The water in my over-tank wet/dry constantly changes...WHY! (pic)

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A

aleok

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 24, 2011
15
0
0
Honolulu
mytanksetup-2.png

When i first set it up everything was working fine for several days. But now for the last week the water level will start at the Blue Arrow and every 30 seconds the sumps water level lower (draining into the tank) till it reaches the outlet (Red Arrow). When that happens large bubbles run threw the outlet pipe and flow into the tank, therefore the tanks water level is lowered (for those few seconds) and the overflow's water level lowers (Other Red Arrow), almost to the point where my pump will start sucking air. Then the water will high for about 30 sec. and it'll do it all again. This whole process is probably cutting my filtration in half because of all these stupid bubbles going threw the system instead of water.

Anyone have any idea whats going on??
 
Try adding a little water to the system, a little may have evaporated. I loose about 3 gal a day from my tanks
 
B_IN_SD said:
Try adding a little water to the system, a little may have evaporated. I loose about 3 gal a day from my tanks
Click to expand...

3 gallons a day?? wow, how close do you live to the sun, geez lol
 
Yeah it is not very humid around here. What about the return line from your sump, is the size of the return line big enough ?
 
The return pipe is 1.25". Its as big of a pipe i can fit on my sump boxes outlet. How would the pipe sizes make the water level rise up and down?
 
your drawing/color ref, and description is hurting my head.

1. what is in the sump?
2. does the sump fill to a high level then drain quickly?

if yes to #2, you are creating a siphon on the sump return. this means the water is draining out a pipe too small. once the level rises and all air is removed from the line, it quickly sucks it out.

Why this is happening, vs how it worked before I dont get. I am guessing it maybe based on what is in your sump, like something clogged partially.
Or maybe you should put a restrictor on your pump to slow it down a little so the whole process can drain easier.
Could you split your return line into 2 lines after it leave the sump. it might help a tiny bit.
 
I have the have the sump above the tank for several reason, its actually not even in the same room.

Ok i get that i'm creating a siphon on the sump return. becasue the end of my return pipe in actually below the water line in the tank; If i make it so its not will this solve the problem? I drilled a small hole in the return pipe, above the water line, yet still over the tanks water (so its not dripping all over the place), but its still doing the exact same thing! I don't get it.
 
Can you post any pics of your setup?
 
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