Tank Return Flow

[theyangman]

The hole is to allow air to enter the return line and break the potential back siphon in your return line as fast as possible. It prevents your display water ending up in your sump and potentially overflowing it (in extreme cases) Depending on how low the exits of your return line are situated in your tank are this can mean several inches of water.

 

[Sewerat]

When tank is running properly how much room from water level to top of last baffle is there? You could make up a gallon of salt water and just add that to the system maybe Ideally you can have your return section as full as possible if the sump will hold all that water when system off. ATO switch could then be raised to top of baffle

 

[theyangman]

When tank is running properly how much room from water level to top of last baffle is there? You could make up a gallon of salt water and just add that to the system maybe Ideally you can have your return section as full as possible if the sump will hold all that water when system off. ATO switch could then be raised to top of baffle

Doesn't this seem anti productive? He encounters this problem daily when he feeds his fish. There is no way a system like his has a gallon per day evaporation, over time his system would be critically over filled. I think it is his baffle set up and the return section is simply not holding enough.

 

[Phil]

open your drain to 100% why is the main throttled to begin with? Is the sump too small to catch any and all excess in the case of a pump failure? Or is it for noise issues?

edit: I guess if it was for sump issues that would only buy you minutes, so yeah, why is your drain throttled?

The main drain is partially closed so the system run silent.

 

[Phil]

When tank is running properly how much room from water level to top of last baffle is there? You could make up a gallon of salt water and just add that to the system maybe Ideally you can have your return section as full as possible if the sump will hold all that water when system off. ATO switch could then be raised to top of baffle

I think this may be the solution. About a month ago I had lowered the Tunze ATO float switch so I had a small waterfall as the water entered the last return section. This is when this all may have started. I guess I will find out tonight when I move the switch back up a bit.

 

[Phil]

Doesn't this seem anti productive? He encounters this problem daily when he feeds his fish. There is no way a system like his has a gallon per day evaporation, over time his system would be critically over filled. I think it is his baffle set up and the return section is simply not holding enough.

@theyangman, is a small waterfall effect something all sumps should have as the water enters the return section? Correct me if I'm wrong here please.

 

[Sewerat]

The return section needs to be filled enough to allow your system to be filled and start its cycle without draining, if it's drawing and running dry there is not enough water in the system plain and simple. When my system shuts off, my sump fills and all baffles are under water, one giant system, no separation. Yes it's not good for the skimmer but I don't have problems with pump running dry and still have plenty of room in sump for more water

 

[Phil]

Thanks everyone, I am going to raise the float switch a bit this evening and experiment. I will be sure and let you know how things go.

Phil.

 

[Phil]

Problem solved. It was the water level in the sump return area being about 1 inch too low. I raised the Tunze switch up and all is well again. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Phil.