MegaFlow overflow question

[sgrien]

I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.

Scott

[Marc Levenson]

What is happening is your plumbing isn't getting air into
it. So it creates a sudden vacuum and sucks the water
downward in a sudden surge. Not only does this create a ton
of bubbles, but the overflow box area will surge up and down
at this time as well.

If your Megaflow has a small cap at the top of it (I'm
assuming this is similar in design to a Durso Standpipe -
Google it), drill a small hole 3/16" in size. This will
allow a little air into the drain line, and your water will
exit quietly without the surges.

If it begins to act up after a month, pour some hot water
over that small hole to melt away salt-creep that
accumulates and clogs the orifice.

Marc


sgrien wrote:

> I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
>
> Scott

--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[sgrien]

Thanks for the reply marc,

The MegaFlow does have a small air inlet on top of the standpipe. You
can check it out here.
http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/pdf/megaflow_sheet.pdf

Could it be too small? It is rated at 600 gph and I'm using a Mag 9.5
for a return with two elbows and approx. 5 ft. head pressure. Right
now I am diverting about 80% back to the sump and it has not "surged"
but the output in the display is IMO very low. Ideas?

Thanks,

Scott


Marc Levenson > wrote in message >...
> What is happening is your plumbing isn't getting air into
> it. So it creates a sudden vacuum and sucks the water
> downward in a sudden surge. Not only does this create a ton

> of bubbles, but the overflow box area will surge up and down
> at this time as well.
>
> If your Megaflow has a small cap at the top of it (I'm
> assuming this is similar in design to a Durso Standpipe -
> Google it), drill a small hole 3/16" in size. This will
> allow a little air into the drain line, and your water will
> exit quietly without the surges.
>
> If it begins to act up after a month, pour some hot water
> over that small hole to melt away salt-creep that
> accumulates and clogs the orifice.
>
> Marc
>
>
> sgrien wrote:
>
> > I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> > return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> > overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> > so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> > amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> > drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> > anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> > I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> > 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> > connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
> >
> > Scott

[CapFusion]

Ahh, I remember this MegaFlow overflow thing after seeing that PDF file.
Can you open that Air Intake Elbow? Open it up wider and use a foam or
something to muffle the sound.

CapFusion,...


"sgrien" > wrote in message
om...
> Thanks for the reply marc,
>
> The MegaFlow does have a small air inlet on top of the standpipe. You
> can check it out here.
> http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/pdf/megaflow_sheet.pdf
>
> Could it be too small? It is rated at 600 gph and I'm using a Mag 9.5
> for a return with two elbows and approx. 5 ft. head pressure. Right
> now I am diverting about 80% back to the sump and it has not "surged"
> but the output in the display is IMO very low. Ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott
>
>
> Marc Levenson > wrote in message
>...
> > What is happening is your plumbing isn't getting air into
> > it. So it creates a sudden vacuum and sucks the water
> > downward in a sudden surge. Not only does this create a ton
>
> > of bubbles, but the overflow box area will surge up and down
> > at this time as well.
> >
> > If your Megaflow has a small cap at the top of it (I'm
> > assuming this is similar in design to a Durso Standpipe -
> > Google it), drill a small hole 3/16" in size. This will
> > allow a little air into the drain line, and your water will
> > exit quietly without the surges.
> >
> > If it begins to act up after a month, pour some hot water
> > over that small hole to melt away salt-creep that
> > accumulates and clogs the orifice.
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> > sgrien wrote:
> >
> > > I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> > > return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> > > overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> > > so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> > > amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> > > drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> > > anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> > > I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> > > 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> > > connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
> > >
> > > Scott

[Mctabish]

This looks very much like the Durso stand pipes! (check out
In essence, you have a "Carlson surge" now by the way you are describing it.

Now, how do you change it from a surge to an overflow?
In the top, is there a vent or any thing? If so, you want to open it enough
to break the siphon effect.

But, this does show how easy it is to make a surge device!

HTH,
Mc

"sgrien" > wrote in message
om...
> I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
>
> Scott

[Billy]

"sgrien" > wrote in message
om...
|I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
| return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
| overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds
or
| so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a
large
| amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow
will
| drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
| anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before?
Maybe
| I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section
of
| 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
| connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
|
| Scott

My OF gurgled pretty bad, too. I got a length of vinyl tubing about a
1/4 of the diameter of the standpipe, and threaded it down the pipe.
It took a couple days for me to find the 'sweet spot', but ones the
air had an outlet, the slorping stopped.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.769 / Virus Database: 516 - Release Date: 9/24/2004

[sgrien]

ok. After alot of screwing around with the "diversion back to sump"
valve just to the point where the standpipe no longer surges I was
curious to see whether I just may have been expecting too much as far
as return to the display tank so I decided to do an experiment. I
think I am correct in my math here but please correct me if not. Since
there are 3600 seconds in an hour, if I see how may seconds it takes
to fill a 1 gal. jug from the return and divide that into
3600.....Viola!.. my Gal/Hr.
Turns out it took 8.3 on try 1 and 7.8 on try 2 so lets say 8
seconds. My gal/hr through the display is roughly 450 g/hr. Do you
folks feel this is ok and maybe up my powerheads to get the desired
turnover (which I would like to be 1,000 g/hr) or is it worth screwing
around with the megaflow to get that extra 150 g/hr? I hope I'm not
being too anal (I probably am) about this whole thing.

-Scott

(sgrien) wrote in message >...
> I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
>
> Scott

[Mctabish]

According to All Glass "The new design can handle an actual maximum flow
through rate of 600 G.P.H. per overflow."
With that rating, to get your 1000 gph, you would need to suppliment. But
you still should see higher flow than what you have.

Have you tried calling AGA? I have found them to be responsive.

HTH
Mc

"sgrien" > wrote in message
om...
> ok. After alot of screwing around with the "diversion back to sump"
> valve just to the point where the standpipe no longer surges I was
> curious to see whether I just may have been expecting too much as far
> as return to the display tank so I decided to do an experiment. I
> think I am correct in my math here but please correct me if not. Since
> there are 3600 seconds in an hour, if I see how may seconds it takes
> to fill a 1 gal. jug from the return and divide that into
> 3600.....Viola!.. my Gal/Hr.
> Turns out it took 8.3 on try 1 and 7.8 on try 2 so lets say 8
> seconds. My gal/hr through the display is roughly 450 g/hr. Do you
> folks feel this is ok and maybe up my powerheads to get the desired
> turnover (which I would like to be 1,000 g/hr) or is it worth screwing
> around with the megaflow to get that extra 150 g/hr? I hope I'm not
> being too anal (I probably am) about this whole thing.
>
> -Scott
>
> (sgrien) wrote in message
>...
> > I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> > return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> > overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> > so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> > amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> > drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> > anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> > I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> > 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> > connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
> >
> > Scott

[Marc Levenson]

Your pump exceeds what that drain can handle. If you are
pumping in about 800gph into the 1" drain that can absorb
600gph max, the surging makes sense. Hopefully you can get
your setup to run 80% of the total flow of that pump.

Marc


sgrien wrote:

> ok. After alot of screwing around with the "diversion back to sump"
> valve just to the point where the standpipe no longer surges I was
> curious to see whether I just may have been expecting too much as far
> as return to the display tank so I decided to do an experiment. I
> think I am correct in my math here but please correct me if not. Since
> there are 3600 seconds in an hour, if I see how may seconds it takes
> to fill a 1 gal. jug from the return and divide that into
> 3600.....Viola!.. my Gal/Hr.
> Turns out it took 8.3 on try 1 and 7.8 on try 2 so lets say 8
> seconds. My gal/hr through the display is roughly 450 g/hr. Do you
> folks feel this is ok and maybe up my powerheads to get the desired
> turnover (which I would like to be 1,000 g/hr) or is it worth screwing
> around with the megaflow to get that extra 150 g/hr? I hope I'm not
> being too anal (I probably am) about this whole thing.
>
> -Scott
>
> (sgrien) wrote in message >...
>
>>I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
>>return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
>>overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
>>so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
>>amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
>>drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
>>anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
>>I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
>>1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
>>connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
>>
>>Scott

--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[sgrien]

I have a red sea wavemaker pro and it appears that at least 2
powerheads will be functioning at any given time(sometimes all 4) so I
am ordering 4 Maxi-jet 900's to supplement which are rated at 230
g/hr. Would less g/hr through the overflow actually be better giving
more contact time with my skimmer? I have an email into All-Glass
about this to see if there is some secret to get the 600 g/hr
advertised flow rate. I will post my findings to this thread when I
hear from them.

Scott


"Mctabish" <mc@ <nospam>johnsonclan.net> wrote in message news:<3uM6d.48504$He1.15861@attbi_s01>...
> According to All Glass "The new design can handle an actual maximum flow
> through rate of 600 G.P.H. per overflow."
> With that rating, to get your 1000 gph, you would need to suppliment. But
> you still should see higher flow than what you have.
>
> Have you tried calling AGA? I have found them to be responsive.
>
> HTH
> Mc
>
> "sgrien" > wrote in message
> om...
> > ok. After alot of screwing around with the "diversion back to sump"
> > valve just to the point where the standpipe no longer surges I was
> > curious to see whether I just may have been expecting too much as far
> > as return to the display tank so I decided to do an experiment. I
> > think I am correct in my math here but please correct me if not. Since
> > there are 3600 seconds in an hour, if I see how may seconds it takes
> > to fill a 1 gal. jug from the return and divide that into
> > 3600.....Viola!.. my Gal/Hr.
> > Turns out it took 8.3 on try 1 and 7.8 on try 2 so lets say 8
> > seconds. My gal/hr through the display is roughly 450 g/hr. Do you
> > folks feel this is ok and maybe up my powerheads to get the desired
> > turnover (which I would like to be 1,000 g/hr) or is it worth screwing
> > around with the megaflow to get that extra 150 g/hr? I hope I'm not
> > being too anal (I probably am) about this whole thing.
> >
> > -Scott
> >
> > (sgrien) wrote in message
> >...
> > > I have just finished filling my AGA 75g and I'm testing the
> > > return/overflow. I am noticing a strange behavior with the megaflow
> > > overflow. It will drain to the sump just fine but every 30 seconds or
> > > so a big downsurge of water will surge into the sump creating a large
> > > amount of big bubbles and noise. The water level in the overflow will
> > > drop quickly and then slowly rise again to the correct level. Does
> > > anyone have any experience with MegaFlow's or seen this before? Maybe
> > > I have too much return back to the tank? I have a straight section of
> > > 1" pvc from the bulkhead to the sump. Should I install a 90 or a 45
> > > connector in the sump? Thanks for your ideas.
> > >
> > > Scott