I dont Trust my Sump

[Diazreeflife]

Just for an FYI I have a Berlin system in place and my
sump is 2 chambers the last chamber being the return the first chamber is big to
hold my socks and all my equipment. My tank is 125 and my sump hold up to 40
gallons.

Long story short, for the longest I wasn't using the
baffles within my sump I had my sump water level above the baffles. Simply had
my ato add water when the level went down. Also my sump does not procure bubbles
at all so I didn't think the baffles were needed.

About 2 weeks ago I started using the baffles or at
least trying to, im ever since i started using them my ato container which is 13
gallon last maybe a few day! before my baffles were in use this would last me me
at least 7 days. I been testing me salinity and its still at 1.025 keep in mind
i do a water change every 7-10 days. I thought i finally had everything in sync
my overflow and my return pump, but last night one o my filter socks was over
flowing so i swapped it out and by doing so my flow into my sump went up and my
level in my last chamber was equal to my first chamber and above the baffles. I
played around with my overflow valves to slow the flow but then my tank filled
to high. Anyways since last night i gave up on my baffles and left water level
in my sump even and above the baffles.

What am i doing wrong?

 

[jservedio]

When you add in a baffle, the sensitivity of your ATO is going to dramatically increase. If your ATO is accurate to within 1/2", it is going to take much more evaporation to drop a 40g tank a 1/2" than a small chamber that is maybe 1/10 that volume.

The reason the water level in the last chamber went up when your filter sock was changed is because all of the water that WAS in the clogged filter sock is now in the last chamber. The same thing would happen if you turned off your skimmer. The reason you notice it more with the baffle in is the same reason why your ATO is more sensitive as I pointed out above.

The reason your ATO is using more water is because it is actually kicking on when it is supposed to. If you average how much RODI water you go through before/after having the baffle over the course of a couple of months - it will be exactly the same. Before your ATO was dumping a large amount of RODI very infrequently while now it is dumping smaller volumes of water much more frequently. Having the baffle is much better since your salinity will swing less. It isn't like adding in a baffle is doubling your evaporation rate...

 

[Diazreeflife]

When you add in a baffle, the sensitivity of your ATO is going to dramatically increase. If your ATO is accurate to within 1/2", it is going to take much more evaporation to drop a 40g tank a 1/2" than a small chamber that is maybe 1/10 that volume.

The reason the water level in the last chamber went up when your filter sock was changed is because all of the water that WAS in the clogged filter sock is now in the last chamber. The same thing would happen if you turned off your skimmer. The reason you notice it more with the baffle in is the same reason why your ATO is more sensitive as I pointed out above.

The reason your ATO is using more water is because it is actually kicking on when it is supposed to. If you average how much RODI water you go through before/after having the baffle over the course of a couple of months - it will be exactly the same. Before your ATO was dumping a large amount of RODI very infrequently while now it is dumping smaller volumes of water much more frequently. Having the baffle is much better since your salinity will swing less. It isn't like adding in a baffle is doubling your evaporation rate...

ok so my main concern is that if for some reason i cant get to my socks or im on a vacation and the socks get clogged up again my water level in the last chamber will drop and cause a false evaperation and my ato will dump into the take. This is why i dont trust my sump?

I now have my overflow open 100% and restricting my pump, now to get my first chamber water level to drop below the first baffle what should i do? and same question for the last chamber? I dont want to restrict my pump to much because i like high flow.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I would toss the filter socks if it were me, I won't use them on any of my systems and have no issues at all.

 

[Diazreeflife]

I would toss the filter socks if it were me, I won't use them on any of my systems and have no issues at all.

So what do u use?

 

[Waters]

How often are you changing your filter socks? I change my out once a week and have never even came close to it clogging up. I also could not imagine not using it....it is a cheap effective way to clean the water column.

 

[Diazreeflife]

I was going every 2 weeks but I will have to change them once a week now. But when I change the my marked water level in the last chamber goes up past the baffles

 

[Diazreeflife]

I would toss the filter socks if it were me, I won't use them on any of my systems and have no issues at all.

What do you use in place of filter socks??

Just to say what happen to me today I changed one of my filter socks because one get more flow the the other and start filling up faster. Well when I changed the sock my water level in the sump went up past baffles!! So now my ato marked leve is screwed up right?

 

[Diazreeflife]

Anyone?

 

[rayn]

Your level mark may have changed, but your water volume didn't. Say 100 DT and 40 sump for a total of 140 gallons. Then say your DT has a water line 1 inch below surface. Add another pump moving water to the DT from the sump and the DT fill and the sump empties. Same volume of water.

By removing the sock or using a new clean one you increased flow thereby allowing more water into your sump. Volume stayed the same.

I don't use filter socks either. Either let it drop straight into the sump and leave or clean your sump out say once a month.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I don't use any filter socks, floss, sponges or foams at all. I allow the detritus to settle out in my sump on its own the vacuum it out during water changes. The fewer things I have to maintain or clean the better and the happier both me and my reef are. If I miss vacuuming the sump its no big deal, if I missed cleaning a filter of some sort it could be a flood. I like simple.

 

[Diazreeflife]

I don't use any filter socks, floss, sponges or foams at all. I allow the detritus to settle out in my sump on its own the vacuum it out during water changes. The fewer things I have to maintain or clean the better and the happier both me and my reef are. If I miss vacuuming the sump its no big deal, if I missed cleaning a filter of some sort it could be a flood. I like simple.

Thought about doing that as well but I just don't think I want to get rid of the socks I like having crystal clear water in the tank and not have stuff floating around unless everything settles in the sump?