I usually run the water levels in my third chamber 1 inch above the maximum line, yesterday I removed the grate that seperates the top and bottom of the first chamber. This morning I checked my tank and my water levels are 4-5 inches higher in the third chamber. What could have caused this. I doesn't make sense to me that removing the grate would do this. My pump is working, is It possible it slowed down? we did have 3 power failures last night. what should I do?
BC29 third camber water levels messed up
- Thread starter Monkey55
- Start date
I don't know if your using the carbon filter on your set up. If you are then look and see if its dirty. That will effect the water level in the 3rd chamber. Also anyone who's using the filter CAUTION if it gets alittle clogged the water starts flowing over the side into the 3rd chamber. Livestock can get into it. Yes it happened to me.
AndyNarwhal
New member
If the cartridge were clogged it would not cause the water level to rise in chamber 3. The opposite would happen. The water level would drop in chamber 3 and the tank level would rise until it goes over the top of the filter wall in the front and back into the filter and equalizes flow again. Removing the divider panel between top and bottom intakes should not affect water level in chamber 3. A clogged pump intake could be the reason. This would slow water flow and allow the level to rise. If the blue sponge is clogged chamber 2 would back up and chamber 3 would be lower.
A final possibility would be that while removing the grate in chamber 1 you put a hole in the wall between chambers 1 and 2. This would allow water to flow freely into chambers 2 and 3 from the tank and eliminate the overflow effect created by the wall. The water levels would rise in chambers 2 and 3 to a point just under the level of the main tank then.
Won't do any harm and actually may help a refugium mod setup since water level will remain more constant in chambers 2 and 3 then. The only thing you would lose is surface skimming as now water can flow from the bottom directly into the filter area.
Andy
A final possibility would be that while removing the grate in chamber 1 you put a hole in the wall between chambers 1 and 2. This would allow water to flow freely into chambers 2 and 3 from the tank and eliminate the overflow effect created by the wall. The water levels would rise in chambers 2 and 3 to a point just under the level of the main tank then.
Won't do any harm and actually may help a refugium mod setup since water level will remain more constant in chambers 2 and 3 then. The only thing you would lose is surface skimming as now water can flow from the bottom directly into the filter area.
Andy
Yes the water would overflow. The reason is when the filter gets clogged it backs water up in the tank and it sends water over the side of the tank into the 3rd chamber. I had my clown fish take the leap for that reason the other day. When I removed the filter the water level dropped back down.
actually, the problem turned out to be that when you remove the grate in the first chamber so that you can put a heater in there, the grate is what hld the filter at the proper height. What then happened was the filter drops down one centimeter , and instead of water passing through the filter, the water passes over the filter. This increases flow, and the levels in the third tank rise.
So if you want to put a heater in the first chamber (which is great, because you won't have an eyesore in your main display), I recommend just cutting a hole in the grate so that your heater fits. this will not mess the water levels up because the filter will still be held in the proper place. I want my levels to be corect in the second chamber as I use half the bioballs that come stock with the tank.
So if you want to put a heater in the first chamber (which is great, because you won't have an eyesore in your main display), I recommend just cutting a hole in the grate so that your heater fits. this will not mess the water levels up because the filter will still be held in the proper place. I want my levels to be corect in the second chamber as I use half the bioballs that come stock with the tank.
joe_patterson
New member
TRY THIS
TRY THIS
i did it im my bio cube. remove the factory filter cartridge. remove the water distribution plate on top of the bio balls and place some type of filter medium on top of them. i used two filter bags from a hang on filter layed end to end. replace distribution plate. this will solve your problem. i have order come media bags and some active carbon the replace the hang on bags. if you want to use a pre filter get some un cut blue bonded filter pad from lfs or dr foster smith and cut to fit on top of filter bags. this setup works great.
TRY THIS
i did it im my bio cube. remove the factory filter cartridge. remove the water distribution plate on top of the bio balls and place some type of filter medium on top of them. i used two filter bags from a hang on filter layed end to end. replace distribution plate. this will solve your problem. i have order come media bags and some active carbon the replace the hang on bags. if you want to use a pre filter get some un cut blue bonded filter pad from lfs or dr foster smith and cut to fit on top of filter bags. this setup works great.
o2zen
New member
Can you take a picture of the mesh you put over your three chambers Htmack?
I also noticed this issue with water rising on mine and my peppermint shrimp kept going into the second chamber. I have 10lbs of cured LR in my second chamber and ended up putting filter floss under the drip plate and also ontop of the drip plate and removed the carbon filter. I will be getting a carbon bag or something to sit right where the water pours out and I am interested in putting my heater back in chamber 1 so I am glab you mentioned the plate holding the filter. I have some plans for that filter body down the road.
I also noticed this issue with water rising on mine and my peppermint shrimp kept going into the second chamber. I have 10lbs of cured LR in my second chamber and ended up putting filter floss under the drip plate and also ontop of the drip plate and removed the carbon filter. I will be getting a carbon bag or something to sit right where the water pours out and I am interested in putting my heater back in chamber 1 so I am glab you mentioned the plate holding the filter. I have some plans for that filter body down the road.
joe_patterson
New member
heater
heater
yes it fits nicely in the 1st chamber. i pt my filteration under the drip plate because the drip plate evanly distributes the water over the bio balls.
heater
yes it fits nicely in the 1st chamber. i pt my filteration under the drip plate because the drip plate evanly distributes the water over the bio balls.
