Return Pump Question

i have a 55 gal DT with a 20 gal fuge...when i come home the water chamber where the return pump is gets really low to the point it starts to suck water and air...i have 6 t-5 lights, but i really dont think i could be evaporating that much water in a day...should i try to slow down the flow of the return back into the DT? ive heard of something i can buy to do this...or should i try an ATO?

 

it's not evap

it is probably your return pushing more water then your intake

you should add a ball valve to your return line so you can make tiny adjustments to the flow rate

 

I disagree. I have the same problem in my 55 and 20 gal. long sump and that is from evaporation. I need to add about 1 gallon of water a day. Im not sure of the physics behind it, but if you sump/fuge is set up like mine, I have a smaller section at the end after a bubble trap where the pump is. For what ever reason, that is where my tank shows evaporation loss. If you think about it, it makes sense. The pump is at a constant rate back into the tank, so the water level in the tank won't drop, so the overflow is draining the same amount of water. The evaporation from the DT is replaced by water in the sump, and so it must show somewhere. I plan on adding an ATO. Right now, I have to continuously add water to ensure the pump doesn't run dry, which I have already had a few close calls.

I have a ball valve on the return and that works temporarily, but the water in the DT tank then drops, so the overflow drains less water which will eventually make your pump run dry anyways.

 

yup, the levels in both my DT and my fuge remain the same...every chamber in the fuge except for the one with the pump in it is fine...is it really evaporation...i also have a long tube from my fuge to theDT..could this be attributing to so extra evap.?

 

wow never would have thought of that

 

im burning up about a half gallon a day if not more...

 

Yep its evap, 1/2 a gallon a day is pretty low evap, consider yourself lucky. my 120 evaps about 2 gallons a day, which IMO is average. Some people who run fans all day long for cooling evap much more than you or me.

 

yes my 72 goes through about 5 gallons in 4-5 days with my ATO

 

I agree. Its evap. In the cold winter months, you will get more evap due to the low humidity. In my 155, I add 1 to 2 gallons a day.
To remedy the low water level in the return, a ball valve, and set the water level a little higher if you can. So when you have the evap, it doesn't suck up the air and blow it into the DT. Myself, I am working on getting an auto top off unit. Still shopping though...

 

same for me! i also believed at first i had some kind of leak i couldnt believe i was losing 3/4 of a gallon a day!, but yes its EVAPORATION! lol i installed an ATP, it makes this hobby more enjoyable!