Can't stablize water level in sump

D

dkexplorer1

My tank is drilled with 1" bulk head. The water go down to the sump via a 3/4 PVC. I used a single pump with a tee to feed my skimmer and return. The return has a on-off valve to control water flow. I have been trying for few days without success to keep the water level in sump at a certain level. It is either too fast and my sump water go down too fast and my auto topoff kicks in....or it is too slow the water level in my sump rasie too much. Any suggestion on my to syn up the water flow?
 
There's water that's in circulation that flows back into the sump when you turn pumps off and the higher the flow the more water in the circuit. As long as your overflow can handle returning the water you pump into your display you shouldn't have any issues with equilibrium. But +1 on what's your plumbing look like.


Adam Taylor- Benbrook
 
@mmiller40 wrote:
If water is not overfilling you tank then you dont have a problem. Just let it run. said:
+1, sounds to me like you do not have enough water in there yet. If the pump is draining the sump, but the tank is not overfilling, you need more water.

If the tank is getting overfilled, the overflow may be clogged or just not have enough capacity to keep up with the pump.
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Thanks for all the response guys. I will try to post a few pictures.

Currently, if I turn off the pump, water from the display tank will drin down to the sump to a point where I have less than an 1/2 inch before the water will oveflow the sump. Margin of error is very small. Therefore, I am afraid to add any more water in the system.
 
Either your sump is too small, your return pump is too big, or you've set up your system with a siphon to drain down water instead of using an overflow box. Can you provide specific details please?
 
@dkexplorer1 wrote:
Thanks for all the response guys. I will try to post a few pictures. Currently said:
Sounds like sump is to small ... How big is the tank and the sump.


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agree either too small of a sump or your creating a siphon that drains more water out of your tank the what the overflow returns. I have a 90G and use a 55G refugium when I turn everything off I have 2 inches left but I run a deep refugium (only the last chamber with return pump is lower and runs about halfway up the 55G, my first and last chambers hold 10G each. I am planning on using the 55G refugium on my 220G tank but am going to lower the water lvl to accomodate more overflow. I will be filling and testing mine next weekend when I can sit and watch it for a awhile [smilie=clapping.gif]
 
Do not add more water. If you shut the return pump off it should fill the sump near the top but should not be in danger of ever overflowing. You are correct to not add extra water.

Just give the info requested and we'll find the exact issue.
 
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