no flow in my sump above return pump? with pic

[supernareg]

okay so how its set up, from RIGHT to LEFT:

water drains in and gets skimmed, flows left to the fuge with DSB and LR, then it the water travels left down and then up (bubbletrap baffles) then gets sucked into return pump which sits halfway down the water line.

now, the water right above the return pump just sits there, dead motionless water. how can i change this? when i get evap and top off, the water line decresses the same throughout, it doesnt get lower in only 1 compartment.

all baffles are the same height, except the middle airtrap bubble which is about an inch higher (to allow for lower space for water movment)

whats wrong with the design?

whole sump, water flows from RIGHT TO LEFT:

return pump view (1st compartment from the left)

skimmer and drain compartment (first compartment from the right)

 

[salt e]

when my sump / refug evaps... THE WHOLE THING evaps... not just one spot.. is that what it SHOULDN'T DO? :lol:

 

[dpstrand]

It should only evap out of the return section. I think the problem is most likely the over baffles must be leaking. If the over baffles leak, then the water level will balance out by leaking from one compartment to the other.

 

[supernareg]

whats an over baffle?

 

[dpstrand]

A baffle that the water goes over....

You have an over-under-over baffle setup on the fuge pictured above. The height of the over baffle sets the water height on the upstream side of the baffle (if it doesn't leak).

 

[IsaaX]

If you were to drop the water level about 1/2" - 1" in your return chamber, you'd be able to get some flow from the water cascading down the last baffle.

 

[IsaaX]

Woops, let me rephrase that.

If you were to drop the water level 1/2" - 1" below your last baffle in your return chamger, you'd be able to get some flow from the water cascading down the last baffle.

 

[salt e]

i guess mine is broke just like yours...lolz

 

[818]

The return section should habe just a couple inches of water over the pump. If you try dropping the water level in the return area it doesnt work, its because the seams in the corner probably are starting to open and are leaking.

 

[IsaaX]

oh woop, i just reread your post lol. Yeah you do probably have a leak in those baffles. As Sam mentioned, the return should be the only compartment that lowers in level during evaporation.

 

[Frankysreef]

baffles leaking

 

[supernareg]

well took some water out from the return compartment, and theni saw that water was flowing over the baffle as it should, but not crazy strong. so prolly there are minor leaks. but when i stirred up some water putting it back, i saw clody water go through each compartment like it should. but how did it leak? they were bonded real nice and i used a good amt of silicon. i know silicon doesnt bind acrylic to glass, but it makes glass-silicon bonds that are water proof. ther baffles havent bended in anyway to cause leakage.

 

[®eefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8212723#post8212723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by supernareg
well took some water out from the return compartment, and theni saw that water was flowing over the baffle as it should, but not crazy strong. so prolly there are minor leaks. but when i stirred up some water putting it back, i saw clody water go through each compartment like it should. but how did it leak? they were bonded real nice and i used a good amt of silicon. i know silicon doesnt bind acrylic to glass, but it makes glass-silicon bonds that are water proof. ther baffles havent bended in anyway to cause leakage.

It's the 1/8" thick acrylic we told you not to use in the first place.

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8212759#post8212759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ®eefer
It's the 1/8" thick acrylic we told you not to use in the first place.

Yep. Its too britle. Like I said its downhill from here. Keep an eye on your sump.

 

[freddog]

Yep, Sam knows what he is talking about, he just built me a sump and it works like a charm.

 

[supernareg]

its okay if it leaks, its doin its job anyway. i have more important **** to worry about (school) than the tank. its doing fine

 

[818]

Me too. Thats why I take other peoples advice so I can get back to my schooling and not worry about a mess.

 

[supernareg]

when i become an MD (and need steller GPA for it, thats why i'm workin on that and not my reef) i'll have a very nice (and very expensive, but by then i'll be able to throw $$$ away on a reef) inside my house so it'll be all nice.

 

[818]

My goal too man, school is important if I ever want to reef like the big dawgs.

Anyway if you ever need 1/4 acrylic I'll supply you with whatever you need for some frags.

Sam

 

[dpstrand]

As long as the leaks are internal (just baffles) then it's not that big a deal... just that your skimmer won't really like the changing water levels. Keep it topped off and worry about it when you have some time.