Sump Flow Issues - Red Sea Max E260

[gmiller12345]

I set up a used Red Sea Max E260 a few months ago and the seller gave me the pipe kit for the sump (no sump). I have never had a sump before and have no experience with plumbing but I wanted to give it a try anyway.

Equipment
I found a good deal on a Trigger System Triton 26 v2 that fit nicely in the cabinet. I got a Tunze osmolator 3155 for my ATO and a matching Trigger Systems 10gal reservoir for my RODI water. I have a reef octopus 110 for my skimmer and a Reef Octopus Varios4 for my return pump. I have the stock pumps in each corner running and I put the closed off plugs in the bottom two corners as per the instruction from Red Sea.

Plumbing
I hooked up the Red Sea pipe kit following the instructions provided but quickly realized their pipes down in the cabinet don’t line up with the sump I bought so I went out and bought some pipe and connectors (unions, elbows, and a gate valve). I then learned that Red Sea uses metric plumbing so I ordered some metric to standard pvc unions to solve the problem. I did my best to get everything measured and lined up, but it came out a bit messy. I used the tubing that came with the Red Sea kit for the return pump instead of hard plumbing it.

Problem
I cannot get my return pump section to stay even enough for my ATO to do its job properly. It inevitably drains enough in the return section and refills via the ATO until there is so much water in the system that it comes down the overflow. I think the water coming down the pipe from the back of the DT is not keeping a consistent flow for some reason. Also, the water level changes in the back of the DT (where the pipes are) when I think it should be only changing in the return pump area.

What I Have Tried
I started by filling the DT up to the downflow pipe. Then I filled up the sump almost completely full (1” to the top). I left the gate valve completely open and turned my pump to speed setting 4. I then adjusted my gate valve slowly till the downpipe got quiet (full siphon). Then tried to make very small adjustments over a long period of time to get the return pump section water level consistent. I have also tried varying speeds on my return pump. It always ends the same way where my ATO overfills the system.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated as I have been battling it this issue for a few months now. Thanks!!

 

[Mikeltee]

Sounds like you need to open that gate valve. I have no experience with that type of drain. I have the one with a 90 on the top of the overflow with a hole at the top. It's dead silent and it doesn't need to be tuned. You have plenty of room in your overflow for it if you are unable to tune what you got. Plenty of people run your style of overflow so it can probably be tuned correctly. Here's a link to the durso. They are simple to make. https://www.dursostandpipes.com/

 

[banger32]

I'm not sure I'm no expert but I have the 170e and I hate it no matter how many times I adjust that valve the level never stays where I want it anyway I think that valve belongs on the end at least that's how mine is

 

[banger32]

So basically you are adjusting a valve that has no water going in it your middle pipe is emergency overflow so all the water is going down the end pipe and you have no way to control it

 

[gmiller12345]

Apologies, the center pipe is the overflow, where I repurposed the Red Sea gate valve and pipe since it worked nicely for this sump (no additional metric to standard unions needed). The down pipe (right most) and the gate valve I am adjusting has the red handle. The overflow valve (Red Sea one) is completely open.

 

[banger32]

Oh ok I see now. It's still the worst setup I ever used I want to change the piping completely it's just to much of a pain

 

[gmiller12345]

Oh ok I see now. It's still the worst setup I ever used I want to change the piping completely it's just to much of a pain

On your 170e do you still use the original pumps in the overflow area (the two back corner pumps)?

 

[Quintin]

Yup, open the gate valve fully, start the pump and dial it in. Mines been rock solid since dialed in and water remains at a constant level.

 

[Pvtgloss]

@gmiller12345

I have a e170 with sump. Same thing happened to me. I lost a lot of sleep over it. My LFS suggested closing the valve until there's a small trickle down emergency pipe. It worked like a charm. Been stable ever since and that was almost 2 years ago.

 

[gmiller12345]

@gmiller12345

I have a e170 with sump. Same thing happened to me. I lost a lot of sleep over it. My LFS suggested closing the valve until there's a small trickle down emergency pipe. It worked like a charm. Been stable ever since and that was almost 2 years ago.

Thanks! I will give that a try. Do you still use the stock pumps in the DT overflow? I noticed with those on it lowers the water level in the overflow enough to where I can’t get the water level high enough to the emergency overflow (without putting too much water in the system so when return pump goes off the sump over flows).

 

[Pvtgloss]

Thanks! I will give that a try. Do you still use the stock pumps in the DT overflow? I noticed with those on it lowers the water level in the overflow enough to where I can’t get the water level high enough to the emergency overflow (without putting too much water in the system so when return pump goes off the sump over flows).

I'm not an expert but this is what worked for me. I have a trigger system sump, red sea plumbing and a cor 15 cranking pretty good. I did modify my drain pipe with a metric-to-standard union, gate valve and pipe to sump. I have the open flow grill installed.
Definitely only add enough water that your sump can handle when the pump is off. From there close your valve slowly until your water reaches the emergency valve.
Something that also worked for me was getting a pvc cap and drilling holes in it to raise my drain pipe to narrow the gap between the drain pipe and emergency pipe.
Drains with pump on

Drains with pump off

 

[gmiller12345]

Thanks to everyone who replied!! Finally got it locked in by letting it get right to the overflow pipe as recommended. ATO properly filling for evaporation and no water level issues in the overflow. Been steady for two days now

 

[dadnjesse]

Glad you got it running. I would turn the sump around or change the return down pipe to the left side if possible to shorten the length of that pipe. Also if you could change the 90's to 2 45's the water would flow with less resistence.