Sump problem

[FRANK48]

So I got a new sump but I’m having some problems with m waterline. For some reason my return pump chamber keeps losing water and pumps it in to my display tank which causes my ato to pump more clean water in. I’m not sure I this is just fast evaporation or something else.

 

[ReefRusty]

Do you have a ball valve from the DT to sump? May need to slow water down into sump and or into tank to find that happy place.

 

[FRANK48]

Do you have a ball valve from the DT to sump? May need to slow water down into sump and or into tank to find that happy place.

I have flexible tubing so I’m not sure it would work

 

[FRANK48]

Do you have a ball valve from the DT to sump? May need to slow water down into sump and or into tank to find that happy place.

Is it possible that it’s evaporation ?

 

[ReefRusty]

Is it possible that it’s evaporation ?

How much and how often does it top up? How big is the tank?

Mine is a 200L tank and a 12L ato last me 6-7 days

 

[Uncle99]

Sounds like the pump is pushing more water than is coming back from your DT.
Slow your pump or increase the water coming from overflow.
If you have sponge filter traps, take it out.

 

[FRANK48]

Sounds like the pump is pushing more water than is coming back from your DT.
Slow your pump or increase the water coming from overflow.
If you have sponge filter traps, take it out.

Okay thanks. My tank is 200l

 

[FRANK48]

Sounds like the pump is pushing more water than is coming back from your DT.
Slow your pump or increase the water coming from overflow.
If you have sponge filter traps, take it out.

How would I increase the flow from overflow. And also I have only have some filter floss on top of my filter sock to stop some noise

 

[Uncle99]

Your floss in the sock will reduce flow, and those types of things that restrict water moving through the sump.

You should have a gate valve on your overflow, this would help “tune” the flow.

If your running your overflow without one then you cannot adjust the speed of the overflow and your running the overflow fully open.

Hopefully you have a DC controllable pump or another way of slowing your pump down.

Your looking to make small adjustments until the water coming out equals exactly, the water being pushed into the DT.

 

[blaxsun]

Depending on the tank, you might have a gate valve to adjust your overflow. If your filter socks become particularly dirty, that can also impede flow a bit. Barring that, you may just have to tweak the flow rate on your return pump. Basically what Uncle99 suggested.

 

[FRANK48]

Depending on the tank, you might have a gate valve to adjust your overflow. If your filter socks become particularly dirty, that can also impede flow a bit. Barring that, you may just have to tweak the flow rate on your return pump. Basically what Uncle99 suggested.

I can only turn down my pump I also removed the filter floss

 

[blaxsun]

I can only turn down my pump I also removed the filter floss

Your ATO should have a float. You could also try adjusting this way down such that the return chamber needs to see the water level drop a lot more before topping up with RO. But in all honesty it sounds like what you may have is a slight flow imbalance, ie: more water leaving the tank than is being returned.

What I might suggest is temporarily disabling your RO ATO until you get the water level and flow sorted out, at which point you can re-enable it. As Uncle99 pointed out, this is a lot easier with a gate valve and variable DC return pump.

 

[ReefRusty]

What tank setup are you running? A gate valve from your DT to sump does make life very easy with this issue. Can you slow your return pump down?

 

[FRANK48]

What tank setup are you running? A gate valve from your DT to sump does make life very easy with this issue. Can you slow your return pump down?

I can slow my return pump but I don’t have a gate valve

 

[blaxsun]

I can slow my return pump but I don’t have a gate valve

How many overflow pipes do you have? Do you have both a main and an emergency overflow pipe? Per the above suggestion, what type of tank/size is it, sump size, pump type/size, etc.

 

[ReefRusty]

Have you tried that? If the water level rises after slowing the pump down put floss back it to help slow the water down a little bit..

 

[FRANK48]

How many overflow pipes do you have? Do you have both a main and an emergency overflow pipe? Per the above suggestion, what type of tank is it, size, pump type/size, etc.

i have one overflow pipe and my sump is the tmc medium and my tank is 200litres

 

[FRANK48]

i have one overflow pipe and my sump is the tmc medium and my tank is 200litres

hang on back overflow

 

[blaxsun]

Ok, so this sump? I’m guessing your overflow return is on the left and you’re only utilizing 1/2 of the connectors? Return pump is upper left? RO chamber is lower right?

 

[FRANK48]

Ok, so this sump? I’m guessing your overflow return is on the left and you’re only utilizing 1/2 of the connectors?

yes this is it and im only using one