Can you change the 1" line going from sump to sump to a 1 1/2" to open it up some more & give the flow more breathing room? Maybe just add 1 or 2 more 1" lines. If there's is 2 - 1" lines going in there should be atleast 2 - 1" or bigger lines going out to return side.

I have a herbie variant overflow. One fixed drain into sump, as well as the emergency overflow drain. The gate valve drain goes to a rubbermaid beside tank. Higher than sump. Skimmer is in this rubbermade and it drains via a Durso drain to the sump.

In regards to one of your original questions, my ATO goes into the return compartment of my sump. Evaporation will always show up in this compartment with the water level dropping there first. If you're pumping top-off water into that skimmer compartment which sounds like it's already restricted by a drain line limitation it could lead to problems raising the water level in that compartment and make it hard to keep your skimmer adjusted.

Is there any mechanism to control the water level in the skimmer compartment? Are you having trouble with this compartment flooding while your return pump goes dry?

Oh yes that too, ATO should only be pumped into the return pump section so I totally agree with the above advice from Albertan22

I do have my ATO on the return, but because I can't quite get it balanced, my ATO is either going to much or it isn't going at all.

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That was my plan but I wasn't sure if I should do that or put a pump in the skimmer container with a float switch.

Another question. If I need 10 " for the skimmer, do I drill so the bottom is st 10 " or the center of the bulk head?

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Thanks, I had seen this before but forgot to bookmark it and couldn't find it again.

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Make it so that you have the 10" required so pipes need to be set so they are just above the 10" mark.

How are you trying to balance it now? Have you considered a pump from an ATO reservoir with a float switch? This would effectively allow you to control the ATO flow to what is necessary to match your evaporation.

I have a tunze osmolator for my ATO. Unfortunately, I can't keep the water level in the return pump area, at a stable level.

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