Sump problem

[FRANK48]

I keep having problems with my sump, like the water line changing or my overflow not fast enough and I was thinking it could be the way it’s made. I added an extra baffle and I’m not sure if it’s screwing the flow up causing problems, could someone please give me their ideas. The extra baffle is the one without black around it.

 

[shwareefer]

Yep it's weird. The original baffles are so low they have no effect on the water level and the one you added has no silicone so it has no effect. If you silicone the one you added (necessitating draining and cleaning it) it will set the level at it's overflow height, then the only fluctuation would be where your return pump is.

 

[FRANK48]

Yep it's weird. The original baffles are so low they have no effect on the water level and the one you added has no silicone so it has no effect. If you silicone the one you added (necessitating draining and cleaning it) it will set the level at it's overflow height, then the only fluctuation would be where your return pump is.

Do you think I should silicone the baffle or...?

 

[melonheadorion]

the baffle on the right side of your live rock, i assume is the one that isnt siliconed. if you notice, the water level looks to be even all the way across the sump from left to right. the purpose of the baffles is to allow chambers to fill with water at different levels, otherwise, there is no real purpose of having the baffles in there.

 

[FRANK48]

the baffle on the right side of your live rock, i assume is the one that isnt siliconed. if you notice, the water level looks to be even all the way across the sump from left to right. the purpose of the baffles is to allow chambers to fill with water at different levels, otherwise, there is no real purpose of having the baffles in there.

So what do you think I should do? Should I just get a new sump altogether or silicone the baffle. Because the sump has caused most of the problems.

 

[shwareefer]

You will need to silicone something somewhere to keep your skimmer chamber constant. Either where you have it or to left of the rocks - same effect on skimmer. You could also do nothing and just keep the whole thing at whatever level you want to with an ATO - it'll just be more topoff water less often.

 

[shwareefer]

Or build/get a new sump. Many designs on this forum.

 

[FRANK48]

Or build/get a new sump. Many designs on this forum.

Are there any affordable sumps for a 200 litre tank?

 

[melonheadorion]

i personally would just build your own. its super cheap, easy to do, unless of course, you just dont want to deal with it, and thats fine too.
from what i have read, and researched, there are two chambers that are the most important. the skimmer side and the return side. the baffles for these will ultimately determine your water levels. the skimmer side, skimmers have depth requirements for them to operate which is usually around 8 inches, if i recall right. the return side is just how much water you want to be available for your pump to return. this is the chamber that is probably the most important, IMO, since it determines your water level

the furthest right chamber you have is basically non existant. you have two chambers which is your skimmer chamber and your live rock chamber, which is set to the same level, and without silicone, your furthest right chamber has no effect on anything

 

[FRANK48]

i personally would just build your own. its super cheap, easy to do, unless of course, you just dont want to deal with it, and thats fine too.
from what i have read, and researched, there are two chambers that are the most important. the skimmer side and the return side. the baffles for these will ultimately determine your water levels. the skimmer side, skimmers have depth requirements for them to operate which is usually around 8 inches, if i recall right. the return side is just how much water you want to be available for your pump to return. this is the chamber that is probably the most important, IMO, since it determines your water level

the furthest right chamber you have is basically non existant. you have two chambers which is your skimmer chamber and your live rock chamber, which is set to the same level, and without silicone, your furthest right chamber has no effect on anything

I'm just gonna get a new one. have any recommendations for a 200 litre tank?