Overflow / Pump Questions - Protien Skimmer Recomendation.

NVCyberPro · May 15, 2020

I picked up a used 150 gallon system with livestock just over two months ago. It has a 29 gallon sump with a SCA-301 skimmer, eheim 1260? return pump. I have replaced the 1" durso overflow with a 1-1/4" durso overflow following these instructions (https://www.dursostandpipes.com/make-your-own-durso-standpipe) I have made many adjustments to the overflow and no matter what I do it seems that everything will be fine for a few hours then for no apparent reason the water flow will change, the water will either rise of fall 1" or so in the sump (return section). Under the tank I have to 45 degree elbows and it dumps into a sock. Do I have something wrong with the overflow? I am starting to the think the pump may be fluctuating?

The tank houses a Blue Tang, Sailfin Tang, Yellow Tang, Snowflake Eel, Horned Cowfish, Bursa Trigger, Pair of clown fish, Wrasse, Diamond Goby and a Blue Damsel. It has a mix of live rock, star polyps and mushrooms. I have a variety of LPS corals, Bubble and other corals that are in QT that I plan to add in the next 4-5 weeks. I also have a mandarin, starry blenny and shark nosed blenny in a separate QT to add later.

I have been battling brown algae on the substrate (mostly middle of the tank, clean on the sides???) and have had two blooms of cyano. When we moved the tank I changed approximately 40% of the water as that was lost in the move. I have since performed a 25-35% water change every other week trying to lower nitrates. So that leads to my second and third question: I am asking for protein skimmer recommendations for a tank this size with fish & coral as well as other recommendations to lower nitrates. I read everywhere that it is overfeeding? I don't over feed but this crew does eat a lot.

Also I change or clean the filter sock daily to every other day. Last week I also pulled all the mechanical filter media out of the canister (I didn't mention that above). The tank also has 4 power-heads, 3 regular, 1 waver maker. I have a RKL on its way that I will add over the next week to control the flow.

Thank you

James

Dragon52 · May 15, 2020

If your return pump is not controllable then you will probably need to add a valve between it & the display tank. If the tank is not drilled & you have an overflow going to the sump make sure it's not pulling air. If you can add some pictures of the sump area that would help everyone give you more ideas.

NVCyberPro · May 18, 2020

Thank you, I will take some photos.

NVCyberPro · May 19, 2020

Requested photos, I posted to the wrong thread earlier

NVCyberPro · May 19, 2020

Pics of the tank.

Dragon52 · May 19, 2020

Ok so it looks like you have a Valve in the right spot that can control the water into the tank but if you don't have an ATO to replenish the evaporation water you'll still have a problem.
Also if that hose going into the valve doesn't have a clamp on it I would put one on it.

NVCyberPro · May 19, 2020

Dragon52 said:
Ok so it looks like you have a Valve in the right spot that can control the water into the tank but if you don't have an ATO to replenish the evaporation water you'll still have a problem.
Also if that hose going into the valve doesn't have a clamp on it I would put one on it.

There is no clamp, your correct I need to get on that. Good catch. When I picked this system up the previous owner had a 1" durso pipe and had that valve squeesed down to restrict water. I built a 1-1/4 durso tapered to a 1" pipe (bulkhead size) to allow greater flow plus I though the noise and hum from the pump were caused by the restriction and additional pressure? The pump is still louder than I like but not as loud. I could restrict the flow there if that is the best way???

I just finished my ATO float holder design, well see how this works.