Can’t keep 25 lagoon AIO return chamber water level up

[J A' mhuir]

Hey y’all,
I have an AIO Nuvo 25 gallon lagoon.
Running the Mighty-Jet return pump on lowest setting.
Two caddies: one holding just Poly fill and some ceramic media balls, and the other poly fill and carbon.
The other chamber has tons of ceramic media in a bag.

The issue: the water level in the return chamber drops below heater, way below ATO sensor, and almost sucks air when:
- I turn off the pump to check for nasties or move something or even after feed mode, then on again and it goes supper low.
- I added two little fishies and after floating the bag it dropped again.

What I have tried:
Keeping the pump at lowest setting
Removing some of the poly fill.

I am wondering if I need to remove or spread the ceramic media out. I don’t have much room and I kinda am afraid to remove any. Or buy a new pump? Although it seems the pump works too well…

I also want the flow rate up because that means more water is being filtered.

What can I do to help this??

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Have you tried adding more water?

 

[J A' mhuir]

Have you tried adding more water?

Oh yes I forgot to mention that… I add water and it just keeps being pumped out to fast or something…. I finally got it just above the heater… but I want it up higher for noise canceling also…

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Oh yes I forgot to mention that… I add water and it just keeps being pumped out to fast or something…. I finally got it just above the heater… but I want it up higher for noise canceling also…

If the tank isn't overflowing, you can add more water. Also, don't put the heater in the return chamber.

 

[J A' mhuir]

If the tank isn't overflowing, you can add more water. Also, don't put the heater in the return chamber.

Thank you for your help.

The water level in the DT is pretty close to the emergency overflow….

Where would I put the heater? The diagrams in the instructions didn’t give much choices and the other chambers are full…. One specially I want for refugium later on.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You may be trying to do too much with a small AIO.

 

[J A' mhuir]

You may be trying to do too much with a small AIO.

This is quite possible. It’s hard to fit all the little parts in there….

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Looking at the tank on the IM website, it appears it's built to use the included media tower. I would not add more to the chambers than what's intended. The heater goes in a chamber that stays completely full.

 

[J A' mhuir]

Looking at the tank on the IM website, it appears it's built to use the included media tower. I would not add more to the chambers than what's intended. The heater goes in a chamber that stays completely full.

Thank you for looking into this!! I will change some things around tomorrow! See what helps…..

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I added two little fishies and after floating the bag it dropped again

This comment makes me think you need more water... or wasn't the pump on when the bag was in?

 

[Everclear]

If I'm understanding you correctly I can think of a couple things/issues. Your pump could powered or all the media you are using is slowing down the flow too much to be able to keep up with the pump. I would try reducing some of the filter gloss and either taking out or reducing the amount of ceramic. You may just need to get some space for the water to get into the return chamber faster. Also, I'm assuming you are adding water to the sump area and not the display area. As long as the display isn't overflowing you can add more water to the return/sump area. Sorry for the paragraph

 

[J A' mhuir]

Thus comment makes me think you need more water... or wasn't the pump on when the bag was in?

The pump was on.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thank you for looking into this!! I will change some things around tomorrow! See what helps…..

You're welcome! You might want to post a top down Pic just in case yours is set up differently than what I saw online

 

[Everclear]

I type too slow to keep up with you all. I keep my heater in the inflow chamber of the sump because that is always full.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

The pump was on.

Then you need more water in the system (and likely need to remove some media)

 

[J A' mhuir]

If I'm understanding you correctly I can think of a couple things/issues. Your pump could powered or all the media you are using is slowing down the flow too much to be able to keep up with the pump. I would try reducing some of the filter gloss and either taking out or reducing the amount of ceramic. You may just need to get some space for the water to get into the return chamber faster. Also, I'm assuming you are adding water to the sump area and not the display area. As long as the display isn't overflowing you can add more water to the return/sump area. Sorry for the paragraph

Thank you for your thoughts! I
Yes the ATO pumps into the return chamber.
I will try and remove some media, that may be why it’s so slow….

 

[Everclear]

Do you know roughly how many gph the pump puts out at the setting you have it on?

 

[J A' mhuir]

I type too slow to keep up with you all. I keep my heater in the inflow chamber of the sump because that is always full.

No worries!! I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[J A' mhuir]

Do you know roughly how many gph the pump puts out at the setting you have it on?

I do not, it has 9 settings and the Max is 320gph I believe

 

[J A' mhuir]

I do not, it has 9 settings and the Max is 320gph I believe

I have it on the lowest