Operating levels ******* me off

Can someone tell me, in technical terms why in the world it matters how high or low sump operating level makes a damn difference on how a skimmer performs??? Ive looked at every possible aspect as to how it would affect the skimmer but cant come up with anything. My next question is, is there any, and i mean any away around this? in my situation, its a too low sump level that is affecting the skimmer. Im really getting annoyed and i cant return the skimmer because "i dont have the box that it was delivered in" (I KNOW!!) and i cant get a bigger sump because a 5.5 gallon is the only one that fits in my stand. The only possible way around, that i see is ordering a custom sump but i really, really, really dont want to resort to that because of shipping costs and just everything else!! Please tell me if there is any shortcuts or ways around this.

Thanks and help would be appreciated.
Ryan

Just to keep venting, i went all out on my skimmer, bought a 175 dollar one, rated for 100g tank, put in a 22 gallon. On any web site, there was nothing saying it needed a high sump level, but it does. None even specified what sump height it requires to operate normally. I spent all that money on a nice skimmer and this is the one thing thats stopping it from doing good? My point is its such a stupid thing from holding it back.

EDIT: and i know its the sump level because when i turned the system off and the water backsyphoned into the sump, the skimmer was still on and 5 minutes later, there was disgusting brown stuff in the collection cup. Within 5 seconds, the bubbles rose all through the neck of the skimmer. Im just annoyed that the manufacturer didnt at least warn me...

 

can it go HOB?

 

its a reef octopus nwb-100

EDIT: so no

 

The amount of water (height) in the chamber depends on how much more work the pump has to do to push the water - lower water level in sump / skimmer, more work the pump has to do to push the water to the appropriate level - which in turn affects air draw / bubble quantity. It has everything to do with the water level. If you don't want to worry about that, get a beckett. Which come with their own share of problems.

 

Can you install a bulkhead to raise the level.

 

pardon? elaborate?

 

And in this case low is the worst. Pretty much all skimmers need a certain range water level to work best in. No way around it.

 

A bulkhead is a piece of glass or acrylic that is placed inside the sump. It touches the bottom and sides creating a divider within the sump. You make it the height of water level you are wanting. The water comes in, fills up to the top of the bulkhead, flows over into the return chamber and the back up into the DT.

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

 

thats a baffle

bulkheads are for making holes hook up to pipes

 

Good lord, I must be on crack tonight. Yup, baffle.