Lowering water level in one sump compartment

[Europhyllia]

Is it possible to lower the water level in one sump compartment without removing the baffles?
My water level in my sump is highest in the skimmer area. Unfortunately the skimmer I am interested in only wants a maximum of 9" water (I think I have 13"). I could raise the skimmer up I guess but the thing is too tall to fit under my stand then.
Could I drill holes into the baffles or some other easy remedy to get the water level in that area lower?

[StevenSeas]

Drilling holes in the baffle will work just make sure you make enough to allow for the proper flow through so the water level doesn't rise. If you can't reach it w/ a drill you can just take a dremel to it.

[aquasport24]

Where is water level at the next chamber? what is in the next chamber, return,fuge?

[Europhyllia]

fuge
I'll have to measure. Obviously I couldn't get it lower than the next level or else it would be all one level. good thinking!

[kkiel02]

What skimmer are you looking at? You could also build a stand for it or mod it with a valve to help dial it in. I think the valve would only work if it was lower than the recomended water level now that I think about it.

[Europhyllia]

I thought about the stand but it will end up being to tall for my aquarium stand
AquaC spray injected (have been reading up lots on skimmers and it seems for under 200g needlewheel -like what I have- is great but spray injected would be better for larger tanks)

[FireWater]

Any pics of the sump/fuge? What about trimming the height of the baffle or cutting in slots (similar to drilling)? If you get the baffle lower and then build a short stand you might achieve what you are looking for and have room for the skimmer.

[aquasport24]

You can swap the two chambers and make the fuge section into the skimmer section if the fuge section is within range of 8-10".

[aquasport24]

or make a separate skimmer's sump that at 9" at all times (i have one forsale:))

[Mephistefales]

If it's a reef, be sure you don't put the skimmer after the fuge. That would suck out much of the micro-goodness that should be going up to the display tank.

[aquasport24]

It will suck out some micro goodness no matter where you place it. But if she can't place the skimmer in a right water level then it won't function to it optimal.

[Europhyllia]

if I can't figure out the water level thing I'd just stick with the skimmer I got instead of getting the snazzier one. I'll download the instructions to see if mounting it externally offers more options...

[StevenSeas]

if it is the aqua c ev series it does mount externally. We have one hooked up in the store running on our fish units, its one huge beast of a skimmer LOL

[Europhyllia]

I'll have to stop by just to see your skimmer! lol

I figured it out. The gate valve needs to be above 10" of water level. My refugium area has 10" exact. My skimmer compartment has close to 13". I don't have enough clearance in this cabinet to raise it. (maybe I'll have more clearance in the new cabinet?)
But it's only the gate valve that needs to be above 10" so I could place the skimmer in the refugium area but have the intake pump in the sump area so as to not suck and shred micro goodness!
Obviously that would make the baffles useless as far as bubbles goes but not sure how many bubbles make it back up anyway?

[StevenSeas]

We haven't had a problem with the bubbles and your right what matters most is the output height, works different than most due to spray injection.

[Europhyllia]

check it out. I spoke to a guy at Aqua C about pumps and mentioned I would have loved to get the 240 but can't because of the cabinet height and he said to call him when I get actual cabinet measurement because he can make me a 240 custom shorty :D
That would be cool. Didn't dare to ask how much more that would be but I thought that was pretty nice...

[alton]

Aqua C's service is awesome. I have used the Urchin Pro for about seven years, turn it on, maybe adjust the cup, and walk away.

[dclegern]

I didn't want to tank out the sump and redo the whole thing. So I bought a small drimmel set, and cut out 1" grooves in the top of the baffle after the skimmer compartment. thus lowering the flow level to the fuge by 1".
pretty easy to do...just cost me $30 and a half hour of time.

hope that helps