Help!!! Trying to set up new RR tank, plumbing, WATER LEAKING..

[mladencovic]

Solution is extremely simple: do NOT use the elbow. Put a foot longer hose from the overflow and let it sit in the sump. 2!!! elbows in the line into sump is serious design flaw. Just drop the hose in the sump. That is all.

 

[mladencovic]

Here is how it looks in my tank (same overflow kit)

 

[Candi]

Kathy: sorry just saw this post. Ended up checking Lowes but they were out of the 1" , went to one pool place but the only flexible hose they had was very ribbed inside and seemed thin... daughter & hubby started getting crabby so I'll look again tomorrow or next week, thanks though

mladencovic: I was thinking of that also, seemed no real point to having it go into a elbow and bulkhead instead of just tossing the hose into the sump, maybe to slow it down a bit to match the return pump? I haven't had it running long enough to really tell (not that I'd even be able to with my lack of experience LOL)

Either way though I need new a new hose to be able to correctly attach it to the drain on the overflow since it was just pressed into the coupler and was a flood waiting to happen.

Thanks everyone I'll update once I finally get this up and running.. in the mean time I forgot to toss a power head into the sump full of water... I'm thinking stinky water tomorrow in there!

 

[mladencovic]

maybe to slow it down a bit to match the return pump?

I am sorry, but you got it a bit upside-down, which, in this situation, will be very dangerous for your carpet!!! Your return pump will pump it and pump it until the sump is dry unless your overflow can supply that water. You need your overflow return to be as unimpeded and as voluminous as possible. It will return only the water that your pump is pumping up, but it MUST match the flow of your pump. If it can not keep the pace with the pump, the water in your tank will spill, and THAT is really dangerous. It happened to me on my previous tank that had the external overflow, which was not returning water fast enough, the water went on the wiring of my pumps and heaters and I almost got electrocuted. That is why in this setup, the second line that is in the kit supposed to be a return line, I am actually using that as a backup return from the overflow.

 

[chase33]

Solution is extremely simple: do NOT use the elbow. Put a foot longer hose from the overflow and let it sit in the sump. 2!!! elbows in the line into sump is serious design flaw. Just drop the hose in the sump. That is all.

I agree. I did the same thing as mladencovic. I have the hoses, actually flex pipe running to the sump and is installed about 2" below the surface of the water. No extra unnecessary connections to leak. No need for the extra work or time trying to figure out how to connect to the elbow. It not easy trying to figuring out how to make the connections to the return and drain on the megaflow system as the bulkheads are not made to connect to PVC. Also, I also see where your hose connects to the bulkhead. This is sure to leak at some point in time if it hasn't already. The hose is supposed to fit over the bulkhead, not go into it. Those threads on the bulkhead are used for the nut to secure the bulkhead to the bottom of the tank. You cannot screw anything else onto it. You must use a hose to fit over the bulkhead and secure with a clamp. To connect PVC you would need a different bulkhead. 1" hose or flex pipe is too small for this bulkhead. I believe the megaflow directions say to use 1 1/4" flex pipe. The 1" fits so tightly that it doesn't go more than halfway up the bulkhead. I tried and after a few days it began to leak. I tried 1 1/4" flex hose from HD but found the 1 1/2" to fit the best. It is what I have on there now.

 

[Candi]

So you're saying I should try to remove the drain bulkhead and replace it? I was planning to just add one more short piece of 1" pvc to put the new hose over, or depending how much space I have cut off that coupler and just attach the hose to the pvc that is already there.

I haven't even gotten to hooking up the skimmer yet now I'm really nervous LOL

 

[mladencovic]

So you're saying I should try to remove the drain bulkhead and replace it? I was planning to just add one more short piece of 1" pvc to put the new hose over, or depending how much space I have cut off that coupler and just attach the hose to the pvc that is already there.

I would suggest for you to find and ask someone here, to show you their solution in practice - what, how and why they did it. Seeing it with your own eyes in real setup is much better then pics and infinitely better than any words. You wellcome to see mine, if you don't mind very, very messy basement and traveling to 08536 area.

I haven't even gotten to hooking up the skimmer yet now I'm really nervous LOL

No need, what type of skimmer is it? There are probably people here who have the exact same kind and will be able to guide you through their experiences.

 

[chase33]

Here are pics of my setup. Hope they are big enough as this is the first time I'm posting pics. I'll see myself in a second. Notice how the drain pipes fit over the bulkhead and not the other way around. Also notice how the pipes run directly into the sump and go down 2" below the surface. IMO this is the easiest setup. I want to make one change to this installation. At the moment I have water coming from the return line diverted back into the fuge area. I want to run one of the drains into the fuge instead. The drains are rated at 600 gph each. That will be too much flow running into the fuge so I will need to divert the drain so that I can control the amount of water going into the fuge and send the rest to the skimmer area. This all means I will have to change the right drain pipe. I guess sometime soon I will figure our how to do that. You could go out and purchase a new bulkhead, one that allows you to screw or connect an adapter to allow a connection to pvc, but in my opinion, if the drain will only run directly into the sump I think the above is the easiest way to do it. HTH.