Sump help

[Lavabrine ninja]

I've been having my sump running for about 4 or 5 days now and it seem that in the return pump chamber. The water level is very low but when setting up the sump on the aquarium the sump was full and the aquarium display level was at a comfortable level. But, now the return pump chamber water level has drop to a point the pump is sucking in air. I did top off the tank with rod water and it's still doing it so anyone have any tips on this?

 

[littlefoxx]

I've been having my sump running for about 4 or 5 days now and it seem that in the return pump chamber. The water level is very low but when setting up the sump on the aquarium the sump was full and the aquarium display level was at a comfortable level. But, now the return pump chamber water level has drop to a point the pump is sucking in air. I did top off the tank with rod water and it's still doing it so anyone have any tips on this?

Did you check the area the pump is in for the waterlevel to account for evaporation? It should be fully submerged and it would blow air like that. If all pumps are submerged and its still doing that it might be a bad pump or intensity needs to be turned down. At least thats my two initial thoughts. Maybe someone else can chime in? Or if you have a LFS that could come out and look at it for you that might be an option

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Did you check the area the pump is in for the waterlevel to account for evaporation? It should be fully submerged and it would blow air like that. If all pumps are submerged and its still doing that it might be a bad pump or intensity needs to be turned down. At least thats my two initial thoughts. Maybe someone else can chime in? Or if you have a LFS that could come out and look at it for you that might be an option

Did you check the area the pump is in for the waterlevel to account for evaporation? It should be fully submerged and it would blow air like that. If all pumps are submerged and its still doing that it might be a bad pump or intensity needs to be turned down. At least thats my two initial thoughts. Maybe someone else can chime in? Or if you have a LFS that could come out and look at it for you that might be an option

I topped off the tank yesterday and some today so evaporation isn't a issue. The pump is new and it's on the lowest setting. And my lfs doesn't do look up on aquariums

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Did you check the area the pump is in for the waterlevel to account for evaporation? It should be fully submerged and it would blow air like that. If all pumps are submerged and its still doing that it might be a bad pump or intensity needs to be turned down. At least thats my two initial thoughts. Maybe someone else can chime in? Or if you have a LFS that could come out and look at it for you that might be an option

Here's the water levels of both sump and display when the pump is off.

 

[BaliReefBox]

you need two piece of tape..pump off top up the tank until the return chamber and sump is full to a safe level...pump on the put tape on that mark and top off water to keep it there

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

you need two piece of tape..pump off top up the tank until the return chamber and sump is full to a safe level...pump on the put tape on that mark and top off water to keep it there

I'm gonna get something like a paint marker instead of tape so it looks better imo burn I'm trying to figure thus out

 

[BaliReefBox]

you fill the display and adjust the weir to get desired water level in dt (remember to allow for waves) then adjust the sump with pump off to desired level. now when you lose power the sump wont overflow. turn pump on the this is the return chaamber running level and it needs to be maintain to keep sg constant..

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

you fill the display and adjust the weir to get desired water level in dt (remember to allow for waves) then adjust the sump with pump off to desired level. now when you lose power the sump wont overflow. turn pump on the this is the return chaamber running level and it needs to be maintain to keep sg constant..

So add more water in the display with pump off? Personally I just want this to work lol.

 

[littlefoxx]

Here's the water levels of both sump and display when the pump is off.

The return water level does look low to me in the picture but the red glow makes it hard to confrim for sure

 

[Lavey29]

One other thing to consider is the GPH of your return pump. If it is set-to high its possible that the down flow from the tank can't keep up. I have my pump running at 45%. You want 3x to 10x turnover in your sump.

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

One other thing to consider is the GPH of your return pump. If it is set-to high its possible that the down flow from the tank can't keep up. I have my pump running at 45%. You want 3x to 10x turnover in your sump.

My pump is on the lowest setting and it's a jebao sine DCW-3500

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

The return water level does look low to me in the picture but the red glow makes it hard to confrim for sure

Is this a better picture

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been having my sump running for about 4 or 5 days now and it seem that in the return pump chamber. The water level is very low but when setting up the sump on the aquarium the sump was full and the aquarium display level was at a comfortable level. But, now the return pump chamber water level has drop to a point the pump is sucking in air. I did top off the tank with rod water and it's still doing it so anyone have any tips on this?

Appears the pump is pumping water to the tank faster than the water is coming in to the sump and needs to be balanced- How:
slow down the return pump flow allowing chamber to fill back up then increase the output little by little allowing the pump water area to cover the pump by at least 2 inches. You may have to add water to tank to make this completely successful

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this a better picture

Water level here is not low but when running, if it drops, slow down the output percentage

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Appears the pump is pumping water to the tank faster than the water is coming in to the sump and needs to be balanced- How:
slow down the return pump flow allowing chamber to fill back up then increase the output little by little allowing the pump water area to cover the pump by at least 2 inches. You may have to add water to tank to make this completely successful

I have the pump on the lowest setting. But .you worry about adding more water is it'll end up overflow

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Water level here is not low but when running, if it drops, slow down the output percentage

It's on the lowest setting and it's drop alot

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Water level here is not low but when running, if it drops, slow down the output percentage

This is the water level with the pump on

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is the water level with the pump on

On lowest setting pump may be too strong for your needs. Its putting out more flow than is coming in.

 

[Rockit]

I have the pump on the lowest setting. But .you worry about adding more water is it'll end up overflow

Add a ball valve on the return line from the pump

 

[Lavabrine ninja]

Add a ball valve on the return line from the pump

I use soft tubing. Is there some for that? But, I did add more water and it seem to help