Water in Sump is bypassing filter sock

[markushio40b]

I have a new setup with a Sump and I’ve never had one before so I’m looking for some advice.

Currently having an issue where the water draining from my DT isn’t filing the drain chamber enough for the water to overflow into the filter sock. There’s a small vent in the drain chamber to allow water to flow into the built-in refugium, so the waters still at a stable level, but it’s just not being filtered. I have live rock and media from my old system in the refugium and DT and I’m also running a protein skimmer. I know this is an older model sump so not sure if anyone can help.

I’ve tried raising the water level, but it would mean raising the level in all the chambers just to get it to overflow into the sock.

I’ve attached pictures of the sump and can answer questions as well to help mitigate a solution.

Maybe I don’t even need the filter sock???

 

[fishface NJ]

this is no photo

filter socks are not needed just like skimmers are not required but they help with water quality.

 

[markushio40b]

 

[markushio40b]

 

[winzig]

I myself feed heavily and like the fact that the filter sock gets out the larger bits, as long as you change them every few days I think they are great.

 

[KrisReef]

My fish tank can do this and I am happy to not have to wash the socks. Been fine for years, if the tank looks clean the socks don’t need to be filtering?

 

[fishface NJ]

Your main drain should have the Gate Valve on it and I don't place a valve on the emergency drain. Ball Valve are not as sensitive in tuning your water flow as the Gate Valve.

 

[Pistondog]

I have a new setup with a Sump and I’ve never had one before so I’m looking for some advice.

Currently having an issue where the water draining from my DT isn’t filing the drain chamber enough for the water to overflow into the filter sock. There’s a small vent in the drain chamber to allow water to flow into the built-in refugium, so the waters still at a stable level, but it’s just not being filtered. I have live rock and media from my old system in the refugium and DT and I’m also running a protein skimmer. I know this is an older model sump so not sure if anyone can help.

I’ve tried raising the water level, but it would mean raising the level in all the chambers just to get it to overflow into the sock.

I’ve attached pictures of the sump and can answer questions as well to help mitigate a solution.

Maybe I don’t even need the filter sock???

I have the same refugium and removed the sock years ago.
SOx are not necessary and if not cleaned pretty often will be nutrient sources from rotting debris.
The large mesh black filter before the return pump will keep debris out of that chamber.

 

[markushio40b]

I have a new setup with a Sump and I’ve never had one before so I’m looking for some advice.

Currently having an issue where the water draining from my DT isn’t filing the drain chamber enough for the water to overflow into the filter sock. There’s a small vent in the drain chamber to allow water to flow into the built-in refugium, so the waters still at a stable level, but it’s just not being filtered. I have live rock and media from my old system in the refugium and DT and I’m also running a protein skimmer. I know this is an older model sump so not sure if anyone can help.

I’ve tried raising the water level, but it would mean raising the level in all the chambers just to get it to overflow into the sock.

I’ve attached pictures of the sump and can answer questions as well to help mitigate a solution.

Maybe I don’t even need the filter sock???

I have the same refugium and removed the sock years ago.
SOx are not necessary and if not cleaned pretty often will be nutrient sources from rotting debris.
The large mesh black filter before the return pump will keep debris out of that chamber.

The person I bought the system from didn’t have the long black mesh filter. Is that required? Where does it go in the sump?

 

[Uncle99]

Use a “looser” sock, I use the Amazon Triangle mesh ones which don’t plug as fast so once weekly works without overflowing back to sump.

I do want to trap bigger stuff so it can be removed before it adds to my nutrient level too much.

 

[exnisstech]

It sounds like you are saying the water isn't even rising enough to fill the sock chamber? If so then I wouid think you need more flow from the and maybe even more water. Unless I'm seeing it wrong water should flow into the drain chamber then up and over through the sock out the bottom into the next chamber and up and over the weir and on from there under and into the return chamber.
Some sumps have an over then under chamber going to the return chamber which is where a course sponge would be placed and I don't see that on this sump.

Apologies if I'm not seeing things correctly

EDIT. Probably disregard I think I am seeing it wrong unless the skimmer is in the return chamber. All the sumps I've had the return was the last chamber.

 

[EricR]

I was thinking the same as last post.
How is the water getting into the filter sock chamber now?
Is it flowing under the divider between where the drains come in and the sock chamber?

 

[markushio40b]

The way the Sump is designed, it looks like the water drains from the DT and either overflows into the filter chamber with the sock or it could go straight through 2 small slots into the refugium. The water from the sock flows under the refugium to the chamber with the skimmer and heater. Then it will travel into the return from there. The refugium has a weir that allows water to overflow straight back to the return as well.

Problem, is the water isn’t overflowing to the filter sock. It’s going straight through the slots into the refugium and spilling over the weir directly into the return.

I tried adding more water today to raise the level, but it just raised the level in all chambers equally.

 

[Aaron75]

How is water getting to the skimmer section if it isn't going through the sock section?

 

[markushio40b]

I’m assuming is going from the overflow in the refugium to the return chamber which is connected via an adjustable gate to the skimmer chamber

 

[exnisstech]

I say crank it up and add some water but I'm kinda like that.
Where its going now may be the failsafe for plugged socks to prevent overflow?

 

[markushio40b]

I kinda like the way you think lol. Just worried about the amount of water in the sump. I’m currently running my return at 50% as I was told not to run it at 100% as it will reduce the life of the pump. I have 2 wavemakers in the tank for flow as well

 

[RocketEngineer]

I kinda like the way you think lol. Just worried about the amount of water in the sump. I’m currently running my return at 50% as I was told not to run it at 100% as it will reduce the life of the pump. I have 2 wavemakers in the tank for flow as well

Turn off the return pumps, let everything drain, then add enough SW to come within 1-2 inches of the sump rim. Now you have the max volume of water the system should hold and can restart the pumps.

My limiting factor on flow through my sump is the drains, not the pumps. You may be able to bump them up and get what you’re after that way.

Just some ideas.

 

[kboogie]

It looks like you have an AR-300. There is no gate on the baffle that controls flow to the refugium. If your input flow to the sump is not fast enough then most of the water will just flow through the refugium. You need to significantly increase your flow.

Here is a link to a review of the flow.

 

[REEFRIED!]

I understand what you are saying. And I understand how this particular sump works. Although I don’t love it, I believe it is just fine.

However what I cannot understand is how you think no or only a small amount of water is flowing through the sock. With the pump you said you have, even at not full strength, there is no way all of the water being pumped up to the tank, and coming back down the overflow into the sump, is going through those two small slits into the refugium chamber. If you said that 30% is going straight to the refugium and the rest through the socks that would make sense to me.

Either way, running your pump at 100% is ok temporarily, and may be just fine long term. I personally don’t like the idea of doing that, and would prefer to have a larger pump run at a slower speed.

Assuming your drain set up is correct, your pump is too small, or you don’t want to or cannot buy a larger pump, I am sure you could easily block those two slits that lead from drain section to refugium section. Thus forcing the water to flow through the sock before entering the sump