Hello everyone,
I have a 29G Clear for Life Uniquarium (AIO) tank. I have a question on water level and if my tank is behaving normally. Most likely a newbie question as I'm new to saltwater tanks with sumps (coming from tropical fresh water tanks) so please bear with me on this question LOL.
Here is a flow diagram looking at the rear of my tank.
When the pump is running the water level in the display is about 1" from the top of the tank and the water level is maintained as the water then runs through the weir of the tank (top right slots in the flow diagram. The level of water in the sump compartments (the 3 chambers on the left of the flow diagram above with bio balls and pump) is about 1/3 - note there is a cutout at the bottom of the left 3 chambers in the flow diagram above - so the water level is equal among these 3 chambers at all times.
Here is my main question. When I turn the pump off the display tank slowly drains and the left 3 chambers of the sump compartment slowly fill with water and keep doing so until the display and the 3 left chambers are at equal water level. The three chambers on the right (the 2 sponge compartments and the 3rd narrow chamber) level remains at the weir and does not drain or fill - it stays at the same level whether pump is on or off).
Why does the display tank drain into the sump until water level is equal - is there a leak at the gasket at the output of the pump or in the acrylic panels? Is my tank just severely under filled? I think when I started the tank I put maybe 22-24gallons of water in it (not 29 gallons as I heard the sump should run about 1/3 to 1/2 water level). What should the water level in the sump be at when the tank is running?
Please help - thank you! I am 14 days into my cycling.
Pump is running
When Pump is off for about 1 minute and water in display drains to rear sump
I have a 29G Clear for Life Uniquarium (AIO) tank. I have a question on water level and if my tank is behaving normally. Most likely a newbie question as I'm new to saltwater tanks with sumps (coming from tropical fresh water tanks) so please bear with me on this question LOL.
Here is a flow diagram looking at the rear of my tank.
When the pump is running the water level in the display is about 1" from the top of the tank and the water level is maintained as the water then runs through the weir of the tank (top right slots in the flow diagram. The level of water in the sump compartments (the 3 chambers on the left of the flow diagram above with bio balls and pump) is about 1/3 - note there is a cutout at the bottom of the left 3 chambers in the flow diagram above - so the water level is equal among these 3 chambers at all times.
Here is my main question. When I turn the pump off the display tank slowly drains and the left 3 chambers of the sump compartment slowly fill with water and keep doing so until the display and the 3 left chambers are at equal water level. The three chambers on the right (the 2 sponge compartments and the 3rd narrow chamber) level remains at the weir and does not drain or fill - it stays at the same level whether pump is on or off).
Why does the display tank drain into the sump until water level is equal - is there a leak at the gasket at the output of the pump or in the acrylic panels? Is my tank just severely under filled? I think when I started the tank I put maybe 22-24gallons of water in it (not 29 gallons as I heard the sump should run about 1/3 to 1/2 water level). What should the water level in the sump be at when the tank is running?
Please help - thank you! I am 14 days into my cycling.
Pump is running
When Pump is off for about 1 minute and water in display drains to rear sump
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