whats the deal with my water levels and balance

[Poor Boy]

I never had a problem with my sump levels, but now it slowly fills up and doesnt stop.

I thought it was my return pump until i changed it out. I guess it could be my skimmer pump...

Is there anything else i should be keeping an eye out for?

[Justin]

Was it fine before you did something or was it always like this? Need to get some pics of the area of focus and your plumbing layout. I have found that a ball valve or gate valve plumbed somewhere near the output of the return helps with "dialing" in your return pump. You could have a blockage somewhere, leak or some kind of reduced flow in your plumbing. Did you happen to install union joints in your plumbing to help take it apart and clean pipes in case you need to?

[Poor Boy]

i can take pics here in a bit.

i have 1 sump that houses my skimmer, macro, and baffle balls. the skimmer then drains into another bucket that feeds into the tank. last week the bucket with the return pump that flows into the tank began slowly filling up to the point of almost overflowing. i immediately cut the power to the return pump, removed the skimmer, and placed the return pump in the main sump. i thought my return pump was going out so i figured i could use that till i found another one. i finally picked up another return pump yesterday.

after some cleaning i got the new pump into the bucket and placed the skimmer back into the sump. this is when the i noticed the levels in my sump raising. it was already late so i shut everything off and waited until the morning.

its still filling up, but at an extremely slow rate. im sure it would over flow if i left it on over night.

[Poor Boy]

oh, i shorten the tube from the return pump to the tank. i cut about 8 inches.

[Frogman]

Sorry. Edited

After cleaning the troublemaker pump. The water into your sump might have increased due to the increased flow. Try putting a ball valve or a flow regulator on the return pump and dial it in that way.


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[Justin]

Exactly what I was going to say. Although cleaning the pump would actually force the return to push more water out of the bucket instead of raise the water level in the pump. I'm thinking that the motor of your pump may be compromised or not pumping at the same level as it did before and now the pump cannot out compete the flow of water coming into your return bucket. Either that or you have more water coming into your return bucket than what your pump can currently handle. Pics or a video would really help with the problem.

Is your pump on full throttle, meaning it has not valves to restrict the flow of the water? If so, you may need to get a stronger pump because your water pressure/flow through your sump is now changed forcing you to accommodate for the increase in water volume.

[Poor Boy]

I went ahead and removed the skimmer. For some reason its not working how it was last week. I guess i need a new pump for the skimmer.

Any ideaa on how to add an air line to a pump?

[Frogman]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But the issue was that your sump level increased. Not the bucket level!? Is that correct?

[Poor Boy]

Yes.

[Frogman]

I still think it's the flow increase. Put a control valve on the return line. I bet it solves your problem


It's in everyone's best interest to take care of those who take care of you. Support a local Veteran!

[Frogman]

Message sent

[klwheat]

Message sent

[Frogman]

Following up..

[Poor Boy]

i havnt had any time lately to do anything. for now, im going to leave the skimmer disconnected.

[klwheat]

Did you get it straightened out?!