Help with sump water levels

[Thatdude156]

I thought I had done enough research before building my sump using a Fiji cube 10 gallon baffle kit. Well everything runs okay, but the water levels are all the same in each section. I can only adjust the weir that comes before the bubble trap which will lower the water level in the return chamber. How should I set this up?

 

[Quietman]

I believe that's a two level sump. Only have one place where water flows over and not through - two levels (pump section and everything else). So if you have same water in systems and raise the gate - you'll have higher in skimmer section, lower in return.

If not, you may have some leakage around the last gate.

 

[LegendaryCG]

I thought I had done enough research before building my sump using a Fiji cube 10 gallon baffle kit. Well everything runs okay, but the water levels are all the same in each section. I can only adjust the weir that comes before the bubble trap which will lower the water level in the return chamber. How should I set this up?

Have you tried very slowly adding water to the different chambers to make sure you don't have a leak somewhere?

 

[Thatdude156]

I believe that's a two level sump. Only have one place where water flows over and not through - two levels (pump section and everything else). So if you have same water in systems and raise the gate - you'll have higher in skimmer section, lower in return.

If not, you may have some leakage around the last gate.

That’s exactly what I observed. By raising the gate to the return it raised drain level and lowered return level. Although because it’s slotted the water doesn’t flow over the drain baffle but through it instead.
Should I keep my return chamber with lower water level or is there a way to figure that out?

 

[Quietman]

Well, it's how it works. My return level is lowest part of sump. Now you can add more water and have it higher up to point of having same throughout as it exceeds height of gate but then you don't have consistent skimmer level - which is the whole point!

 

[Quietman]

Also, you should have any ATO sensors in the return section. That should be the only variable water level in your system by design. Some can and do run single section sumps but again, if you need a consistent level for maximizing skimmer performance, you'll need a steady skimmer section level.

 

[Thatdude156]

Also, you should have any ATO sensors in the return section. That should be the only variable water level in your system by design. Some can and do run single section sumps but again, if you need a consistent level for maximizing skimmer performance, you'll need a steady skimmer section level.

That’s something else I’m working on.. it’s a 20 gallon DT with a 10 g sump. so not sure if I should do skimmer. I wondered if live rock would be enough. I do weekly water changes. Maybe even a refugium rather than a skimmer.