How "full" do you keep your sumps?

[VashonBigs]

I am trying to maximize my water volume. It is pretty high in the sump and can easily handle all pumps being turned off, etc. That said, when the pumps turn off the water level get above the plastic ring on the top of filter socks. Is that going to be a problem or is that normal?

 

[jviv1014]

Perfect

I am trying to maximize my water volume. It is pretty high in the sump and can easily handle all pumps being turned off, etc. That said, when the pumps turn off the water level get above the plastic ring on the top of filter socks. Is that going to be a problem or is that normal?

perfectly fine

 

[redfishbluefish]

It might be OK that the water is above the sock ring..... I think the potential issue is stuff coming out of your sock when the water goes over the top. Not sure if it would happen, but that's the only issue I see.

 

[AZMSGT]

Ideally, you want the water to flow through your sump. Depending on the sump and how it’s laid out will really decide on what level is best for it.

Most sumps will only have 1 spot where the level is supposed to change. That’s the section where the return pump is located. This is also where you would add water for topping off the sump.

In my sump my water flows from high to low sections. The sock section is highest, then the refugium section, then the skimmer section and finally the return pump section. The water level changes between each section and water flowing and breaking adds oxygen.

When you shut off pumps water filling your sump and overflowing one section or the other is perfectly normal and not a concern. As long as it doesn’t overflow the edges onto your floor, you’re good.

 

[GlassMunky]

It might be OK that the water is above the sock ring..... I think the potential issue is stuff coming out of your sock when the water goes over the top. Not sure if it would happen, but that's the only issue I see.

sorta like that, on my setup, sometimes a piece of macro will end up over the baffle cause the water raises and lowers there, but its not a huge deal.

 

[Slawman]

I would personally want the top of the filter socks to stay out of the water. I would not want crap to rise inside the sock and leak out every time I stopped circulation. You could consider lifting the brackets that hold the socks perhaps? Maxing the water volume is good but leave yourself some "wiggle room" to avoid accidental floods....!

 

[KrisReef]

I like an inch or two of room to allow for unexpected events that might happen during maintenance or overfilling the AtO, or ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have established a safe water level after shutting off pump and seeing where it ended up in height in sump. Currently I have about 100 gals of water in my 140g sump

 

[X-37B]

6.5" in my 40 breeder no baffle sump of my 120.

 

[adrianr514]

Throw a check valve on the return. Never have to worry about backflow again.

 

[Kris B]

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

Throw a check valve on the return. Never have to worry about backflow again.

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

 

[madweazl]

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

Why wouldn't a check valve work here?

As to the original question, how much of a difference in gallons is it going to make for you? With that number, did you increase the capacity appreciably? How much capacity did you gain? 1%, 2%, 5%?

 

[adrianr514]

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

Except in cases like mine where my coast to coast overflow has close to 20 gallons in it and when the pump is shut down during feeding and h2o changes a check valve won't keep that from happening

except for the fact that the check valve advice wasn’t given to you. So your reply is not even relevant.