Sump Level Too Low When Doing Water Change?

[DeniseAndy]

Is your overflow really that low in the tank? From the pictures it sits very low. It is usually situated at the top. Maybe something just looks off.
If you have no other choice, put in check valves. Not the cheap kind, they fail regularly. Get a nice Y check valve and put it on the drains and one on your return. This should stop the overflow of water. Will not help if they fail, but better than nothing.

I use them on my return pump to keep from backflow. Has failed, but my sump can handle it anyway.

 

[Tnops]

Need a pic of the return/s inside the display. They may be too low.

These images fine?

 

[Little c big D]

Agree with pics of returns, its possible you have back siphonage

 

[Little c big D]

These images fine?

Show us the return line where the water pumps back in

 

[Tnops]

Show us the return line where the water pumps back in

The return pump?

 

[ying yang]

Follow return pump and up the hose/piping till gets to your dt and the nozzle that squirts water back in your display.this is what they wanting to see to see how much under water it is

 

[Tamberav]

These images fine?

No... that is the drain. The return in the tank... where the water shoots out from the return pump.

 

[Little c big D]

this part

 

[Tnops]

No... that is the drain. The return in the tank... where the water shoots out from the return pump.

Waiting for a bristletooth tang so that the algae goes away

 

[Little c big D]

Waiting for a bristletooth tang so that the algae goes away

oh yeah that's way deep. bring it up towards the surface.

the flex one probably sucks alot of water back

 

[Tnops]

oh yeah that's way deep. bring it up towards the surface.

how do I do that? Do I have to cut the pipes?

 

[Little c big D]

how do I do that? Do I have to cut the pipes?

the flexible one that's really deep can be adjusted. I don't see any reason to cut anything

 

[workhz]

Yeah. Just adjust that up. Would create more surface movement too. Win win.

 

[Tnops]

the flexible one that's really deep can be adjusted. I don't see any reason to cut anything

this one?

 

[ying yang]

Just grab it one hand and pull up with other.them circle things all individual and inside each other.the lower this return nozzle is then the more water will siphon into sump when turn return pump off or a power outage and most have the wave maker facing upwards to create more gas exchange. Its not 100% essential but ot helps get more dissolved oxygen into the water but your choice.
Skimmers are good for gas exchange also

 

[Little c big D]

So personally, and I mean take anything I say with a grain of salt.... I would

this one?

yes, get the end close to the surface. When you're done I would shut the returns down and be ready to plug it back in quick, but watch the sump. if you get that to the surface I'm willing to bet the sump will handle it then

 

[Tnops]

Ok thanks guys! I had no idea haha. I'll give an update when I try it out

 

[ying yang]

Word of warning though i once had my return nozzle facing upwards and drained some water out of display tank during water change and then added clean saltwater to sump and turned return pump back on and boom bish bash bosh saltwater flying halfway across living room ha ha.
I laugh now but wasnt funny at time pfft.
I have now got return nozzle high enough in tank but not directly facing upwards so of lid off tank it squirts out of tank but i mainly do water changes in and out my sump now anyway.

 

[workhz]

Some people will also have a hole drilled to break siphon but putting it an 1/2'-1" below the surface should be sufficient.

 

[Spare time]

What prevents it from overflowing?

That sump is way to small for that tank. I would consider a new one because other wise a power outage or failed pump will create a flood