better
had I had one but I think I've done alright over the years. I wish I had time to
see everyone's tanks in person but that will take some time.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: May 24 2005 at 10:23pm |
The neatest method of quieting the gushing water is to have a mat of Chaetomorpha algae for the water to run into in the sump.
A second choice would be a floss filter bag.
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