Water level is to high...

[addlime8]

The water level in my tank is to high and I can't figure it out. There are no cloggs in the pipes and I have a mag drive 7 and a Eshoppes PF-800 overflow box. The water on the overflow box is all the way to the top as if it is overflowing with water. I'm very concerned of the tank flooding, anyone know why it could be so high?!?! Would having two U-tubes in the box cause any problems? I feel like that would help siphon the water out faster, but there is only one drain.

Please help, I'm going on vacation soon and very worried.

 

[IHOP]

I the overflow box is only supposed to have 1 u tube I woudl take the second out. Also you can just put a valve on the output of the mag 7 to restrict the flow a bit.

 

[ronnie]

Valve the pump back or try lowering the overflow box.

 

[addlime8]

There is only a single u-tube on it right now, I was thinking of putting two.

Are you guys talking about putting a ball valve on the return plumbing?

 

[addlime8]

I have a ball valve on the return pipe and it was half way open, I closed it to about a quarter, the overflow box is now working properly with the water draining in to the box instead of looking like it's flooding it. Thank you very much.

Are there any concerns I should worry about with restricting the pumps flow? I can not notice anything wrong when I restricted it and no leaks or anything...just very stressed.

 

[Paul_N]

What return pump are you running? The overflow box is rated for a max of 800gph. You are fine with throttling back the pump just make sure the valve is on the output of the pump also.

 

[MitchReef]

Never throttle on the inlet side of a pump, only throttle toe output side.

 

[addlime8]

The pipe connected to the Mag drive 7 has the ball valve on it. I'm only restricting the flow in to the tank, not the drain. It's been running smoothly since so I think I'm in the clear.

 

[addlime8]

Never throttle on the inlet side of a pump, only throttle toe output side.

Yes I'm throttling the output side of the pump, but how come you can't throttle the inlet side?

 

[Paul_N]

If you restrict the input of the pump it will cause stress on the motor but if you restrict the output it will just cut down the flow and even reduce wattage used.

I find it odd you should have to restrict the flow on a Mag 7 at all. That pump is rated at 700gph but with head pressure will be less than that so with your overflow box being rated at 800 gph there should be no need to restrict.

 

[addlime8]

This is going to sound really dumb...Inlet is the part where the water is being sucked in to the pump and the output in the part shooting the water out?

I have a pvc pipe that is sticking out of the output I believe and has a 90* elbow and then a ball valve, and then another 90* elbow and a pipe that is vertical and then another elbow that the water comes out of and in to my display. Is this the correct way, I definitely don't want to cause stress on the motor.

 

[ronnie]

That will be fine. Most people prefer to use less elbows/couplers as they can cause more head loss, which means the pump doesn't output as many gph.

 

[addlime8]

I would think having the ball valve on the output would cause stress because the pump is trying to force more water out.

If it was on the inlet would it not be getting enough water making the pump work harder/drier like an A/C unit with a window open?

 

[ronnie]

Ball valves on the output normally lower wattage of the pump. Should be no harm.

 

[addlime8]

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Valving the discharge side of a centrifugal aquarium type pump often makes the pumps more efficient. It in no way harms the pump and usually lowers the watts consumed since you are reducing the work the pump is required to do by restricting the GPH.
When you restrict the suction side of a pump you in effect starve the impeller causing cavitation or microbubbles which destroy the pump in time.

I would reduce or eliminate all the elbows on the pump for a smoother flow.

How is your overflow plumbed between the overflow box and the sump? Pipe or tubing size, fittings or elbows, valves, etc? That overflow should easily outperform your Mag7 pump.

 

[jestr]

i might have passed over it but do you have a sponge on the overflow box if so clean it.. or maybe even take it out. it only made mine quiter other then that i am not sure of its purpose

 

[addlime8]

Valving the discharge side of a centrifugal aquarium type pump often makes the pumps more efficient. It in no way harms the pump and usually lowers the watts consumed since you are reducing the work the pump is required to do by restricting the GPH.
When you restrict the suction side of a pump you in effect starve the impeller causing cavitation or microbubbles which destroy the pump in time.

I would reduce or eliminate all the elbows on the pump for a smoother flow.

How is your overflow plumbed between the overflow box and the sump? Pipe or tubing size, fittings or elbows, valves, etc? That overflow should easily outperform your Mag7 pump.

I thought so too about the pump:overflow. My plumbing for the overflow box is pretty much the same, straight drop with an elbow then straight tube and another elbow to drop the water in to the sump. How can you plumb it without elbows??? The water drains are very hard so I have no complaints.

 

[addlime8]

i might have passed over it but do you have a sponge on the overflow box if so clean it.. or maybe even take it out. it only made mine quiter other then that i am not sure of its purpose

I do have a sponge and I clean it every day. It works as mechanical filtration.