Overflow issue

Mfreddy

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i have a 240 gal tank with a center overflow, and I'm not getting enough flow. Dual 2" pipes with 2 90's and a vent hole on top. One side is draining 3 to 4x faster than the other into dual filter socks.

The reason this is now coming up is because I got 2 M1's installed yesterday. If I run both pumps on level 1 of 12 it starts to over fill the tank. Surely I should be getting more water draining, right?
 

Dj24680

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If possible I would switch the 2 pipe overflow to a Herbie style overflow. Requires installing a valve on 1 drain and using second as emergency. Or if you are able to use 3 pipes I would do bean animal overflow which is a lot safer. They can both handle a lot of flow. Much more then 2 durso pipe overflow
 
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Mfreddy

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Unfortunately more holes is not an option.

I replaced 2 pumps with the M1s. Do you think it's working correctly if I can't even run both pumps on level 1? I doubt I'm getting 400 Gph with dual drains on a 240 with a 90 gallon sump
 
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Mfreddy

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If possible I would switch the 2 pipe overflow to a Herbie style overflow. Requires installing a valve on 1 drain and using second as emergency. Or if you are able to use 3 pipes I would do bean animal overflow which is a lot safer. They can both handle a lot of flow. Much more then 2 durso pipe overflow
Is the durso so bad that a dual system can't drain 400gph on a 240 or is something wrong?
 

JoshH

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I would think a 2" full siphon would have no problems handling flow like that, my 1" is over half closed and it matches my mag 7 no problem (450gph ish with HH). how old us the system? have you inspected the insides of your drains for any build up? Also do you have holes drilled in the top of both drains, or just one?
 
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Mfreddy

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Holes drilled in both with a snorkel on each, the guy that installed the pumps "equalized" them by moving them both out about an inch. Flow has slowed since that.

System has been up for 20 months and I've had a huge algae problem that I'm treating with algae fix. I'm wondering if I should snake the tubes.

I have a fowlr and just looking for adequate flow, nothing special.
 

theMeat

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Would think one pipe, or one overflow box is lower than the other and that’s why one has more water going down.

What return pump are you running?
 
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2 m1's. I can't run them both on level 1 out 12 without over filling the tank
 

theMeat

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Do you have two return lines going up to tank? With 2 separate ends/jets?
You only need one pump. Splice both lines together and run one pump. The vectra m1 does 2000 gph. You want to be around 1200 with a 240 gal display. At 5 feet head eco tech flow chart says the mi does around 1600, so dial it back Some
That would put around 600 gph down each of the two drains. They can handle that no problem.
A herbie plumbing design, as op mentioned, will run quieter, that is all
 
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Pivitol

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To me it sounds like you may have a partial blockage on your pipes. I have a Herbie set-up with a 1" drain and 1" Durso running a Jabeo DCT15000(3900)gph at 60% it also feeds my manifold which only has a BP reactor but those drains handle it like a champ.
 

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Iv'e seen this some time ago. Honestly I gotta question it. What do You think?
 

Forsaken77

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Is the durso so bad that a dual system can't drain 400gph on a 240 or is something wrong?

No! A single Marineland durso on a 180 can handle 700gph with a 1" drain and return, and it's a dyal overflow as well (1,400gph). Maybe you have a clog somewhere?
 
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Mfreddy

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Stupid question, but is th
To me it sounds like you may have a partial blockage on your pipes. I have a Herbie set-up with a 1" drain and 1" Durso running a Jabeo DCT15000(3900)gph at 60% it also feeds my manifold which only has a BP reactor but those drains handle it like a champ.
thats what I'm thinking. I should be able to run both pumps at level 1 of 12 without overfilling the tank.
 

ca1ore

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No! A single Marineland durso on a 180 can handle 700gph with a 1" drain and return, and it's a dyal overflow as well (1,400gph). Maybe you have a clog somewhere?

ML may 'say' 700 gph per side, but the practical limit is much less than that. Regardless, with two 2" durso drains, the OP should not be seeing such low flow. Sounds like a block to me.
 

Liti

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Could it be the comb on your overflow? Just a thought...I recently had an issue with my slime line bulkhead grate overflow thing. It couldn't handle the flow so I increased the number of holes water could flow through, now it handles the full power of my dcs-3000
 
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