I have a 36x36x25 cube aquarium with a center overflow, durso stand pipe and a Mag 9.5 return. My problem is that the water level in the main display is about an inch lower than it should be. Would the standpipe have anything to do with the water level? Larger pump didn't work. Restricting flow to the sump with a ball valve ended up overflowing the tank. I'm ready to rip all the plumbing out. Please help!
How do I fix this?!?
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You may need more water in the system.
More water in the system will raise the level in sump but not in the tank. The point at which the water exits the tank will determine the level in the tank. So, by raising the stand pipe you are raising the point at which the water exits the tank.
Keep in mind that if you don't also raise the siphon break it will also increase how much water drains into the sump when the pump stops running.
I'll try raising the standpipe as I though this could be the issue. Also, the siphon break is approximately where I'd like the water level to be. Thanks for the help!
Gotcha...so basically the teeth on my overflow are too low in the tank? Would obstructing them to the desired level be safe?
Thanks Level! I'll give it a shot!
Any other ideas, other than obstruction, to safely raise the water level in the display so it isn't below the plastic rim (literally 1"+ from the top of the tank)?
Hadn't really had a chance. I'll try to get some up tomorrow!
Just a comment. I have struggled with this over and over. I have the same setup, but when i drain my sump for a water change (after turning off my return pump and skimmer in the sump and marking the water level at that point) I seem to get too much water in the tank. So my tube that prevents an over flow has just a trickle in it and its way to loud.
I drain off the sump and then fill it back with new water to a little below my water level mark on the sump, but it always comes up to be too much and my overflow drain pipe gets the trickle and is loud.
I cant figure out what i am doing wrong.. My sump has to be really low to not pump water so much as it trickles through my over flow pipe. And the return pump chamber gets so low it puts bubbles in my tank..
o well ... i saw this topic so i guess i got on my rant about my tank...
I drain off the sump and then fill it back with new water to a little below my water level mark on the sump, but it always comes up to be too much and my overflow drain pipe gets the trickle and is loud.
I cant figure out what i am doing wrong.. My sump has to be really low to not pump water so much as it trickles through my over flow pipe. And the return pump chamber gets so low it puts bubbles in my tank..
o well ... i saw this topic so i guess i got on my rant about my tank...
Here are some pics
The overflow is like this all the way around, except it doesn't have a return line on each side...just the front.
The second pic, you can see that my waterline is about 1/4" below the molding of the tank.
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The overflow is like this all the way around, except it doesn't have a return line on each side...just the front.
The second pic, you can see that my waterline is about 1/4" below the molding of the tank.
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<legend> Attached files </legend>
Yep! The waviness in the pictures is the result of my MP40s
Is it possible between the level of the overflow teeth, the standpipe , and the return pump that a design can be just about impossible to reach our desired goals? Higher water in the tank , or not too loud? Or is just a matter of getting things right by adjustment?
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that water line really isn't that low?
I know it's not that low, but when I get my cabinet and canopy done, I don't want to see a waterline at all, therefore, I want it to be above the bottom of the trim!
Edit:
I think that's what I'm going to do, but I may just go ahead and build in the redundancy of being able to adjust it when I need to, up or down. I can even route the teeth of the obstruction to match the overflow. I haven't found any reason that this wouldn't work. I don't want the tank all the way full. Just up maybe 1/2 an inch, like Rich said. :up:
have the cabinet maker drop it down an extra 1/4". Shy of blocking the slits, there isn't much you can do. Get some thin acrylic form HD and cut to size..put on the inside of the overflow so you dont see it. Start low...you really only need to creep up that 1/4" Holding those strips in there may be interesting. I'm sure there are ways to do it. Aquarium safe mag mounts for 1 suggestion.
