Plumbing people: explain how my sump doesn’t overf

[Miami Reef]

 

[Miami Reef]

Overflow*


Look at the overflow on the top left. Notice how about half the space is in the air and there’s still some gaps remaining where water can pass?

How does it work? Why doesn’t my sump overflow from extra water?

I’m trying to raise my sump level by 2 inches. I closed the return and with the back flow I saw I had some more room, and I could use it for the skimmer.

 

[Miami Reef]

Is it because the overflow gaps are too small? Theoretically if I were to break some teeth to widen the space where water can flow, would the return pump not be able to return at a faster rate than water coming in?

How am I able to increase the sump water level? I have a float valve for auto top off, but I wasn’t able to raise it. It’s possible that I didn’t know how, but when I pulled the plastic white part it didn’t have more to extend up.

 

[aabjones888]

As long as your return pumps gph is not over what your overflows max gph is you will be fine.

 

[aabjones888]

Sorry misinterpreted your question

 

[Miami Reef]

I did some research. If I can remove the section in between the skimmer and return pump and make a wall to the height needed...that will raise the level of the skimmer but not affect the level of the pumps.

would this work?

 

[Miami Reef]

In the sump picture: the blue tape indicates where the water level ends after backflow when pumps are off.

 

[reverc]

I have to clean but mine has the adjustable plate to set water level in skimmer chamber. Is your skimmer on a stand?

 

[bmeily]

Why aren’t you able to raise the float valve in the sump? Looks like your stump can hold more. Send more pics Of the sump. How high does the water get in the sump when the return pump is off? You should be able to adjust both the skimmer section and the float valve in the return section.

 

[Saltyreef]

The answer is baffles.....
Your baffle height in between the chambers will determine the water level in that chamber.

 

[Miami Reef]

please take a look at this. Are you sure this is going to work? I have a terrible feeling that it will overflow when pumps are off.

 

[bmeily]

The answer is baffles.....
Your baffle height in between the chambers will determine the water level in that chamber.

Ya I’m not sure what’s going on in the sump. The water is flat all the way across and said can’t adjust the float which is weird. More pics should help. Like you said there should also be a baffle between the skimmer and return section that can be raised. He also asked why his sump doesn’t over flow but wants to add more water. A siphon break will prevent a lot of water from draining out of the display, which I’m sure it already has.

 

[Miami Reef]

I will post a ton of pictures of the sump. It just needs to be around 8pm. I hope that’s ok.

 

[bmeily]

please take a look at this. Are you sure this is going to work? I have a terrible feeling that it will overflow when pumps are off.

You can turn the return pump off and then fill the sump up to a 2-3 inches below the rim. This ensures there isn’t enough water to go over the rim

 

[F i s h y]

The answer is baffles.....
Your baffle height in between the chambers will determine the water level in that chamber.

This! happy reefing.

 

[bmeily]

In your drawing the one shows the baffles not touching the bottom and the other is touching the bottom. Do they or don’t they touch?

 

[Miami Reef]

In your drawing the one shows the baffles not touching the bottom and the other is touching the bottom. Do they or don’t they touch?

they don’t touch.
The second drawing is just what I’m interpreting when you say baffles.

 

[Miami Reef]

You can turn the return pump off and then fill the sump up to a 2-3 inches below the rim. This ensures there isn’t enough water to go over the rim

This could work...however, until I figure out why the float valve won’t go any higher the water will just evaporate until it hits the old water line.

 

[bmeily]

they don’t touch.
The second drawing is just what I’m interpreting when you say baffles.

Ok which is fine. It just means that your float valve sets the height it the sump. It also so be adjustable. If you fill up the sump like I said then turn the pump back on. Then where the water settles at is where you want to adjust you leave float to. If it’s not adjustable when your stuck with where it’s at. And if you need a deeper chamber for the skimmer then you will have to fix baffle situation.

 

[bmeily]

This could work...however, until I figure out why the float valve won’t go any higher the water will just evaporate until it hits the old water line.

True