I need help setting up my wet dry filter under my tank? Gahhhh! :( Please help!

dani_starr

dani_starr

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Aug 6, 2011
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Dani :)
:help2::1zhelp::help2::1zhelp::help2:

I finally got a hose clamp today, clamped it on the hose that connects to the pump, and finally got the stupid hose to stay on the pump. I figured all my problems with the wet/dry filter/sump underneath my tank not working were over now. I plug in the pump, and I watch the wet/dry filters water level. Waiting to see if it works. Nope! :wall:

It did the same freaking thing as before, the pump sucks pretty much ALL the water out that it can, till it's basically running dry and makes this awful noise. The only way to fix it is by unplugging it, so the water can flow back into the wet/dry filter.

Apparently, the water is not flowing back into the wet/dry filter so that it can be pumped out into the tank.

How do I fix this? I'm sure it's an easy fix, but I have tried everything, and frankly just want to throw the whole darn thing away and get a stupid hang on the back filter or something. I've spent hours on this stupid thing, trying to make it work.:swear:

Here are some pics of my tank (it has a built in corner overflow, which houses both the intake and outtake pipes)
fish.jpg

Here's a close up of the pipes (I shoved some of the blue filter media inside the pipe on the right, was I not supposed to? Oh I swear if this is all because of that stupid blue stuff I shoved inside the pipe, I am going to feel SO FREAKING STUPID )

fish tank.jpg

(The water level is full now though, but the black snakey thing on top is not in the water, I learned that lesson already..lol)

And this is basically what my filter looks like
amiracle.jpg
Except the hole is right above the "amiracle" logo, not on the side. And is not connected to a pipe, just a hose that connects to the pump, and the hose then connects right underneath the tank to the pipe inside the overflow.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ANY ANSWERS!!!!!

fish.jpg fish tank.jpg amiracle.jpg
 
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I had the same problem before. I contacted UaraJoey and this was his advice before I gave up on it.
UaraJoey, "
The problem is your pump. From the sounds out it, it doesnt pump the same GPH all the time?
If the sump is draining, the pump is too powerfull/overflows too small/sump too small."
Me,"It has a knob to adjust the flow but it seems like even if I adjust it, it doesn't find equilibrium with the overflow. It does pump out at the same rate."
UaraJoey,"Ok, the best thing is to set the pump to its highest level. If it drains the sump, and your overflows cant keep up, you'll need to either increase the overflows, or increase the sump size. More likely, you'll have to increase the overflow size first, then the sump."

Sorry the size is really messed up.​
 
I took the blue stuff out, and nothing changed. Is there a certain level the pump needs to be?
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
2 options. 1 not enough water. fill up the tank and get water in the sump as well. 2 the tank isnt draining fast enough. the small slits might not be enough for the pump you have on the sump.
Click to expand...

How full should the tank and sump be? The tank is pretty much as full as I can get now, I can't even get a pic of the water level because it's right at/past the black rim.

The pipe has small slits on the side, plus the opening at the top. How would I fix it?
 
JoeeStacks said:
I had the same problem before. I contacted UaraJoey and this was his advice before I gave up on it.
UaraJoey, "
The problem is your pump. From the sounds out it, it doesnt pump the same GPH all the time?
If the sump is draining, the pump is too powerfull/overflows too small/sump too small."
Me,"It has a knob to adjust the flow but it seems like even if I adjust it, it doesn't find equilibrium with the overflow. It does pump out at the same rate."
UaraJoey,"Ok, the best thing is to set the pump to its highest level. If it drains the sump, and your overflows cant keep up, you'll need to either increase the overflows, or increase the sump size. More likely, you'll have to increase the overflow size first, then the sump."

Sorry the size is really messed up.​
Click to expand...

Since there is no way to increase the overflow, could I just get a smaller pump? It's a Rio 2100 on there right now.

This is so frustrating, because the person I bought it from on CL had it up and running, with no problems. (Well not the person I bought it from, the person who ran the tank was gone when I picked it up). I don't have their number either anymore, so I can't call them.
 
Well I added more water, which helped a little, but it's still not perfect. Maybe I need to add more water? But if I unplug, the sump level is about 2-3" from the top when it fills with water, and the tank is completely full now, like from the glass lid, 1/2"-1" tops. So much, that I worry if my air breather bichirs would be okay?

My moms bf told me that the water level in the sump should be constantly changing, while the tanks level should stay the same, but the sumps level stays pretty much the exact same as well.

I'm going to mess with it more tomorrow, I'm too tired right now. The long flexible hose that enters the bio box part of the sump started leaking too of course.
 
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