Help!! Overflowing tank

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 10:25 AM

the tank is really my husbands deal but he's away with the military which leaves me in charge. Everything has been going fine until today, I woke up to the tank overflowing. We have a referum underneath the tank with a sump pump and a water bucket (am I making any sense?) I've turned off everything! When I flip the sump on it starts pumping water into the tank but it doesn't stop like it used to and I don't think waters leaving the tank as fast as its going in. I am completely lost here! Any help would be appreciated!

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 10:35 AM

Can you upload any pictures of the setup?

I would verify that you don't have a snail or other creature plugging the overflow (where water flows out of the display down to the lower tank/area)

Also...what type of overflow might help as well, is it the style that hangs over the back of the tank, or is there a hole in the back glass of the tank with plumbing from that?

hth,
Luke

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 10:38 AM

How do I upload pictures?

nate82 · 07/08/2011, 10:38 AM

Yea sounds like somethings clogging the overflow.. Clogged filter sock? Pics would help a ton.

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 10:40 AM

If you go to the advanced reply section there is an icon with a paperclip on it...that will allow you to upload an image directly to RC.
The other method would be to upload it to a site like photobucket and then link to it in your post

Luke

zakk · 07/08/2011, 10:40 AM

-Almost- happened to me last night, filter sock on the return line was just clogged, crating a traffic jam. Who knows, maybe a snail or something is in the overflow tube.

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 10:50 AM

I hope these pictures help, if you want other ones just ask and i can take them. How would I check to make sure it's not clogged?

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 10:52 AM

BTW those pictures aren't current. The referum has a LOT more water in it because I turned off the pumps

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 10:57 AM

I don't have an overflow that works off of siphon...can anyone jump in here who does and can explain how to verify/recover from a loss of siphon?

As for checking if clogged...visually is the first way, make sure nothing is obstructing any openings
I am not positive beyond that for your particular situation.

jimmyj7090 · 07/08/2011, 11:06 AM

That overflow is bad news...

The grey pipe hanging on the back of the tank, with a flexible tube coming out the top of it looks like the overflow. You can use that flexible tube to try to suck the air out of the pipe and restore the siphion. If that does not work, you should examine every part of that pipe, and everything attached to it to see if it is clogged somewhere. If it is clogged, clean the clog out, then use the flexible tubling to suck the air out of it and restart it.

In the end, you should replace that thing with a real overflow. It will continue to cause you problems.

BrianD · 07/08/2011, 11:07 AM

It appears you have at least 2 powerheads in the tank. I would keep those running and not worry as much about the pump circulating water between the sump and the main tank.

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 11:08 AM

I agree, get the skimmer powerhead going, as well as the other powerhead....they will keep the main tank alive.
Then as you can, get your overflow and refugium back online.

BrianD · 07/08/2011, 11:08 AM

To say it another way, water circulating between the sump and the main tank is not critical for life in the main tank. However, water circulation creates oxygen exchange, and it critical. You might want to point one of those powerheads to the surface to create a rippling effect and that will help oxygen exchange while the sump is off line.

BrianD · 07/08/2011, 11:10 AM

Luke beat me to it. Don't worry if you can't get the overlflow to work right away, and don't worry about getting the pump circulating water between the sump and the main tank. Those aren't big issues.

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 11:12 AM

One other very important thing.....tell your husband "Thank you for serving" for me....please

sjwitt · 07/08/2011, 11:33 AM

+1 on the "thank you" ... where are you located? If you can't figure out how to get the siphon started perhaps there's Local Fish Store you can go to and find out if there's a reef club in your area or maybe there's a Reef Central person near you who could come and help you out.

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 11:46 AM

thanks for the help everyone! We took apart the return pump but determined that it's not clogged. There is a floater in the referum that signals to the pump to shut off when the tank gets too full, we think that's whats causing it to overflow. There is water coming down the return pump but the pump going to the tank never shuts off.

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 11:47 AM

The nearest salt water pet store is about an hour away. Everything should be ok once I'm able to talk to my husband and he can explain how to put the tank back together

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 11:49 AM

My suggestion...I would change your setup.

A better setup would be something that is constantly running, and not tied to a float switch of any sort.
This would provide more safety, better flow, and smoother operation to keep running.

An example of what I am suggesting is this type of overflow (easily found used for less)
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_CS_Ov...FIOFEB-vi.html

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 11:52 AM

Here's a drawing of how the sump is suppose to work

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 11:53 AM

He literally put the sump in about a week before he left. He wanted to try and make things simple for me, so I don't have to mix salt water. The plan is when we comes back to make a more permanent set up

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 11:55 AM

I have a couple concerns....Is the bucket of premixed saltwater to act as a top off against evaporation?
If so...you do not want to use saltwater, but RO/DI water instead.

also...bioballs, if you have them, are something you might want to get rid of as they trap junk and create elevated nitrates in the tank unnecessarily.

huseman808 · 07/08/2011, 12:00 PM

ohh yes that's what I'm putting in the bucket. I only use salt water when I do a water change. Well we got the return pump to go back to normal. It was only trickling water down which is why the tank was overflowing. It must have lost suction or something.

LukeGI · 07/08/2011, 12:03 PM

Congrats on getting it going again...glad you found the solution.

jimmyj7090 · 07/08/2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huseman808

Well we got the return pump to go back to normal. It was only trickling water down which is why the tank was overflowing. It must have lost suction or something.

Do you mean there is a pump pumping water down to the sump, and another back up to the tank? (or do you mean a drain to the sump, and a pump pumping water back up?)

The pics look like there is a siphion drain made of grey PVC, and a pump pumping water back up to the tank. Is that right?

07/08/2011, 10:25 AM	#1
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	Help!! Overflowing tank the tank is really my husbands deal but he's away with the military which leaves me in charge. Everything has been going fine until today, I woke up to the tank overflowing. We have a referum underneath the tank with a sump pump and a water bucket (am I making any sense?) I've turned off everything! When I flip the sump on it starts pumping water into the tank but it doesn't stop like it used to and I don't think waters leaving the tank as fast as its going in. I am completely lost here! Any help would be appreciated!

07/08/2011, 10:35 AM	#2
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	Can you upload any pictures of the setup? I would verify that you don't have a snail or other creature plugging the overflow (where water flows out of the display down to the lower tank/area) Also...what type of overflow might help as well, is it the style that hangs over the back of the tank, or is there a hole in the back glass of the tank with plumbing from that? hth, Luke __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 10:38 AM	#4
nate82 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,137	Yea sounds like somethings clogging the overflow.. Clogged filter sock? Pics would help a ton. __________________ "Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold." - Bob Marley Current Tank Info: 45g cube in the works. With 15g sump, 10g fuge, DIY LEDs. and more

07/08/2011, 10:40 AM	#5
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	If you go to the advanced reply section there is an icon with a paperclip on it...that will allow you to upload an image directly to RC. The other method would be to upload it to a site like photobucket and then link to it in your post Luke __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 10:40 AM	#6
zakk Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 165	-Almost- happened to me last night, filter sock on the return line was just clogged, crating a traffic jam. Who knows, maybe a snail or something is in the overflow tube. __________________ 125G reef, 40G sump, DIY LED lighting, Tunze Wavemaker, Apex Neptune Controller, Vertex bio pellets, BRS GFO, BRS 2-part. Current Tank Info: 125G reef, 40G sump, DIY LED lighting, Tunze Wavemaker, Apex Neptune Controller, Vertex bio pellets, BRS GFO, BRS 2-part.

07/08/2011, 10:52 AM	#8
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	BTW those pictures aren't current. The referum has a LOT more water in it because I turned off the pumps

07/08/2011, 10:57 AM	#9
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	I don't have an overflow that works off of siphon...can anyone jump in here who does and can explain how to verify/recover from a loss of siphon? As for checking if clogged...visually is the first way, make sure nothing is obstructing any openings I am not positive beyond that for your particular situation. __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 11:06 AM	#10
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	That overflow is bad news... The grey pipe hanging on the back of the tank, with a flexible tube coming out the top of it looks like the overflow. You can use that flexible tube to try to suck the air out of the pipe and restore the siphion. If that does not work, you should examine every part of that pipe, and everything attached to it to see if it is clogged somewhere. If it is clogged, clean the clog out, then use the flexible tubling to suck the air out of it and restart it. In the end, you should replace that thing with a real overflow. It will continue to cause you problems. __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

07/08/2011, 11:07 AM	#11
BrianD Sir Brian The Lenient Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Mattoon, IL Posts: 32,111	It appears you have at least 2 powerheads in the tank. I would keep those running and not worry as much about the pump circulating water between the sump and the main tank. __________________ Always strive for the optimum environment, not the minimum environment. Current Tank Info: Empty

07/08/2011, 11:08 AM	#12
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	I agree, get the skimmer powerhead going, as well as the other powerhead....they will keep the main tank alive. Then as you can, get your overflow and refugium back online. __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 11:10 AM	#14
BrianD Sir Brian The Lenient Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Mattoon, IL Posts: 32,111	Luke beat me to it. Don't worry if you can't get the overlflow to work right away, and don't worry about getting the pump circulating water between the sump and the main tank. Those aren't big issues. __________________ Always strive for the optimum environment, not the minimum environment. Current Tank Info: Empty

07/08/2011, 11:12 AM	#15
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	One other very important thing.....tell your husband "Thank you for serving" for me....please __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 11:33 AM	#16
sjwitt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA, East Coast Posts: 896	+1 on the "thank you" ... where are you located? If you can't figure out how to get the siphon started perhaps there's Local Fish Store you can go to and find out if there's a reef club in your area or maybe there's a Reef Central person near you who could come and help you out.

07/08/2011, 11:46 AM	#17
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	thanks for the help everyone! We took apart the return pump but determined that it's not clogged. There is a floater in the referum that signals to the pump to shut off when the tank gets too full, we think that's whats causing it to overflow. There is water coming down the return pump but the pump going to the tank never shuts off.

07/08/2011, 11:47 AM	#18
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	The nearest salt water pet store is about an hour away. Everything should be ok once I'm able to talk to my husband and he can explain how to put the tank back together

07/08/2011, 11:49 AM	#19
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	My suggestion...I would change your setup. A better setup would be something that is constantly running, and not tied to a float switch of any sort. This would provide more safety, better flow, and smoother operation to keep running. An example of what I am suggesting is this type of overflow (easily found used for less) http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_CS_Ov...FIOFEB-vi.html __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 11:53 AM	#21
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	He literally put the sump in about a week before he left. He wanted to try and make things simple for me, so I don't have to mix salt water. The plan is when we comes back to make a more permanent set up

07/08/2011, 11:55 AM	#22
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	I have a couple concerns....Is the bucket of premixed saltwater to act as a top off against evaporation? If so...you do not want to use saltwater, but RO/DI water instead. also...bioballs, if you have them, are something you might want to get rid of as they trap junk and create elevated nitrates in the tank unnecessarily. __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

07/08/2011, 12:00 PM	#23
huseman808 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dubuque Iowa Posts: 279	ohh yes that's what I'm putting in the bucket. I only use salt water when I do a water change. Well we got the return pump to go back to normal. It was only trickling water down which is why the tank was overflowing. It must have lost suction or something.

07/08/2011, 12:03 PM	#24
LukeGI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 240	Congrats on getting it going again...glad you found the solution. __________________ "Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men." - Victor Hugo Current Tank Info: 180g Mixed Reef, 40B sump, LED lights

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Modifying Overflows to handle less water in a larger tank?	MatthewJGrabow	Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS)	13	07/04/2011 12:52 PM
Drilling glass tank with overflows	swBrock	Arizona - Fish & Reef Aquarium Group (FRAG)	2	05/09/2011 11:37 AM
Suggestion For Overflow Box	Cole_lol	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	4	03/17/2011 02:22 PM
Overflow and Sump	jump629shot	New to the Hobby	11	11/18/2010 01:52 PM
Drilling a tank for overflows	Roblox84	Do It Yourself	2	09/16/2010 06:20 PM