skimmer level problem... Sump design problem?

tjtsj · 07-06-2007, 06:06 AM

I am constantly having to change my skimmer level. It's a corallife skimmer. I try to add water to my tank every day or every other day. However, the skimmer cup water level changes as the sump water level changes. So when there isn't as much water in the sump, the skimmer foam is nowhere near the collection cup. If I adjust the water level in the skimmer to skim with the low water level in the sump, when I add water to the tank, the skimmer overflows and I have to adjust it again.
My thought is that it's got to be something in my sump setup. (not a whole lot of experience with sumps yet). Maybe if I changed or added baffles it would produce a constant water level for the skimmer.

Thanks.

Frizza · 07-06-2007, 08:23 AM

You really need different compartments within your sump. Your overflow could fall within the first section in your sump which contains the skimmer pump. The water will overflow from this section into the main section which will house the return pump. What this means is that the water level will always remain constant within the skimmer section but will be variable within the return section.

If the sump is big enough then you could have another section which you could use as a fuge.

Hope this makes sense!

fletch · 07-06-2007, 09:49 AM

I agree you should have a baffle to make a compartment the skimmer is in which to keep a constant water level for the skimmer.

It would also help your situation if you added an auto top off setup to your sump.

Somthing like this'

tjtsj · 07-07-2007, 06:39 AM

Thank you. I figured I was being stupid. Now I have to redesign my sump. I think I will use a 5 gal bucket to maintain the system while I have the sump apart (put pump and return in the bucket to maintain water flow.
I am also limited in the size of the sump because of how much space there is under the tank stand, right now it's only a 10 gal

.

Tangster · 07-07-2007, 09:08 AM

Thats why I always size my main pump large enough to also run my skimmer ..

07-06-2007, 06:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
tjtsj Plankton Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 18 Skin: Mint Karma: 32	skimmer level problem... Sump design problem? I am constantly having to change my skimmer level. It's a corallife skimmer. I try to add water to my tank every day or every other day. However, the skimmer cup water level changes as the sump water level changes. So when there isn't as much water in the sump, the skimmer foam is nowhere near the collection cup. If I adjust the water level in the skimmer to skim with the low water level in the sump, when I add water to the tank, the skimmer overflows and I have to adjust it again. My thought is that it's got to be something in my sump setup. (not a whole lot of experience with sumps yet). Maybe if I changed or added baffles it would produce a constant water level for the skimmer. Thanks. Attached Thumbnails _________ 1 true-percula & 2 fox-face firefish. 46-Bow w/ 20gal as sump. DIY wet/dry and DIY overflow. Coral Life skimmer. QuietOne return pump. Eheim ProII canister (just in case my DIY stuff fails). 36" Nova Extreme (2x39w 10k, 2x39w actinic with a fan loud enough to drowned out the noise from the tank) 48lbs. LR. Tank 2 is a 55G Fresh Water w/ 4 Discus. Tank 3 is a 10G fresh with Tetra. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

07-06-2007, 08:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Frizza Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 387 Skin: Mint Karma: 186	You really need different compartments within your sump. Your overflow could fall within the first section in your sump which contains the skimmer pump. The water will overflow from this section into the main section which will house the return pump. What this means is that the water level will always remain constant within the skimmer section but will be variable within the return section. If the sump is big enough then you could have another section which you could use as a fuge. Hope this makes sense! _________ 80gal with live rock (35kg/70lbs), 30gal sump, refugium with live rock, chaeto and DSB, Bullet-1 skimmer, Fluidized Reactor, T5 lighting (6 tubes), 4 x Koralia 3's.

07-06-2007, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
fletch Kole Tang Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,776 Skin: Mint Karma: 425	I agree you should have a baffle to make a compartment the skimmer is in which to keep a constant water level for the skimmer. It would also help your situation if you added an auto top off setup to your sump. Somthing like this' Attached Thumbnails _________ 150 Gallon Reef Tank, 50 gallon sump,1/2 hp Chiller,MRC Calcium Reactor,AE-Tec ETSS 600 skimmer, 2-400 watt mh with 2-110 watt actinic's. Pentair Aquatics 80 watt UV Sterilizer, Red Sea AquaZone 100 ozonizer.

07-07-2007, 09:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tangster 3reef Sponsor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct Posts: 5,562 Skin: Mint Karma: 34893	Thats why I always size my main pump large enough to also run my skimmer .. _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) Visit our website at: http://www.aquaticarttechnologies.com/contact.asp

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07-07-2007, 06:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
tjtsj Plankton Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 18 Skin: Mint Karma: 32	Thank you. I figured I was being stupid. Now I have to redesign my sump. I think I will use a 5 gal bucket to maintain the system while I have the sump apart (put pump and return in the bucket to maintain water flow. I am also limited in the size of the sump because of how much space there is under the tank stand, right now it's only a 10 gal .