AIO Cube Return pump keeps running dry

[Jim8o]

If water in to your rear chamber doesn’t match water out.. then this will happen.

So, either you don’t have enough water going in (weir comb not big enough) Or your pump is pushing out more than what goes in.

For example:

If you have a weir comb of 4.5cm long (all gaps added up) at 2cm of water height.

you would get, roughly -

4.5 x 2 = total gpm (x60 to get gph) it works out at approx. 240gph.

Check this link out for a good calculator.

Rectangular Contracted Weir Calculator

My guess is your pump is pushing out more water than your weir is letting in.

I’m assuming you have tried with no media/floss in and had the same result? If not you may have too much media restricting flow.

 

[SliceGolfer]

I don't understand how you're having this problem with a stock tank, no filter sock, and the stock pump. Only things I can think of is 1) You have a floss blockage, restricting flow or 2) You have created a blockage with the bioballs, or 3) There is a blockage in one of the weirs.

I run an InTank Aquatics media basket in Chamber one, with a 3"x3" Pinky Filter floss pad in section one, Eight 1.5" ceramic media balls in section two of the media caddy, eight 1.5" Marinepure ceramic media balls in section three of the media caddy. I run an IceCap K1 Nano skimmer in chamber two, stock return pump in chamber three. I have no flow problems. Stock pump working fine, full flow, no issues. The ONLY time I see issues is if I allow the Pinky Filter pad to get clogged. Change it out, problem fixed.

inTank Chamber One Media Basket for Waterbox Cube | Waterbox AIO | Waterbox Marine | Waterbox Marine X | Waterbox Peninsula

inTank Media Baskets greatly improve and increase the filtration of your aquarium while making it easy to maintain

intankaquatics.com

Pinky Filters - dual sides Filter Floss for fresh & Saltwater Tanks

Our Dual-Sided Floss Aquarium Filters give you TWO FILTERS IN ONE! The White Side captures the larger particles, The Pink Side grabs the finer particles left behind

www.pinkyfilters.com

MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia 1 1/2” Spheres

Why does BRS recommend this? Biological filtration is the number one key to a nice and stable reef tank, and anytime we can sneak in some MarinePure Biomedia into an All in one tank, sump, or even overflows we will. We have run density tests and they have proved to be more porous than any live...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

IceCap K1 Nano Protein Skimmer

Compact Filtration for Aquariums Ranging from 10-30 Gallons Footprint: 2.75" x 3.2" (3.5 x 4in w/Mount)| Reaction Chamber: 2" | Height: 13"Skimmer Pump: DCair 200

www.coralvue.com

 

[Yallnotfwme223]

Hello all!

My Waterbox cube 20 return pump keeps running dry. Causing it to grind and spit sand all over my tank.
I have initially thought that it was just the media in the back causing the pump to eventually dry out because not enough water would flow into the far right chamber. However, the problem still occured with no media in the back at all.

It is not due to evaporation. I have it running with an ATO and the problem still occurs when the tank is completely full. I am thinking the pump is too powerful for the tank, but I have it down at the lowest setting and it still happens.

Please let me know if I am missing anything!
Thanks!

Mine also does this did you ever figure out why it was doing this and how to fix it ?