Confusion on Return Pumps

[spfahnestock]

So in my head this makes sense but in practice it does not seem to be working.

On my 60 gallon cube I run 1 Vectra S2 at 100% and it is the perfect fit. So when I set my 144 up I decided to use 2 Vectra S2s. In my head I believe I should be able to run both of these at 100% with no issues.

Well it turns out this is not the case. Running both of them at 100% it my return chamber and filter socks turn into a skimmer of sorts with it continually creating bubbles.

Can anyone enlighten me on why I need to keep these pumps at about 30% to prevent this. In my head this would work out to 60% on a single which is less than I am running on my other tank. So confused.

 

[workhz]

Same height? Sump to tank.

 

[Reef.]

Do you need to add more water?

 

[WVNed]

The drains on the 144 are pushing a lot more air. What did you do different at the top of them. Thats where the air goes in.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Sounds like it could be a plumbing issue

 

[NowGlazeIT]

The drains on the 144 are pushing a lot more air. What did you do different at the top of them. Thats where the air goes in.

Good call, and bottom could be lacking a gate valve where the other tank didn’t need it to get a full siphon without air

 

[spfahnestock]

Sounds like it could be a plumbing issue

What should I be looking for. Plumbing issue could be many things.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

What should I be looking for. Plumbing issue could be many things.

The way you set up your drains. What type like durso or herbie.
the durso is common and they can run quiet but at lower gph. The herbie utilizes a gate valve to achieve full siphon with zero air going to the main drain

 

[spfahnestock]

I am running a durso

 

[JCM]

2 1400gph return pumps sound like extreme overkill on a 144g tank. You're probably overworking the overflows or don't have them tuned in correctly. I aim for 2-3x turnover through my sump which would only be 300-400 gph on your tank.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I am running a durso

Then on your last set up the pump power matched the drain rate better then this new set up. Your 2 pumps are faster then your drains gph.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Then on your last set up the pump power matched the drain rate better then this new set up. Your new pump is faster then your drains gph.

And the durso doesn’t give you much adjustment room, they have a certain speed that you have to tune them to so you don’t get too much air mixing with the water on the way down.

 

[spfahnestock]

Thank you all I have turned both returns down to 20% for now.

The difference in the tanks is the 60 is set up with a bean and the 144 is a durso. I am guessing this is the problem.