Help..Water level dropping in Reefer display tank

[srpntmage]

Hi all, have a problem. Just set up my Red Sea Reefer 250 a couple weeks ago. Its my first reef tank with a sump.

I have been noticing that the level of water is dropping in both my display area and the return area of my sump from evaporation. I know this shouldn't be happening and the display should stay the same level.

My tank has a Vectra pump, which is adjustible, and the downpipe from the overflow is also adjustible. What can I do to remedy this problem? Do I need to turn up my pump?

 

[CoralClark]

Do u have an ATO installed?

 

[Jimbo662]

I just installed a dc pump. I set the pump for the flow that I wanted then adjusted the drain to match.

 

[srpntmage]

Do u have an ATO installed?

I have an ATO, but I am not using it, since I can't get the water level in the display to equalize. The way it is now, the ATO might never turn off, since the display water level changes.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Your pump is set to low, if its adjustable, its allowing the DT to a empty. Instead its supposed to keep feeding the system, or be just below the actual drain gph.

 

[srpntmage]

I just installed a dc pump. I set the pump for the flow that I wanted then adjusted the drain to match.

Thats what I did too, but as water evaporates, instead of it dropping the level of the sump, it drops the level of the sump and overflow box. It's my understanding that this is not right.

 

[AZDesertRat]

If you have a single overflow it should be wide open with no valves or restrictions. The return pump determines the flow rate and display tank level in relation to the wier on the overflow box and the overflow adjusts itself to match whatever the pump is doing, there is no matching or balancing required by you.

 

[twilliard]

My tank will raise if I dont keep the overflow clean lol

 

[srpntmage]

If you have a single overflow it should be wide open with no valves or restrictions. The return pump determines the flow rate and display tank level in relation to the wier on the overflow box and the overflow adjusts itself to match whatever the pump is doing, there is no matching or balancing required by you.

The Red Sea Reefers have an adjustment valve on the down pipe from the overflow. It adjusts the rate at which the overflow empties into the sump.

 

[AZDesertRat]

If it is a single overflow you are asking for a flood if you try to restrict the overflow to match to the pump. The pump always determines the flow as long as the overflow is sized correctly.
Open up the overflow all the way then turn your pump up until the level in the display is correct and your problem is solved. The evaporation will only show up in the return section and the display level will be constant. You are over thinking things.

 

[srpntmage]

If it is a single overflow you are asking for a flood if you try to restrict the overflow to match to the pump. The pump always determines the flow as long as the overflow is sized correctly.
Open up the overflow all the way then turn your pump up until the level in the display is correct and your problem is solved. The evaporation will only show up in the return section and the display level will be constant. You are over thinking things.

Reefer series tanks don't work that way. There is a built in downpipe regulator that you have to use. If you open it all the way, it sounds like a toilet is flushing. The regulator is there to insure quiet even flow to the sump. There is also a built in auxiliary pipe so that you don't flood your tank if the main pipe clogs or something.

 

[Wiz]

The display tank level dropping makes no sense to me. The rate at which water enters is the same as it leaving. I understand pumping water in faster than it can drain and raising display level. But it should be impossible to drain faster than it fills in my understanding of how it works. You just can't drain water thats not there. If display level drops it must be the return pump not pumping as much as it did.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Sounds like a poor design to me. What happens when debris lodges on the partially closed valve and you flood things? I think I would go after the manufacturer due to a faulty design in that case as it is flawed. Does anyone have any photos of an owners manual showing this design? I would like to see this one in action.

 

[srpntmage]

Sounds like a poor design to me. What happens when debris lodges on the partially closed valve and you flood things? I think I would go after the manufacturer due to a faulty design in that case as it is flawed. Does anyone have any photos of an owners manual showing this design? I would like to see this one in action.

The design is fine, like i said, there is an auxiliary pipe that prevents an overflow from ever happening if the main pipe should clog. I just am having issues with balancing the water because of my adjustable pump and adjustable downpipe.

 

[AZDesertRat]

That is the first time you have answered the question asking if it has one overflow or two.

 

[Latino277]

Looks like these come with a Herbie style overflow. one full siphon and one emergency overflow. It sound like the full siphon isn't adjusted correctly. I looks like it's designed to run about 600gph (per website). Open the FS and turn up the pump to your the flow that you want. then slowly adjust the FS until the water level rises to the very edge of the emergency overflow or just trickles over. That should do it.

 

[srpntmage]

That is the first time you have answered the question asking if it has one overflow or two.

You are correct, sorry. I posted this question on another forum and had mentioned several times that it had an emergency overflow pipe.

 

[Reefhobbie]

I have been running to the same issue my tank has now been set ip for about 3 months after an upgrade..i have a coast to couast overflow bof with valves to regulate noise. And my water level is always changing..my theorie is that the rocks in my aquascape are absorving water ‍