Can’t seem to get my sump level correct..

[Be102]

I ran my Stockman with just the airline tubing shoved all the way down the standpipe until the gurgling noise stops. I didn’t have airline valves like in the video either.

If you need to restrict the valve doing into the sump to get water to flow into the fuge, then make sure the fuge valve is opened up fully. Do not valve back the refugium line. I think your issue lies in the fact that you have both valves restricted. Keep one of them fully open. In your case, because of the plumbing flow set up, keep the fuge valve fully open. Dial back the sump line until you get the proper flow into you refugium with the the fuge line fully open

So I tried to do what you suggested and I am a little stumped. How much airline tubing is too much? The piece on the standpipe I have now is I’d say 8 inches long and it silences it a little bit but it seems even louder now than it did without anything on top. should I add more?

Am I missing something here? Perhaps my standpipe just is junk?

 

[eggplantparrot]

yep both sides of drain being restricted means there is a set amount of water that can go down at once, which defeats the nature of these overflows. any changes like a wave pump turning on pushing more water into the overflow or surge when turning on the return pump can't be handled by the overflow as it's already draining the 'maximum' set by the restrictions.

 

[Water Dog]

I’m on an iPad so I can’t see your video. But I dug up my old HOB overflow out of the basement so you can visually see what I did. My airline tubing (red rope) was pretty long (18 inches) and was shoved at least 8” down the standpipe. The excess, I let dangle down the back of the external box as seen in my photo. My HOB overflow ran nice and quietly set up in this fashion.

 

[Be102]

I’m on an iPad so I can’t see your video. But I dug up my old HOB overflow out of the basement so you can visually see what I did. My airline tubing (red rope) was pretty long (18 inches) and was shoved at least 8” down the standpipe. The excess, I let dangle down the back of the external box as seen in my photo. My HOB overflow ran nice and quietly set up in this fashion.

Thank you for this! It makes a lot more sense. I guess I should buy a longer airline tubing. I also think the one I have is 1/4 inch as the airline tubing I have is perhaps 1/8? I guess there’s no concern of any water going up and out of that tubing correct?
If there wasn’t a snow storm right now I would be at Home Depot!

So back to my other question however.. as of now my gate valve is wide open but my refugium section is getting no water.

 

[Water Dog]

So slowly dial back the “sump valve” while keeping your refugium valve wide open until you get the appropriate amount of flow to your refugium. But make sure the refugium valve remains wide open.

And no, my dangling excess airline hose never leaked.

 

[Be102]

So slowly dial back the “sump valve” while keeping your refugium valve wide open until you get the appropriate amount of flow to your refugium. But make sure the refugium valve remains wide open.

And no, my dangling excess airline hose never leaked.

My level keeps fluctuating as what I assume is because my pipes still have air in them. Do you think my standpipe is either too long or short? Around where should the water level come to in regards to the actually standpipe? Sorry for all the questions most videos I find are about making them not actually implementing and tuning correctly. I seem to have the most “silence” when the water level is above the teeth of the standpipe.

 

[Water Dog]

When you say “level keeps fluctuating”, what level and where?

Do you mean in the overflow box? If yes, that’s the flushing effect from air build up in the pipes. The longer airline tubing shoved down the standpipe should alleviate that flushing effect by allowing it to breathe so to speak.

 

[Water Dog]

Also, as far as the Stockman standpipe length goes, I don’t have a Lifereef HOB overflow, but here are the measurements of my old setup for reference.

Length of external box (you can see the height of the standpipe in the box).

Length of my Stockman standpipe

Length of the overflow wall within the external box

 

[Be102]

Also, as far as the Stockman standpipe length goes, I don’t have a Lifereef HOB overflow, but here are the measurements of my old setup for reference.

Length of external box (you can see the height of the standpipe in the box).

Length of my Stockman standpipe

Length of the overflow wall within the external box

Thanks for all this! Saves you from my next question which was should I add more holes onto my standpipe? It appears you didn’t so I shouldn’t need to. I think I have to let it sit like that for a day or two and see how it all goes. I will buy some longer airline tubing as well. I think I have to realize that the overflow will never be as silent, as it is when the input is under water. It makes sense that I was ultimately restricting the water from flowing freely as I’d like to have had it completely silent. I think I basically made it like (is it called berlin) with like a full siphon throughout my tank. That’s why I feel I had messed up levels. I will also try to re-set up my ato to see if it can’t work better now that the water level should ideally stay leveled in the overflow/ display and the only fluctuation should be the return. Let’s hope it all works out and somehow I don’t wake up with water everywhere!

 

[Water Dog]

I actually think the more holes, the better... you want nice unimpeded flow. I actually purchased my Stockman standpipe from Ken Stockman himself some 18 years or so ago when he had a website. His updated design is a bit different. Instead of holes, there are two large squares for unimpeded flow cut in either side of the pipe. Hard to see but here are photos of it.

 

[Kfactor]

What I find weird is that we’re the return pump is the water travels under the last baffle instead of over . For me it would be hard to set for the proper hight.

 

[Be102]

I actually think the more holes, the better... you want nice unimpeded flow. I actually purchased my Stockman standpipe from Ken Stockman himself some 18 years or so ago when he had a website. His updated design is a bit different. Instead of holes, there are two large squares for unimpeded flow cut in either side of the pipe. Hard to see but here are photos of it.

Okay that’s similar to mine. And actually is the same type of piping I’m pretty sure... wouldn’t be surprised if I have an updated version of his. I wonder if that will help me figure out the tubing I need as it’s larger than regular airline tubing. I always can bring it to homedepot anyways. Mine is quieter now so I can’t complain but gurgles here and there now.

 

[Be102]

What I find weird is that we’re the return pump is the water travels under the last baffle instead of over . For me it would be hard to set for the proper hight.

Actually my friend, I have a marine depot trigger system sump. It actually has a customizable height baffle. I only have it raised a little however as to cover my marine pure block. Perhaps I could always raise it higher? I have some more room in my sump, just have to make sure it would also hold my tank water as well when it drains back when the return pump is off

 

[Be102]

Actually my friend, I have a marine depot trigger system sump. It actually has a customizable height baffle. I only have it raised a little however as to cover my marine pure block. Perhaps I could always raise it higher? I have some more room in my sump, just have to make sure it would also hold my tank water as well when it drains back when the return pump is off

 

[Water Dog]

Okay that’s similar to mine. And actually is the same type of piping I’m pretty sure... wouldn’t be surprised if I have an updated version of his. I wonder if that will help me figure out the tubing I need as it’s larger than regular airline tubing. I always can bring it to homedepot anyways. Mine is quieter now so I can’t complain but gurgles here and there now.

Go with 1/4” ID tubing, I think the OD is 3/8”... Sweet Lifereef BTW!

 

[Be102]

Go with 1/4” ID tubing, I think the OD is 3/8”... Sweet Lifereef BTW!

Thanks my friend and thanks for all your help!

 

[Be102]

Go with 1/4” ID tubing, I think the OD is 3/8”... Sweet Lifereef BTW!

So I grabbed some new tubing and it is a lot quieter! However I seem have one little problem
Now , and that is that the water level on my tank is rather high.. so like does that become determined off of where the tubing is / how long it is? I have both pipes completely open, and it’s still high.

 

[Water Dog]

Can’t you adjust the internal box lower so that the weir teeth sit lower in the tank?

 

[Be102]

Can’t you adjust the internal box lower so that the weir teeth sit lower in the tank?

You’re a genius! Didn’t even realize that was all I needed to do.

 

[Be102]

Can’t you adjust the internal box lower so that the weir teeth sit lower in the tank?

I’m back again , lol basically I’m lowered the box and it worked for a while and now it seems to have gone higher again. Do you think the stockman is restricting flow? The blue sticky thing on my sump is where the water was when the level was right. Any ideas??