Pre-Skimmer Box, UGH!

[NanaReefer]

How do I get the dang water level to stabilize in this box? I have an ATO. Could the issue be that my water level drops to much before the ATO kicks on? The box itself is being held in place by 3 magnets. But I'm finding I'm always having to adjust the hight or else it will either run dry or it won't surface skim. Here's a pic of it mounted.

 

[trido]

I'm guessing your right in thinking that the ATO is part to blame. If you can cut more openings into the top of the overflow box it will make it less hyper sensitive to the water level in the tank.

 

[blk822822]

Your tank level shuld alwaysbe the same at the overflow. Unless you don't have a sump and are using the ATO on the tank ,then the level sensor needs to adjusted to always keep the tank level in the tooth depth of the overflow box.

 

[NanaReefer]

I've got the float in the tank and then the water is added to the HOB fuge. There's got to be a remedy! Lol

 

[trido]

A larger overflow box or more teeth in the existing one will help. I drilled a couple small hole into the side (well below the water line)of my last internal overflow box and that helped with the lack of teeth. Maybe you are just keeping it too high in the tank.

 

[mfinn]

I've got the float in the tank and then the water is added to the HOB fuge. There's got to be a remedy! Lol

I believe that the float needs to be in the same location as where the water is added.
There will be a small lag time that may interfer with the balance between the two locations.

Ever thought about a toothless overflow box?

 

[NanaReefer]

The box is more of a surface skimmer then anything. It has teeth on all sides.
I think it's more of an inconsistent water level issue. I can't have the top off flowing directly into the tank, right? That wouldn't be good.
Where do most people keep their float valves? Isn't the water level in the tank what matters most? Maybe I'm a little confused on this subject :-\
Also the water level always stays the same in my fuge as it is gravity returned, water level is high.

 

[mfinn]

I have a float valve in my sump. The other is in a top-off container.
The level in your tank is the balance between the return pump and overflow box.

 

[kpiotrowski]

having trouble understanding your system. do you have a sump? is the pre-skimmer box an overflow box that takes water down to a sump or is it a surface skimmer and what is pumping or siphoning water out of this box?. as far the ato float switch it should be in the lowest part of the sump where the water level changes due to evaporation.

 

[NanaReefer]

I'm sorry for the confusion. I do not have a sump. I have a HOB fuge. A HOB skimmer. A friend made me a pre-skimmer box so that the waters surface gets skimmed by the skimmer.

 

[Tuku4u]

Hmmm...Maybe your box isn't large enough and your skimmer is pumping water out of it just a smidgen too fast for the overflow box to keep up and ends up making it run dry. If your skimmer pumps 750 gph, and your skimmer box only brings in about 700 gph then may cause this problem. Just my opinion.

 

[Tuku4u]

Maybe drill a hole on each side of the box just below the teeth so that water can enter not only thru the top teeth, but if the water level gets just a little bit below that, it can still get through the holes and your not running your skimmer dry or causing damage to it.

 

[mfinn]

A larger overflow box or more teeth in the existing one will help. I drilled a couple small hole into the side (well below the water line)of my last internal overflow box and that helped with the lack of teeth. Maybe you are just keeping it too high in the tank.

+1

First I'd try dropping the box down till the top of the teeth are at the waters surface.
You may not get perfect surface skimming, but it will be better than none.
If that doesn't work, try what trido and Tuku4u suggested and drill some holes in the box.

 

[HUNTER01975]

Hmmm...Maybe your box isn't large enough and your skimmer is pumping water out of it just a smidgen too fast for the overflow box to keep up and ends up making it run dry. If your skimmer pumps 750 gph, and your skimmer box only brings in about 700 gph then may cause this problem. Just my opinion.

agree....If your box is running dry then your not getting enough water in the box for the demand..

i am guessing that pipe is your skimmer inlet? and there is a pump driving the skimmer inside the box? You don't want to put a smaller pump if that is the case cause that will cause the skimmer to not work right. So I vote for more holes..

 

[HUNTER01975]

+1

First I'd try dropping the box down till the top of the teeth are at the waters surface.
You may not get perfect surface skimming, but it will be better than none.
If that doesn't work, try what trido and Tuku4u suggested and drill some holes in the box.

box does look a tad high..

 

[NanaReefer]

If I drop it to the above level then it doesn't surface skim. Draws more water from beneath the surface.

 

[mfinn]

Hmmm...Maybe your box isn't large enough and your skimmer is pumping water out of it just a smidgen too fast for the overflow box to keep up and ends up making it run dry. If your skimmer pumps 750 gph, and your skimmer box only brings in about 700 gph then may cause this problem. Just my opinion.

I think this may sum it up.












By dropping the box, you may not get perfect surface skimming, but you will get some. Probally about the best it's going to get.