Sump Question

[intenseimage]

This is the basic layout of the sump I have

Where should the water line be for each section and I believe we have it setup wrong with the water level way to high (hence the issue im having with my skimmer)

 

[intenseimage]

This should be the correct way right?

 

[rbursek]

I am no expert but I built my own too, I would raise the baffle before the egg grate, get rid of the foam, and raise the baffle before the bulk head area.

 

[rbursek]

I guess what I am saying all baffles from the bottom up should be the same hight.

 

[tankman10000]

unless you clean the foam daily i would leave it out

 

[intenseimage]

OK so foam is coming out ... but my main concern is water level -- is that pic I posted what it SHOULD be?

 

[frankrip]

Not sure the phosban will do much good suspended in air!

 

[frankrip]

Check out this link!

http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

 

[rbursek]

Frank I hope that was a LOL I am sure it is a Reactor. Put your baffles the ones from the bottom all at the same hight!

 

[fishdoc11]

Here are a bunch of pics to maybe help as well:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=585&thumb=1
It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Most people have the level even all the way across except the return pump section unless they have multiple lines coming in.
hth, Chris

 

[frankrip]

Couldn't help myself

 

[intenseimage]

Its a pre-made sump (Aquatic Life systems) ... just need to know if that waterline I drew out is where it supposed to be since right now the water level is even from the top of the filter sock all the way across the sump!

 

[new_world_disor]

also make sre that you have enough room for the water to drain if the power goes out ( and it wont cause things to overflow into other sections of the sump )

 

[intenseimage]

Well considering I have my water level even across the entire sump (thats bad huh) ... if I bring it down to that line I have in the pic above with the power out I should be fine! Why cant it spill into other sections as long as the total volume wont spill out of the sump?

 

[rbursek]

That's what I was trying to get thru, you want the water line even all the way across! But yes you need room for when the return pump is not running for that extra volume that drains from the tank, and you can test that with just a turn off of the return.

 

[intenseimage]

Across the entire sump or across the entire lower section after the filter sock area ? If so that goes against all the pics ive seen so far?

 

[Shekki]

You may have to build a stand to raise your skimmer so it's sitting in the recommended water level. You may want the output of your phosban reactor to return into the skimmer section. If it's dumping out into the return section you may get some micro bubbles.

 

[intenseimage]

The return from the Phosban Reactor is going back into the skimmer area -- and the pump is actually sitting next to the cheato "box"


With my drawing above, after the water comes down the 2 drain lines and flows under the first and over the second baffle -- the baffle on the opposite side of the tank will keep the level in the skimmer section at 6" (the first baffle is at 8") -- perfect for the skimmer. It will then drop through the foam/eggcrate (which i am removing the foam from) and under the next baffle and over the final one into the (what is currently) the heater area ... and out to the return pump.

 

[seagirl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11939623#post11939623 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by intenseimage
This should be the correct way right?

if your sump is working properly this is where the water lines would be. I

 

[intenseimage]

^ thank you ... that is what I needed to know since mine was originally from the top of the filter sock --- straight across the sump ... and my skimmer was all over the place

I have removed MOST of the water but I still need to bring it down a bit to get it to those levels