Solana 34 gallon help!!!

[Soccerjay]

I recently bought this off of craigslist and it was from another avid reefer who had a couple more tanks so its not a lemon by any stretch and i checked everything and it was nice and quiet with halfway water level in the refugium in the back. I just setup the tank and the water wont stay at all in the back its just enough water to flow through the middle and into the pump area and just enough water to cover pump and let it force water out. The other problem is its loud...but when i add water in the back it gets nice and quiet. So the problem is retaining water through the filtration stages and its just not doing its job...if u guys need pics let me know

[Wmich2008]

I am not really understanding what the problem is, a pic may help. I am not sure about the design of that tanks AIO filter area, but why not just add more water to the back to make sure the return is covered and the tank runs quite?

[Soccerjay]

Originally Posted by Wmich2008

I am not really understanding what the problem is, a pic may help. I am not sure about the design of that tanks AIO filter area, but why not just add more water to the back to make sure the return is covered and the tank runs quite?

That's exactly what I tried but over the course of the day the water slowly entered the main tank and when I got home at night the water level was just about to overflow and I quickly removed a couple gallons

[Greenfanativ]

I have a similar tank, check to make sure the first sponge/ filter will allow more water flow. When I first set mine up with a charcoal filter pad water did not move across it fast enough, this would cause the viewing area of the tank to fill too fast and the back chamber to almost run dry

[Soccerjay]

Originally Posted by Greenfanativ

I have a similar tank, check to make sure the first sponge/ filter will allow more water flow. When I first set mine up with a charcoal filter pad water did not move across it fast enough, this would cause the viewing area of the tank to fill too fast and the back chamber to almost run dry

It seems like its moving too fast the water level in the filtration system is near the bottom rack and nowhere near the top like its supposed to be....once the wayer level in the pump drops below a certain point the pimp starts shooting microbubbles but if i take some water from viewing section and piur into the pump area it solves the problem and the water flows normal again

[Greenfanativ]

My thoughts are as follows take out both sponges just to test . The pump itself might have something closing off flow

[Greenfanativ]

Also the middle chamber will run a little lower than where the protein skimmer is

[Soccerjay]

Originally Posted by Greenfanativ

Also the middle chamber will run a little lower than where the protein skimmer is

I looked through the manual and its at about half of where its supposed to be....I'll try sponge idea and let u know