water level on nano

D

dallasflyfisher

My Biocube has the same levels in all 3 chambers and it is stock?? Is there a reason why you don't want this? It is really the way it is made. Water is pumped from Chamber 3 and comes into Chamber 1. It is an equal trade off. I get concerned when one level is higher or lower then another because it means there is a blockage in flow between chambers. It is a gravity thing.
 
I don't even pay attention to that window on the side. I fill it as far as I can without the water flowing over the back wall. (Fill it with the pump running so you can see the level of the water in operational mode)
The more water the better as far as I am concerned. You will find the tank gets a lot less noisey too with more water in it.
 
I have a JBJ and I have an overflow comb/box that keeps the level in the display constant. The levels in the back chambers change depending on the amount of water I put in. Is the biocube the same way or is your intake a grate on the back wall?
 
The part of the 1st chamber wall that was removed, is that between the chamber and the front display or from between the first and second chamber in the back?
 
Then if I'm seeing it right, you have an overflow set at the top of the 'correct' water level in the display and the water is not coming up to it? When I say an overflow comb I don't mean just a grating between the front and back, I mean a box with teeth on the top at the water line. Water needs to come up to that level before it can spill down into the back chamber inlet.

If you don't have that, it can be easily made or purchased.
 
That makes some sense. Before putting on a bigger pump try adding more water overall.

My other thought is to block off the drain that is completely submurged and block the other inlet up to the desired water level. You just don't want to starve the pump. Even with the bottom grate covered, the water level will drain down to the lowest spot on the upper grate unless total water volume in the front and the back is equal.
 
It seems like you need to block off that lower drain and install something like this on the top one.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~JBJ_Nano_Cube_M.S.S._Modular_Surface_Skimmer_for_12G___24G_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Aquariums_Nano_Cube~vendor~JBJ_Lighting~SearchStr~jbj%20overflow~action~view~idProduct~JB7333~idCategory~FIAQNC.html

If it still isn't working, copy paste it into a brower address line.
 
Ok see if this makes sense.
1. You have 2 openings going to the back chambers from the tank.(Grates if you will) The pump pumps the water from the chambers into the main tank.

2. The first chamber is really just part of the tank because there is nothing to regulate the water level since the 2 grates allow the water unrestricted flow between the Tank and Chamber 1 and gravity will keep that chamber equal to the tank, blocking a grate won't help because you will still have a second grate allowing the water to equalize.

3. You removed the plastic from Chamber 1 to Chamber 2 which is what originally regulated the water flowing to the second chamber. There is nothing to slow the flow between the chambers. When people mod the wall between the chambers they only widen the gap between the chambers, they don't remove the entire wall across the top.

I think the only way to correct this issue is to put back the plastic that you removed because no matter what size pump you use, the same amount of water will be flowing between the tank and chambers since the wall regulating the flow has been removed. There was only one way for the water to leave chamber 1 and that was over the wall (which is no longer there). If you block the grates too much the pump will pump water into the tank and eventually it will overflow the entire back wall. (This would also happen if you were using a stock biocube filter and it became clogged or too dirty)
You need to come up with some sort of way to regulate the flow between chamber 1 and chamber 2. Maybe modifying a Stock filter reducing how much water flows through it, yet allowing enough water through to avoid overflowing the back wall.

At least I think this is what you need. :shock:
 
Wow :shock: I follow it. That makes sense that chamber one and the display are one in the same. The tank level is governed by the wall height between chamber one and two. How does the skimmer affect that whole operation?
 
Based on that, I would do one of two things. Have the skimmer recirculate back to chamber one or upgrade the return pump to a similar gph as the skimmer pump - that will be almost impossible to balance.

I would probably allow free flowing water to pass the skimmer in both directions (so the skimmer pump and return pump always have something to work on.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top