AIO water level question

[alpinestar]

Hello, I have a Lifegard 5g nano I just got wet. First AIO chamber is filter floss, 2nd is carbon and bio balls, 3rd is return and heater. When the pump is on, the water level in the 3rd chamber is dropping, exposing the heater and pump. There was a sponge the pump sat on which I removed but it is still draining the 3rd chamber. When the pump is off all chambers are filled and the display is about an inch from the top.

I don't have another return pump that will fit in the chamber to test. What am I doing wrong?

 

[alpinestar]

Got it, it looks like the carbon bag was blocking the overflow into the 3rd chamber

 

[timqmana]

I wouldn't recommend putting the heater in the return pump chamber. There's a chance of it turning on and not being submerged if you forget to add RODI or if your auto top off fails and you don't catch it.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

^ this... heater middle chamber