Weir siphon overflow problems

jld2112 · 10/18/2012, 08:46 PM

Hello all ..

I've got a 100g tank that overflows into a 55g sump. I've have this take up and running for over 7 years with no real problems.

This week I've notice the water lvl in the 100g has been getting higher than normal. After looging at it tonight it's been constantly touching the bottom of the center piece of glass in the top of the tank. This, usually, over the past years means that some air is at the top of the siphon and if you pull the cap off and suck the air out it's good for a number of weeks. This is not the problem tonight.

I've checked for any visiable obstructions in the entrance to the overflow. Checked inside to see if theirs anything in there. And also run a piece of stiff plastic tubing down the overflow PCV pipe to see if there was anything in there. I can't seem to find any obstructions.

It's looks and feels like I got a good amount of water being returned to the sump but something is off ......

Any suggestions ?

Vinny Kreyling · 10/19/2012, 10:09 AM

Could be growth inside the piping causing it to slow down.
You would be surprised what can grow there.
I would 1st remove the overflow box tubing & run a stiff hose brush thru it then return to service. No brush use a smaller size pipe & flush with hose.
If it still has the problem either just change or clean the hoses.

jld2112 · 10/19/2012, 11:49 AM

After doing nothing after I posted the message last night ... things have returned to normal ... Make no sense, but at least it's working again.

10/18/2012, 08:46 PM	#1
jld2112 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 70	Weir siphon overflow problems Hello all .. I've got a 100g tank that overflows into a 55g sump. I've have this take up and running for over 7 years with no real problems. This week I've notice the water lvl in the 100g has been getting higher than normal. After looging at it tonight it's been constantly touching the bottom of the center piece of glass in the top of the tank. This, usually, over the past years means that some air is at the top of the siphon and if you pull the cap off and suck the air out it's good for a number of weeks. This is not the problem tonight. I've checked for any visiable obstructions in the entrance to the overflow. Checked inside to see if theirs anything in there. And also run a piece of stiff plastic tubing down the overflow PCV pipe to see if there was anything in there. I can't seem to find any obstructions. It's looks and feels like I got a good amount of water being returned to the sump but something is off ...... Any suggestions ? __________________ "If you choose not to decide, You still have made a choice" -- Neil Peart Current Tank Info: 100g-w/55 sump, 2-10g+10g sump breeding setup, 10g coral prop. tank, 10g Apitasia species tank

10/19/2012, 11:49 AM	#3
jld2112 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 70	After doing nothing after I posted the message last night ... things have returned to normal ... Make no sense, but at least it's working again. __________________ "If you choose not to decide, You still have made a choice" -- Neil Peart Current Tank Info: 100g-w/55 sump, 2-10g+10g sump breeding setup, 10g coral prop. tank, 10g Apitasia species tank

10/19/2012, 10:09 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Could be growth inside the piping causing it to slow down. You would be surprised what can grow there. I would 1st remove the overflow box tubing & run a stiff hose brush thru it then return to service. No brush use a smaller size pipe & flush with hose. If it still has the problem either just change or clean the hoses.