Sump return pump to powerful

get a restriction tap so u can adjust yer water speed on yer return all the other ideas work but u cant adjust them to yer needs a tap gives u options

 

the only problem is, some pumps just can't take the back pressure for a long period of time. While a ball valve would work temporarily, I don't think it would last long on those pumps. Those pumps just aren't that good. If it were a mag drive, I would say go for it but not with the rio.

 

Yea, ball valves and baffles work well... I went low-tech with two medium paper clips over the return line. Been running fine. Before this set up it was running like that for a year. No problems. Then again, most of my problem is evap.

 

I was told that if you put restriction on the pump with a ball valve, that the pump would be working harder to pump it up making it more likely to over heat. It kinda made sense to me, but I'm new to this so. Just wondering.

 

JSfish - advice from another newbie - the cheapest answer is to put a ball valve on the return line from the pump back to the tank. Most aquarium duty pumps are volume, not pressure pumps, so they won't burn out if you put resistance on the outflow side. Don't ever gate the inflow - making the pump suck up against gravity or a valve will definitely kill your pump.

there's nothing wrong with running a bunch of water thru you sump quickly - your skimmer will continue to suck up water and process it at its own pace, assuming its intake and return are both in your sump.

another cheap way to fix your return problem is to make your return design more complicated and include increased resistance. for example, if you just have a simple 1" opening dumping return water back into the display, turn it into a spray bar with multiple small holes or a "t"'d return with some downsized 1/2" or smaller outlets.

i have the same type of issue (big pump, small tank/overflow) and have a ball valve and multi-headed reduced size return. works great, and my pump has never been even warm.

doog

 

I see. Thanks.

 

what is the height from the pump to the outlet?

 

if you run a longer return hose and maybe run it in several loops before returning it will slow the water down but watch out for alot of back flow if the electric goes out.alot of turns or elbows will slow it.