Water Level & SKimmers

[JW3571]

How many inches of water level drop can most in sump skimmers handle before they stop producing bubbles or overflow? I don't have an ATO in my sump but would like to get a skimmer. Some people on here have said it won't matter and others have said it won't work at all. My water level in my sump drops around 2 inches. Will I be okay?

 

[Fishamatank]

No that will not work.

You need to set up baffles in the sump and create a skimmer section and a return (pump) section. With that set up all of the evap will be seen in the pump section, the skimmer section will maintain a constant water level.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Yeah in order for a sump to work properly , you can't have a fluctuating water level.

 

[Palting]

Yup, as the others have said, the water level must be constant. No drop in level at all.

 

[JW3571]

Really, even just a few inches a day will make that big of difference?

 

[stanlalee]

you may be okay with a recirc or skimmer thats pump fed tank water(as long as the output is above the water line but sump skimmer's internal volume is affected by the sump volume. The only way for this to work is you constantly readjusting the skimmer water level multiple times a day which isn't good for skimming consistancy as well. 2" otherwise is a huge amount of fluctuation for a skimmer. If you set it optimally at full by the end of the day (2" down) with no manual adjustments the skimmers internal water levels going to drop so far down in the skimmer its probably wont be skimming at all.

 

[allsps40]

You want to put the skimmer in an area of the sump that has a stable water level. Im my sump I made a skimmer section that the water level never changes and the overflow from the tank goes into. My skimmer pump is only 2-3 inches under the surface of the water, I made a stand to elevate it off the bottom. Too deep and the skimmer wont pull in very much air. A varying water level will effect the skimmers performance is a big way.