Sump help

[Dmmuir]

Something seems wrong. Just got it functioning last night. 120 gallon dual overflow. One 1” and one 3/4 in each overflow.
Running dual herbie. 3/4 lines in each are primary with a gate valve in each.
1” in each are higher as backup.

Running a dc 2100 gph return pump and can’t turn it up past 3 of 10 without it going into the backups.

Is the gate valve too restrictive? Any ideas??

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is the gate valves both completely open?

 

[andrewey]

Do you have full siphons in both 3/4 lines (air has been purged)?

 

[Dmmuir]

Is the gate valves both completely open?

Yes, they are fully open

 

[Dmmuir]

Do you have full siphons in both 3/4 lines (air has been purged)?

They both seem to be siphoning fully.

Hand under the output in the sump there is smooth flow with no air

 

[JoshH]

They both seem to be siphoning fully.

Hand under the output in the sump there is smooth flow with no air

Pictures of your plumbing might be really helpful in this case, especially how the pipes are run under the stand. How are your two 3/4" lines run? Are they completely separated all the way to the sump or do they join up anywhere?

 

[Dmmuir]

Pictures of your plumbing might be really helpful in this case, especially how the pipes are run under the stand. How are your two 3/4" lines run? Are they completely separated all the way to the sump or do they join up anywhere?

100% separate.

I will snap pics when I get home and add to this thread.

 

[Dmmuir]

Pictures of your plumbing might be really helpful in this case, especially how the pipes are run under the stand. How are your two 3/4" lines run? Are they completely separated all the way to the sump or do they join up anywhere?

here’s the plumbing

 

[Snoopy 67]

Might be refraction but it looks like the siphon drains are too deep in the water, only 1" under is recommended.
Emergency Drains over the water so they make noise to alert you something is amiss.

 

[Dmmuir]

Might be refraction but it looks like the siphon drains are too deep in the water, only 1" under is recommended.
Emergency Drains over the water so they make noise to alert you something is amiss.

they are more than 1" under the water.
I want 1" under the running level?

I will cut these off when I get home.

 

[Dmmuir]

How directional are the gate valves? Does it matter much? One of these may be in backwards.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Valves go either way.
More than 1" under water creates back pressure so the siphon pipe has problems

 

[Dmmuir]

So the problem has been solved. I was told to get gate valves, and was told you can ID them as having a round Handle like an outside hose spigot.

I ended up getting stop valves in error ; now that I understand more inside they are incredibly restrictive. I’m unable to get 3/4 pvc gate valves in town so I installed ball valves for now and I’ll order gates and change them out . It only took 30 min to swap the stop to ball valves.

I DID also cut the siphon pipes to the proper depth.

Thanks all, now we are waiting on some cycling so I can ask my LFS Owner ( thanks for the help and advice John) to get me my Mai Tai clowns to get some color in there.