Refugium/sump overflowing..

I am confused! You say keeping a lower level makes you have to refill more? Evaporation should be the only influence on this other than water changes. So not sure how the ATO plays into your original question. ATO is the best way to maintain I IME.

If getting a 1)bigger sump isn't an option you need to minimize
how much water drains back from your tank. This is a factor of 2)return pump flow, 3)over flow grill size and 4)return siphon break. It's one or more of these steps that will address your problem.

 

Basically what happens is the if i keep a lower level in my sump my return sucks air, my ato us set up to fill it right before this happens but with my skimmer off it fills up almost all the way, and if the tank water drained back in it would b on the floor, so its either drilling my siphon break (no idea how) or a bigger sump (which wouldnt bother me either)

 

Drilling the siphon break should be a easy and quick fix, but you still have the water that will drop to the level of the overflow grill. So this may not fix your problem. Getting a bigger sump would be best.
The siphon break is drilled in your return pipe just below the max height of water in tank when return is running. I prefer to angle the drill at minimum 45 degrees toward the tank bottom. That way I minimize water spray where I don't want it. this is also why I prefer it below the water line.
Is your return PVC? Is there a fitting or pipe you can remove at the end of your return? If so, the drilling process will be much easier. I prefer the smallest possible hole that will allow siphon break. Probably something like 1/32 or 1/16. Hope that helps.

 

Yup im all PVC piped, now when you say drill the siphon break i know it has to do with my plumping in the overflow, but which piece would i be actually drilling? thats the part that keeps getting me. i wanted to go with a 40b for a sump, but id lose room in my stand which i need due to getting a calcium reactor, and my skimmer which is huge as well.. and a 40b wouldnt be as tall as my sump is now, but its wider so it would hold more water then my set up now!

 

You do need a bigger sump. A good one. Look at Precision Marines blemished dept. There cheap, but in the mean time..this will help you till you can get a bigger Sump.

Swing Check Valves, True Union Clear PVC, Socket connection - AquaCave

 

yea ive been looking already, there are just so many options lol in the mean time would a rubbermaid container do the job? basically im getting nervous b/c all the wind and such in my area is pretty intense, michigan has 50,000 without power and if it happens in wi id be the lucky guy that would get hit by it

 

When he says drill a siphon break, he's meaning to drill a small hole in your return hose. (The PVC pipe thats bringing the water from your pump into your display tank. )

Nothing has to be drilled on your overflow. I tihnk that is where you are getting confused.

The reason is due to water pressure. When the pump shuts down, gravity kicks in. If your return hose in under the water line in the display, all of the water around it creates back pressure that will push a lot of water down into your sump. To alleviate this, you drill a small hole in the return pipe just under the water line. Yes, there will be a pin hole of water that spits out when the pump is running, that's why you drill it just Under the water to avoid spray.

When the pump shuts off, the water that's under the hole won't fall into your sump now and you avoid draining onto your floor. Most People forget about this (Raises Hand) and spend two days or so trying to figure our why the DARN THING KEEPS OVERFLOWING!!!!!! (sorry......flash back) Best of luck.

 

Yup, get yourself a Rubbermaid tub and rinse it out first and wipe it down real good.

 

Remember to throw your skimmer in there and adjust the height with foam or egg crate. I know a lot of people who actually run their sumps like that, so this is a legitimate way to insure your water stays off your floor. Good luck