Cant seem to balance water level in pair of sumps

[ynotme4886]

Quick summary of issue and hopefully someone will have an idea that I havent tried yet.

125gal AGA reef ready with 2 sumps underneath (was trying to be creative while cost effective and it seems to have failed)

Left sump 20g high and right sump 30g long. Both have a mag 9.5 in them for return pump

Valves on both drain lines and return lines.

No matter what I try they just wont run at full flow (all valves fully open)and if I adjust the valves one side will run a bit higher than the other etc etc. Have tried adjusting the height of the megaflow kit as well but no luck.

I have played with this for a few months now and just cant seem to get it set without it fluctuating on a daily basis

Its starting to drive me a bit nutty.

The tank is level both front to back and side to side (own a 6ft level) but it still seems one side runs a bit faster than the other side.

I should have just bought a 55 gal and made a new sump but its too late now (I had the other 2 already and thought running dual refugiums would give me the opportunity to own a mandarin down the line)....only way to swap it out is to rip down the whole tank and start over and that is not really an option.

Anyone got any ideas that I could try.

 

[panmanmatt]

This is a common problem when trying to run 2 return pumps. Even pumps of the same make and model will not pump at the same rate, there are small differences in every pump.

You would be much better off going with a single sump and larger return pump.

 

[ynotme4886]

I had thought that might be the case....even thought about going one pump size up on the side that seems to drain down faster/pump up slower but didnt know if that would help any or just make it worse.

 

[panmanmatt]

What if the other pump decides to flow more water and the larger pump decides to slow down a bit?

2 pumps is asking for trouble in the long run. It's only a matter of when it will happen. Most likely when nobody is home.

 

[ynotme4886]

My options are a bit limited.....the only way to swap out the sumps is to remove the tank and take them out through the top

Thats about 150 gallons of mess to move and not really an option.

I knew I should have bit the bullet and built a 55g sump but was trying to use what I had to keep the wife happy.

 

[chuck116]

Where are you located???? I have a mag 12 im not using that you can try if you want to....

 

[ynotme4886]

I'm out near McGuire AFB / Ft Dix area.

Thanks for the offer Chuck.

Lets see if anyone has any ideas before I rip out the pumps.... I just might have to try a higher flow pump in one side.

I always thought you could only pump it up as fast as it would come down and that a megaflow kit had a flow rate of 600 gph give or take. So why a mag 9 wouldnt do the job is beyond me.

Although it does make sense that 2 identical pumps could pump at different flow rates.... I guess age and manufacturing will add some variables to the mix

 

[chuck116]

I was told on this site that you can return 600 to 700 out of a 1 inch return but it depends on the amount of head pressure. how high are you pumping the water up to the tank and how many feet is the water flowing? also how is your plumbing is it hose or pipe remember that a 90 degree bend is equal to 1 ft and a 45 is 1/2 foot which will reduce the flow rate. also 10 horizontal ft is equal to 1 foot. Let me know I have and had flow issues that the members have helped me get through. Chuck P

 

[ynotme4886]

Okay.....the lines run straight up without any bends. They are 3/4 flex lines that fit right on the megaflow kit from AGA and the mag pump

Tank is 22in high and its a standard store bought AGA stand so it can't travel much more than 4' in height from the pump to the top of the tank. A mag 9 is supposed to have 700gph @ 6ft and 810 gph @ 3ft so at about 4ft if my math is correct I should have 770gph approx.

 

[Gonzapa]

Have you thought about drilling the sumps and connecting them to each other?
This way they should always be at the same level

 

[daveh285]

Hey Derrick,

OK,if I'm following this correctly, you have two sumps of two different sizes, two separate volumes a 20 high and a 30 long you are trying to get the water level the same "level" on both sumps. If you are dumping 600gph out of both megaflows continually it is 600gph into each one. However the 20 high will always appear the have more water because of the displacement even though they both contain 600gph. Because the 30 long displaces the water over a greater distance. What are the dimensions of both sumps. I hope I haven't made this more confusion. Dave

 

[daveh285]

Have you thought about drilling the sumps and connecting them to each other?
This way they should always be at the same level

Or you could put a U tube between both sumps, as long as you didn't break vacuum the water would self level. ;D

 

[chuck116]

both of those other posts sound good . i did not think of the water volumes in the different tanks . sorry

 

[ynotme4886]

Have you thought about drilling the sumps and connecting them to each other?
This way they should always be at the same level

Or you could put a U tube between both sumps, as long as you didn't break vacuum the water would self level. ;D

My father was over this evening and he suggested the same thing....so am going to try it over the next day or two.

the sump dimensions are as follows.... 30long.... 36l x 12w x 16h and the 20h is 24l x 12w x 16h

The good part is my baffles are the same height on both sides so it should be easy to regulate with a u tube

 

[daveh285]

Are your baffled compartments the same size? or is the 30L a little bigger. 6" makes a big difference between happy and ecstatic! ;D

 

[ynotme4886]

My end compartment where the return pumps are located are the same size on both sumps.

Other than that the only similarities are the height of the baffles.

 

[ynotme4886]

Ran 2 lift tubes connected by 3/4 clear flex tubing to connect the sumps together.

Hardest part was getting the air out of the line.

Works much better to keep the sumps even....have all valves open and running full steam and things are good.

Only problem is a bit of evap in the line due to the fuge lights/heat....so I check the line daily and blow out all the micro bubbles etc etc.

Much easier and less time consuming than the issues I was having before.

 

[Gonzapa]

can you post a picture?

 

[Hirobo]

On my setup im going to run the 29 and a 20 drill em both and connect them together via pvc this way I can run a sump and fuge sump so i can keep my future : skimmer in and chemicals and fuge for all the goodies ;D

 

[mikem]

Where you connect the 2 sumps together with the 3/4 tubing, theres a few options you can do to keep the siphon going.
Drill a hole in the top of the 3/4 and glue in an air valve like the valve used for air line tubing.
1: Attach a $10 aqua lifter to the hose and the other end back into the sump. No more worries.
2: Just leave an air line attached to the valve and open valve to suck out extra air in the lines.