RMAS0934
Active Member
Hi Everyone,
So I have what feels like a tremendously stupid question lol, but this issue is stressing me out big time as I cannot trust my system enough to run the pumps/water flow (and yes I'm mentally preparing myself for a lifetime banishment from saltwater aquariums after this question
). And please bare with me as I try to explain this the best I can.
I am not able to keep the water level in my tank or sump consistent, but this is not due to evaporation. The issue is with how the overflow box is draining water into the sump, or at least that's my guess. The problem is that when the U-Tube is moved in any direction (not in or out of water, but left to right tilted along the top of the box, the amount of water that goes into the sump changes (the u-tube also has zero air in it). What this looks like is the overflow box (the black box within the tank) is completely full, or at least mostly full. The part of the overflow box on the outside of the tank may be half full with plenty of water going into the sump. However, if the u-tube is moved or adjusted, even by accident, the water level on the outer box to the drain will either get very low or very high, and the water in the sump will either get low enough to burn out the pump or have a level at 13+ inches. This process happens within a matter of under a minute. I can adjust the position of the u-tube along the top of the box, and the water in the sump will adjust as well. The problem is that it wont ever level out and stay consistent. It will lower until the DT overflows and the pump burns out, or it will raise in the sump until that overflows...slowly but surely. I have the system shut off now, and I have an ATO on the way, but this issue even renders an ATO completely ineffective! I have not had this issue until yesterday, but for some reason I cannot get this to work properly. I obviously cannot put any livestock in as the water level fluctuates too much, I can't track evap which would affect the salinity, and many other things as well. The overflow box is also rated slightly higher for gph than the pump, so I really don't understand why it would allow the water to be so low in the sump, as if the pump is out working it.
Any thoughts, instructions, etc. is very welcome and thank you all!
Ryan
So I have what feels like a tremendously stupid question lol, but this issue is stressing me out big time as I cannot trust my system enough to run the pumps/water flow (and yes I'm mentally preparing myself for a lifetime banishment from saltwater aquariums after this question
). And please bare with me as I try to explain this the best I can. I am not able to keep the water level in my tank or sump consistent, but this is not due to evaporation. The issue is with how the overflow box is draining water into the sump, or at least that's my guess. The problem is that when the U-Tube is moved in any direction (not in or out of water, but left to right tilted along the top of the box, the amount of water that goes into the sump changes (the u-tube also has zero air in it). What this looks like is the overflow box (the black box within the tank) is completely full, or at least mostly full. The part of the overflow box on the outside of the tank may be half full with plenty of water going into the sump. However, if the u-tube is moved or adjusted, even by accident, the water level on the outer box to the drain will either get very low or very high, and the water in the sump will either get low enough to burn out the pump or have a level at 13+ inches. This process happens within a matter of under a minute. I can adjust the position of the u-tube along the top of the box, and the water in the sump will adjust as well. The problem is that it wont ever level out and stay consistent. It will lower until the DT overflows and the pump burns out, or it will raise in the sump until that overflows...slowly but surely. I have the system shut off now, and I have an ATO on the way, but this issue even renders an ATO completely ineffective! I have not had this issue until yesterday, but for some reason I cannot get this to work properly. I obviously cannot put any livestock in as the water level fluctuates too much, I can't track evap which would affect the salinity, and many other things as well. The overflow box is also rated slightly higher for gph than the pump, so I really don't understand why it would allow the water to be so low in the sump, as if the pump is out working it.
Any thoughts, instructions, etc. is very welcome and thank you all!
Ryan
