Reoccuring issue with water flow

[dasteve003]

I bought my tank used and how it works is there is a box that hangs on the back of the tank with 2 sides one that is in the tank and the other on the outside with a plastic U shaped pipe that flows water from the inside box to the outside box continuously. Then from the outside box it goes into the gray tube you see in the top left of the 1st pic. It passes through 4 layers of the filters shown in the second pic. The first 3 layers are all the same and have probably 200 - 300 little slits on the bottom of the white plastic containers to let water flow through each of them and the last one is solid on the bottom with a 4-8 holes at the left end for water to flow through and turn the wheel at the bottom left. The issue I keep having is that the water level in the entire housing box should be the same all the way across and it's not, the right side is way lower. I took the 4 filters out and cleaned them very well (they were pretty dirty) and that resolved the issue everything started working beautifully for about 12 hours. Issue came back so I had to take them out and clean them again and not a day later I'm having issues again. The water is actually coming out of the right side of the filter container area into the bigger area on the right like its to coming to fast for the filters to handle it or something and it seems like there's standing water in the white plastic containers the filters are in causing the issue. I realize I probably made a big mistake by not rinsing the 40 lbs or so of dry rock I put in but the second time I cleaned the filters they didn't look even close to as dirty as the first time.

Do I need new filters or what is going on? I can't possibly be expected to clean these filters daily or even twice a day can I? I feel like I'm becoming more and more frustrated instead of excited about my new tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dasteve003]

Photos didn't seem to upload correctly the 1st time

 

[HiddenUser]

Do you have an ATO that replaces water as it evaporates? Prior to an ATO I noticed in my sump that the water height in the chambers would vary due to evaporation.

Is it an option to slow the flow rate of the return so that you're able to keep more water in the chamber on the right? This in turn would also slow the rate of water draining into your sump as well.

Maybe try running without the filters for 12-24 hours to identify whether or not they are the issue? Not sure if it would be possible buy using filter socks instead of your current setup might help?

 

[dasteve003]

I do not have an ATO and I don't believe there is an option to slow the flow rate as its just a hose coming from the outside box into the top of the of the left side of the big container below. It seems like when I first replace the filters after being cleaned it works well but then gets worse and worse overt the next several hours. You think I could run them with just the white containers in there with the pink filters remvoed and see if that helps? That would tell me if the water flow is too much it self or if the filters just can't handle that much water flow at which point I'd need new filters correct?

 

[HiddenUser]

Either new / fewer filters...or put some sort of valve on the return to slow the rate at which water is pumped back into the tank from the sump.

 

[Carlitosway84]

Any more photos of the overflow boxes and plumbing setup? What kind of pump are you running? What size tank?

I had a client with this style sump and was problematic. Hopefully I can help.

 

[dasteve003]

I believe its a 55 gallon tank, I think this is the exact overflow box I have but if not it's very close Amazon.com: Eshopps PF-300 Overflow Box - Up to 75 gallons - 6 in. x 3 in. x 10 in.: Pet Supplies A hose connects to the bottom of the clear side and runs right into the top left of the pic and you can see the hose attaches to the clear big box that houses my other stuff.

Here is a pic of the tank emtpy and the little green and black thing on the floor is my return pump that sits on the right side of the big clear box the water hose runs into.

 

[Carlitosway84]

Ok. I don't think flow is your problem.
Do you have any lids on the aquarium?
Finding any leaks near the sump?

 

[dasteve003]

there is not a lid, I have a marine led light (1 watt lights I believe) on it though. The only issues I've really had with leaks is the splatter thats cause by the water pouring out to the right side of the filter trays instead of going down through them like it does right after I clean them out really good. I don't think water evaporation is my issue because when I put the newly cleaned filters in everything works great, the bio wheels in the bottom left spins just like it should and the water levels are the same on both sides, it just doesn't last and the wheels slows down a lot when the water is pouring out of the sides, It seems like the filters just cant handle the amount of water or something.

 

[Carlitosway84]

You don't necessarily have to run a pad in each tray. Just run one see how it goes.

As long as the wheel is getting water don't worry about the speed of it turning, as long as it spins.

Evaporation is going to be a part of it, the more splashing and surface exposure to air, the more evaporation will be.

To be honest this style gave my client so many headaches as well, he ended up having me upgrade him to a full acrylic sumo w bio balls instead.

 

[dasteve003]

I bought this tank used and with the live sand, live rock, dry rock, new heater, salt, RODI water, water test kit, and everything else I'm pretty tapped on money so this is going to have to do for while and then If I decide I really like the hobby and want to get better stuff I can consider upgrading but for now I've got to make this work, I just want it to work better. Maybe I'll only leave the filter in the 3rd tray and see if that helps for now. The wheel barely spins at this point I'd say it makes one revolution in the time it used to do probably 10 or so. Any other suggestions on what I can do, I really appreciate your help cause it feels like the fun is being taken out of this hobby for me and I want to enjoy it since my tank has only been up for a week and a half I'm still a ways out from putting any fish, starfish or snails in yet.

 

[Carlitosway84]

I hear you. The hobby is great when you don't have little things like this pestering you.

I would run one pad for now, give it a little while see how it goes.
If you have a lot of suspended sediment, the pad will clog faster and not let water past.

Again the revolution I would put worry too much about as long as it turns and has water hitting it.

Maybe slide the trays out a hair just so any excess water can flow out the back, and down to the wheel chamber.

 

[Carlitosway84]

Plus if you have cured, cycled live rock you really don't have to worry about the wheel, it's a bonus biological filter. Your live rock will do the same thing in the end.

 

[dasteve003]

I have about 5 pounds of live rock I got my from my LFS and got a couple bristleworms and a brittle starfish from them, the other 40 lbs is all dry rock which I should have rinsed before I put in but didn't. My sand and dry rock has brown all over so I know thats a good thing and part of the process so it seems like everything is doing ok its just so frustrating my water levels wont stay consisten in the bottom but hoping this helps. I am gonna pull out 3 fitlers when I get home and see how that works tonight. I really appreciate all your help!

 

[dasteve003]

The 1st time I cleaned my filters it seemed like they were really dirty, a lot of the same color as dust from my dry rock, the next day it didn't seem like they were very dirty compared to the day before when I cleaned them yet they were "plugging up" the water flow just the same.

 

[Carlitosway84]

Good luck with everything. Glad to help!

 

[HiddenUser]

If you want to run filters, another thing may be to try other filters...maybe those ones just clog easily? Lots of different things to try out...It's just a matter of finding what works best for you within your budget.

 

[Carlitosway84]

If you want to run filters, another thing may be to try other filters...maybe those ones just clog easily? Lots of different things to try out...It's just a matter of finding what works best for you within your budget.

+ 1

 

[dasteve003]

Taking 3 of the 4 pink filters out seemed to help quite a bit but it was still lower and then this morning it was almost as bad as it was before I took them out. I noticed when I removed this black cylinder filter from the clear box that sends the water from the tank down to the container below for heating and skimming that the levels went back to where they should. Is it possible I just got cheap filters or worn out filters (bought this used) with this or do I just need to clean this black filter every couple of days at the start of the tank, or even for the life of the tank? I turned the black filter upside down since I was in a rush this morning so hopefully that helps for today, Any thoughts?

 

[HiddenUser]

Definitely possible that the filters are clogging.