How to even a water level in sump

[Dashing.dayaa]

Hey guys i have a sump connected with refugium but there is a problem.the water level keeps dropping in sump because the return pump sending water fast to display tank,i am using valve on both sides to control the level but turning off half the valve almost resolves the issue but still very slow water drop in sump.how can i make it even and just because of this problem my skimmer is not working too.please help

 

[AlexStinson]

I'm sorry, are you using a pump to feed your sump? That is very 'no'. You need to get some sort of overflow box, that is not how this works, it is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

I bought a tank from somone and this sytem comes with it

 

[AlexStinson]

I'm sorry but that just doesn't work at all. there is no way to ever 'even it out' as they will constantly go out of sync due to wear and tear, dirt etc. Those pumps look pretty new. I think someone played you for a fool. You either need a drilled tank or an overflow box to do that.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Oh ok,ill buy a overflow box then

 

[TheEngineer]

I agree that you don't want a pump driving your return. I've never seen that before. They make hang-on overflow boxes for tanks that aren't drilled, like yours. You can buy them from our sponsors. Here's one from SaltwaterAquarium.com

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pf-300-overflow-box-eshopps/

Take a look at the bottom of that page, it shows what size you need.

 

[Fin]

Oh my gosh! You need an overflow. You will never even that out. You are going to end up with a wet floor.

Also, skimmers need a consistent water level to work properly.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Yeah

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Without overflow it will not work properly?

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Cant i control the level with valves?

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

After installing overflow how i will make it even?

 

[TheEngineer]

The overflow will drain at a constant rate. Once you adjust the rate from the overflow, using a valve, you shouldn't have to adjust it again. The level in your sump will stay even then. Evaporation will bring the level down though.

 

[Fin]

The overflow will establish and maintain a constant water level inside of your aquarium, unlike that huge gap you have now between the tank's trim and your current water level. The overflow allows any water being pumped up from the sump (above that water line) to leave the tank (draining into your sump) at the same rate it is being pumped into the tank. Don't put any valves on the drain line. You want a straight, unobstructed drain. Adjust the flow into your tank from your sump pump by using a ball valve in-line with the output side of your sump pump (don't restrict the flow from the input side of the pump). That is how you match the flow rate of your sump pump to the capacity of your drain from the overflow.

To maintain a consistent water level in your sump, you can either mark your desired water level on the side of the sump and add fresh water often to keep it close to that level to replace evaporated water (and that can be a gallon or two a day, or more, depending on the size of your system), or install an auto-top off system to replace evaporated water automatically.

 

[TheEngineer]

Don't put any valves on the drain line. You want a straight, unobstructed drain. Adjust the flow into your tank from your sump pump by using a ball valve in-line with the output side of your sump pump (don't restrict the flow from the input side of the pump). That is how you match the flow rate of your sump pump to the capacity of your drain from the overflow.

This is bad advice, in my opinion. Restricting the output of a pump is never advised. It increases the head pressure of the pump and decreases its useful life. Every "modern" drain approach utilizes a consistent return flow from an unobstructed pump and valved siphon return to set the drain flow rate. Read up on Herbie and Bean Animal drains to start.

 

[David M.]

This is bad advice, in my opinion. Restricting the output of a pump is never advised. It increases the head pressure of the pump and decreases its useful life. Every "modern" drain approach utilizes a consistent return flow from an unobstructed pump and valved siphon return to set the drain flow rate. Read up on Herbie and Bean Animal drains to start.

It's actually not bad advise. Restricting the output of a pump has no negative effects on the life of the pump, however restricting the intake of a pump does. I think you have it backwards.

 

[TheEngineer]

It's actually not bad advise. Restricting the output of a pump has no negative effects on the life of the pump, however restricting the intake of a pump does. I think you have it backwards.

I am not advocating, nor have I ever, restricting the input of a pump. You are incorrect about the negative effects on the life of a pump by restricting the output.

 

[Fin]

This is bad advice, in my opinion. Restricting the output of a pump is never advised. It increases the head pressure of the pump and decreases its useful life. Every "modern" drain approach utilizes a consistent return flow from an unobstructed pump and valved siphon return to set the drain flow rate. Read up on Herbie and Bean Animal drains to start.

Ok, I am not an engineer, so I am not going to debate you on this topic. You win. All I know is that I have used a ball valve on the output side of return pumps for 30 years and I have never had a pump failure. Some of my pumps have made it 10 years and were only replaced in order to upgrade. I believe you will see valves on the return side of pumps in most reef sump set ups. I even wrote to ReeFlo personally some years ago to ask if it was an issue restricting the output on their pumps (a Dart, to be specific). They told me that I could dial the pump back by as much as 40% - only on the output side - without concerns.

The thing is, this is not a thread about putting a valve on a pump. I doubt the OP really cares about this argument. We were just trying to explain the concept of using an overflow, rather than having a pump pumping water out of the tank to the sump and another pump pumping it back to the tank. I would hope that you would agree that this is a bad idea.

 

[TheEngineer]

Ok, I am not an engineer, so I am not going to debate you on this topic. You win. All I know is that I have used a ball valve on the output side of return pumps for 30 years and I have never had a pump failure. Some of my pumps have made it 10 years and were only replaced in order to upgrade. I believe you will see valves on the return side of pumps in most reef sump set ups. I even wrote to ReeFlo personally some years ago to ask if it was an issue restricting the output on their pumps (a Dart, to be specific). They told me that I could dial the pump back by as much as 40% - only on the output side - without concerns.

If you want to dial back a return pump, it is much better to divert the flow back down to your sump than to restrict the output. Or better yet, have a pump rated for your needed flow

The thing is, this is not a thread about putting a valve on a pump. I doubt the OP really cares about this argument. We were just trying to explain the concept of using an overflow, rather than having a pump pumping water out of the tank to the sump and another pump pumping it back to the tank. I would hope that you would agree that this is a bad idea.

Yup.

 

[R_C]

Ok, I am not an engineer, so I am not going to debate you on this topic. You win. All I know is that I have used a ball valve on the output side of return pumps for 30 years and I have never had a pump failure. Some of my pumps have made it 10 years and were only replaced in order to upgrade. I believe you will see valves on the return side of pumps in most reef sump set ups. I even wrote to ReeFlo personally some years ago to ask if it was an issue restricting the output on their pumps (a Dart, to be specific). They told me that I could dial the pump back by as much as 40% - only on the output side - without concerns.

The thing is, this is not a thread about putting a valve on a pump. I doubt the OP really cares about this argument. We were just trying to explain the concept of using an overflow, rather than having a pump pumping water out of the tank to the sump and another pump pumping it back to the tank. I would hope that you would agree that this is a bad idea.

+1 Very well said.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Yeah ill try to buy a overflow box to solve this issue but dont mind guys.my last setup was 55g and i use the same procedure in that tank with sump and never had a problem but in this tank almost spend 2 days to make it even but still a lil fast and a lil slow problem