Water top off

colotl · 12/21/2007, 11:20 AM

Does it matter were to top off. Before my sump/fuge I had canisters. I would top off directly to my display tank and always new how much topoff. It was consistent. Know with the sump/fuge I top off in my return and predicting is harder. Just want to make sure Im topping off in the right section if it does indeed matter.

Thanks

BangkokMatt · 12/21/2007, 11:28 AM

Topping off in the return section is fine. Mark the sump where the water line should be and fill to that.

colotl · 12/21/2007, 11:43 AM

I did mark the waterline in my return. I will rise when the water is put in then come back down once everything equalizes.

sometimes it doesn't go down to the mark so i wonder why it does that.

Aquarist007 · 12/21/2007, 12:19 PM

are you shutting off any pumps when you top up?

colotl · 12/21/2007, 12:51 PM

No. Everything is running like normal. I wake up and before i go to work I top off. Waterline raises about inch. It will lower in about 5min. sometimes it only lowers about 1/2in. The waterline in the display seems the same everytime no matter what goes on down below.

dsn112 · 12/21/2007, 01:19 PM

If you had an auto top of unit, or a diy one, you would only have to make sure there was water in your topoff bin

kipher · 12/21/2007, 02:39 PM

I always top off in the first section of my sump. That way the water has a chance to mix as it makes its way through the sump. It gives me less of a change to pumping pure freshwater right into the display. I do have a fuge between the first section and the return and have never seen it have a negative effect on the pods in the fuge.

colotl · 12/21/2007, 05:21 PM

I will try that for a couple days and see how that works. Good point on letting it mix and not having the freshwater hit the specimens right away.

Aquarist007 · 12/22/2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by colotl
No. Everything is running like normal. I wake up and before i go to work I top off. Waterline raises about inch. It will lower in about 5min. sometimes it only lowers about 1/2in. The waterline in the display seems the same everytime no matter what goes on down below.

somewhere the water level is rising and falling also--its a closed system--unless there is a puddle under your tank

I suspect the level is rising slightly in the sump when it goes down in the tank. Your pump is just taking time picking up the slack.

colotl · 12/22/2007, 08:43 PM

I think your right capn_hylinur. It's has been stable and when it does go down it eventually comes back up. Thanks everyone for your replies

12/21/2007, 11:20 AM	#1
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	Water top off Does it matter were to top off. Before my sump/fuge I had canisters. I would top off directly to my display tank and always new how much topoff. It was consistent. Know with the sump/fuge I top off in my return and predicting is harder. Just want to make sure Im topping off in the right section if it does indeed matter. Thanks

12/21/2007, 11:28 AM	#2
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	Topping off in the return section is fine. Mark the sump where the water line should be and fill to that. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

12/21/2007, 12:19 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	are you shutting off any pumps when you top up? __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

12/21/2007, 01:19 PM	#6
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	If you had an auto top of unit, or a diy one, you would only have to make sure there was water in your topoff bin __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

12/21/2007, 02:39 PM	#7
kipher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 429	I always top off in the first section of my sump. That way the water has a chance to mix as it makes its way through the sump. It gives me less of a change to pumping pure freshwater right into the display. I do have a fuge between the first section and the return and have never seen it have a negative effect on the pods in the fuge. __________________ Brian SEASL & SLASH member For the Best of both Worlds!!!! Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 95 lbs LR, 29g tank as my DIY fuge/sump w/ Quiteone Model 3000 (780gph) return pump, ASM G-2 Skimmer, 1 - 170gph Penguin 660 PH , Seio 2600, 2500gph MJ Mod, Typhoon III RO/DI, 2x250W MH (10K XM's) & 2-36" 96W VHO Actinic

12/21/2007, 11:43 AM	#3
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	I did mark the waterline in my return. I will rise when the water is put in then come back down once everything equalizes. sometimes it doesn't go down to the mark so i wonder why it does that.

12/21/2007, 12:51 PM	#5
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	No. Everything is running like normal. I wake up and before i go to work I top off. Waterline raises about inch. It will lower in about 5min. sometimes it only lowers about 1/2in. The waterline in the display seems the same everytime no matter what goes on down below.

12/21/2007, 05:21 PM	#8
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	I will try that for a couple days and see how that works. Good point on letting it mix and not having the freshwater hit the specimens right away.

12/22/2007, 08:43 PM	#10
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	I think your right capn_hylinur. It's has been stable and when it does go down it eventually comes back up. Thanks everyone for your replies