Actually your sump should have a waterfall from the skimmer section into the section where the ATO is and the water level for the skimmer will be exactly the same with no variance regardless of what the ATO, herby etc, is doing.

Actually, if you don't have a sump with a waterfall as most don't, an ato works great to control water level in sump...as well as keeping salinity consistant!!

only if your skimmer is in your return chamber:P

I've never seen a proper sump with out waterfalls or at least sections. That being said I set my first sump backwards so I did use the ato to keep the skimmer level maintained.

Yes sections, I guess that what he was referring to?

Yeah, the water falls over a barrier to a lower level.

But this would be cool to have in your sump too:

http://www.niagarafallssuper8hotel.c...gara-falls.jpg

thanks to all for the advise, i do believe an ATO is needed and also was advised perhaps i don't have enuf water in the sump to begin with. Only had enuf to cover the pump motor on return and motor on skimmer. Gonna add more to sump and until I can get an ATO hopefully that will help. I love this site for all the advise one can get, again many thanks to all

ok, so i got the sump to run smoothly but i think there should be more flow in the sump. the water doesn't have alot of movement other than over the wall into the skimmer area. Should i have pumps running in the sump, water surface just doesn't look right to me almost like there is a film on the surface? just don't want levels to go out of wack as everything pretty good right now? any input greatly appreciated, thanks all

if anyone has pictures of a sump flowing that might help me understand what the water should look like below display, just a thought?

I just made a sump and generally I am happy with it. It was a learning curve as I have never made one before. Comment to my thread for my sump....

Here is my thread with pics:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...140#post764140