Sump Levels

[fernalfer]

Ok i have a 120 gallon dual overflow tank with a Trigger Systems 36 Ruby Red Sump. Last night i was playing with my sump levels and marked off the spot with return pump on and return pump off.

My question is how fast does evaporation happen? Not sure if my water is just evaporation or the if the return pump is carrying just a tad bit more water then the drain is draining

This pic below shows the bottom mark with tape. The water line was at the top of this piece of tape at 12:00am. This morning at 10:00am which is 10 hours later the water has dropped to almost the bottom of the tape.

RETURN or EVAPORATION? I do have an auto top off by tunze but want to stabilize water in sump before adding it

[Jscwerve]

Evap.

I lose 1-3 gallons a day in my 120 depending on the weather.

[MondoBongo]

Originally Posted by Jscwerve

Evap.

I lose 1-3 gallons a day in my 120 depending on the weather.

this. i lose 1 - 5 gallons a day in my 150/35 combo depending on weather.

to the OP, what does your salinity say? you should be able to measure an increase in the salinity if it is evaporation. it can also be helpful to mark the water level in the tank for reference purposes while you're tuning.

[Greybeard]

Originally Posted by fernalfer

My question is how fast does evaporation happen? Not sure if my water is just evaporation or the if the return pump is carrying just a tad bit more water then the drain is draining

Evaporation rates depend greatly on temperature, ambient humidity, surface area, lighting, air flow... My 60g cube with an open top and LED lighting looses 5g every 4-5 days.

As to return pump and water levels, in a properly configured sump system, the capacity of the overflow will exceed the capacity of the return pump. Sometimes just a little, sometimes by a lot... doesn't matter, really, except in special cases, but the overflow _must_ exceed the pump flow. If it doesn't then water level in the display tank will rise until (a) the return pump runs out of water, or (b) the display tank overflows.

Many of us, in order to have a fault tolerant system, like 2 drain lines. Some even have 3. A Herbie overflow system, which is what I run, has 2. A main drain, running at full siphon, restricted so that water flow is slightly less than return pump capacity, and a 2nd, with just a trickle of water flowing through it, but capable of handling the entire flow, should the main drain become plugged. BeAnAnimal systems are similar, but with a 3rd, dry drain, in case the primary and secondary are clogged.

[GimpyFin]

Same as the others. I lose about a gallon per day, give or take a little.

[MidwesternTexan]

And why I use a DIY, Gravity powered ATO in my ~320g system.
The resevoir for my ATO is also constantly/gravity fed by my RO/DI.

My SG NEVER budges, and I never have to 'refill' or 'top off' anything