Display tank water level?

[Mrod]

I have a new Jabeo pump (2 months old), no coral in tank yet, just 2 fish and still lights out so very clean although cycled already. Every couple days, sometimes every week or 2 weeks my display tank water level mysteriously starts to lower some. Ultimately I raise the power of the power head 1 and it goes back to normal.

Is there anything else it could be other than the pump losing a little bit of power - anyone else have to constantly adjust their pump and have water level drop some off and on regularly?

First time ever with sump and stumped as to what else might be the cause or of maybe my pump is just not consistent. It’s a DCP-5000 which got good reviews. Tank is a Red Sea Reefer 250 so should be plenty strong.

Any ideas or similar experiences??

 

[acan-man]

first thought is a small leak. Check for salt creep. Is the water level in the return chamber fluctuating? Do you have an auto top off that could be compensating for the leak so you might not notice in the sump. Check you salinity to make sure it hasn't dropped. Otherwise you might be losing power on the pump due to calcium build up or clogged intake.

 

[Mrod]

I’ll keep checking but haven’t found any leak or salt creep the last few times. Also lights still out so no calcium/corraline, etc yet.

Someone else told me my tank is haunted, lol

 

[acan-man]

O dang I always forget about ghosts! I'm with them gotta be it haha.

It is possible to get some calcium buildup from the salt before lights, you'll see it as tan buildup. Especially in the pump line if its clear. Do you have a valve on the line that could be slightly closing? Or a pressure valve that is clogging?

Third guess, is your outlet overloaded and you might be losing too much power to other equipment?

 

[Mrod]

Hmmm. Don’t believe 1 or 2 and not clear pump line. Gate valve hard to turn but never know but not likely. Also only on returns not return.

But your 3rd guess is interesting and maybe the reason. Are You referring to the circuit breaker or the actual wall outlet or power strip? I have it in a DJR strip but maybe the amps are drawing more at times that is causing the pump to sometimes lose a little bit of power to reduce the flow??

I didn’t think of this and do have on the strip the pump, skimmer, power and inkbird with a heater.
It’s a 4 outlet strip, 4th outlet empty. But also have another 4 outlet with 4 other items and both of the dj4 strips are in one wall outlet.

 

[acan-man]

I don't think it would be an overloaded circuit. That would most likely trip the breaker. But seven items in two power strips is a fair amount of juice for one outlet. You can test a few ways. A volt meter to check the empty socket in the strip as you turn off/unplug other equipment. See if it raises or falls, if it falls when you turn everything on then that could explain reduced power and flow. The new apex (if you have one) will also show power consumption over time. Cheap test, you said you hadn't plugged your lights in. Do that and see if you have a reduced flow. Or split the two strips to separate outlets and see if flow rises.

But I'm going to come back to the potential leak. You have a sump, which means you have some form of an overflow with drain pipe. Regardless of limited return flow, your water should not go below your drain pipe without a leak. If you can't see any signs of leak on the outside, It may be in the overflow box/tower. If your drain pipe isn't full sealed at the bottom that could cause a small leak that would run down the drain pipe and you wouldn't notice. Check for salt creep on the outside of the drain pipe right below the exits on the bottom/back of the tank. Also possible there is a small leak on the side of the over flow box allowing water in the side instead of over the top. How far below your normal surface water is your drain pipe inside the over flow? If it's significantly lower than your water level, I would think that a leak in the box or pipe would be the most likely cause. Especially considering the length of time it takes to lower. Salt creep can slowly seal or open to make the variable drain time. To test that without having to drain the whole tank, put a taller drain pipe in the over flow, or get a straight fitting and extend the drain that way. If the tank then levels off to the new drain pipe height, you have a leak in the overflow box. If it continues to drain as before, check really closely around the bulkhead and drain seal.

 

[Mrod]

First of all whoever you are acan man thank you!!
And I wish I was your neighbor right now!!

Going to go through your message and this weekend see if I can figure it out.

Earlier today I didn’t see salt creep but will check again as You have some other areas to check I need to double check carefully.

Hopefully no leak but either way it has to be something. Ghost hunters is so mad at you right now

 

[acan-man]

No problem! R2R is always here to help.

And don't get me wrong, it still may be ghosts. But I don't know how to test for that haha

 

[Mrod]

Final post just in case anyone else has a similar issue. All I did around may 16 was turn the return off as I was thinking of swapping it out since I have a backup in case it was the pump. I didn’t swap it and after a few minutes turned it back on. Mysteriously it went back to the normal water level and has been no issue since??? No idea still what the cause was but for now just happy it seems to be running normal. Possibly something was clogged somewhere and then it got blasted out. Fingers crossed I didn’t just jinx myself and it stays fine.