SUMP Problems
 

I am fairly new to this hobby and recently added a sump to my 60gal. i have an overflow box and a 9.5mag return pump. i put valves on both and have the return turned down real low as the return side of sump keeps drying up. I have to add water at least once every 24 hours so it doesn't dry out and burn my motor. Can anyone advise what I am doing wrong, would appreciate all the help I can get, cheers

I have a 55 and a 10g sump. Both have an open top and I need to add about a gallon every day - its the evaporation. Enjoy, you could get an ATO / osmolator.

We all have the same problem.

On a bright note, you have a good source of humidity for your house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:biggrin:

+1. The smaller your return section is in your sump the quicker it will dry up as a result of whole tank evaporation. Definitely get an auto top off system in place or you will go mad trying to keep up with evaporation.

This is why I set my sump return to hold enough water for 5-6 days


Sent from my porcelain aquarium

Also, it could be that your sump doesn't hold enough water for more than 1 day of evaporation. I have a 90g tank and my sump is a 50g, I go about 2 to 3 days before topping 2g of water. But it keeps me involved with my tank, cleaniing the glass and adding chemicals. All part of the fun!

I think an ato (auto top off) system is one of the most valuable components for a reef aquarium. It keeps the salinity stable.
Ohh and I add about 2.5gal a day to my 225

Have you considered covers for the sump and tank or is this even with covers?

I hate covers lol but they do help with evaporation but also reduce o2 content.

I don't like covers either :P They just aren't as sexy as topless, but they do help a lot with evap.

Yes, an ATO is a great investment. It not only keeps your salinity stable but also keeps your protein skimmer functioning at the proper levels.

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

Hi, so checked out your pics, do you have alot of flow in your sump and do i need a light and fan if not running cheto and if i want to run cheto where in sump would i put it. I don't have alot of room in the sump. when i get home i will try to take a picture and post it.

sump
 

I think if you went with a bigger sump or a bigger area that your pump is in that will help. Im assuming your pump is pumping most of that water out and takes a while for that water to make it back so there for your pump runs dry.

how is your sump set up? How many chambers?

there are 3 chambers in sump
1st on right side is under overflow and i have a filter sock the water flows into. i also put some small rock in this chamber
2nd has the sump in it
3rd has the return pump