Problem with overflow

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 06:04 PM

so not sure if this is random or not but since having to go get my fish out of the overflow my overflow keeps rising and dropping. It's moving a good 3 inches. I can see the line where it normally is. It goes slight above that point and then way below that point just under the drain. It gurgles and then rises back up. Obviously my sump is rising and dropping at the same rate. I turned off my pumps and then back on but it's not helping. Perhaps I hit something when I was in there? Or something is stuck? Water seems to be flowing as normal. My goby hasn't surfaced but I doubt he went back in.

Any thoughts? I really stink at the plumbing part of this.

thegrun · 01/03/2016, 06:10 PM

Assuming you have a second emergency drain you need to reduce the flow through the primary drain. Right now you are modulating between a full siphon where the drain pulls more water than the pump delivers so the water level drops. Once the water level drops below the intake full siphon is lost and the drain then cannot keep up with the water pumped into the tank and the water level begins to rise until a full siphon is again achieved and the cycle starts over.

gone fishin · 01/03/2016, 06:10 PM

refresh my memory are you using a durso? sounds like you got some air in the lines.

If you got a durso try putting your thumb over the vent hole in the top of the durso. The water level will rise when it stops move your finger. you may need to do it a couple times.

billdogg · 01/03/2016, 06:11 PM

I'm guessing a Durso Standpipe? You either need a hole in the top to allow air in, or you need to clean the existing hole out.

hth

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 06:15 PM

Some of this is like reading a foreign language. I have a reef ready deep blue tank. It has a standpipe. So that's a durso? So I need to stick my hand in the part that drains or drill a hole into that pipe?

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 06:23 PM

Ok just stuck my hand up there and "fished" around a bit and it has temporarily stopped doing it. I didn't do much so I'm not convinced. Water level in overflow is ever so slightly below the water line but seems to drop and rise but very little.

Does that make sense that it moves slightly up and down in the overflow? Never studied it before.

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 06:24 PM

Also thank you so much for the quick responses. After a few minutes it might be all good!

gone fishin · 01/03/2016, 06:38 PM

At the very top of the durso there should be a cap on top and that cap should have a small hole drilled in it. I will usually take a toothpick when I do a WC and poke into it. sometimes it gets some salt creep.

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the tip on the hole. It was covered in salt creep and the new temporary screen I added covered the hole even further. I'll keep the clean moving forward.

Thanks as always

01/03/2016, 06:04 PM	#1
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Problem with overflow so not sure if this is random or not but since having to go get my fish out of the overflow my overflow keeps rising and dropping. It's moving a good 3 inches. I can see the line where it normally is. It goes slight above that point and then way below that point just under the drain. It gurgles and then rises back up. Obviously my sump is rising and dropping at the same rate. I turned off my pumps and then back on but it's not helping. Perhaps I hit something when I was in there? Or something is stuck? Water seems to be flowing as normal. My goby hasn't surfaced but I doubt he went back in. Any thoughts? I really stink at the plumbing part of this. __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology

01/03/2016, 06:10 PM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	refresh my memory are you using a durso? sounds like you got some air in the lines. If you got a durso try putting your thumb over the vent hole in the top of the durso. The water level will rise when it stops move your finger. you may need to do it a couple times. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/03/2016, 06:11 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I'm guessing a Durso Standpipe? You either need a hole in the top to allow air in, or you need to clean the existing hole out. hth __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/03/2016, 06:15 PM	#5
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Some of this is like reading a foreign language. I have a reef ready deep blue tank. It has a standpipe. So that's a durso? So I need to stick my hand in the part that drains or drill a hole into that pipe? __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology

01/03/2016, 06:23 PM	#6
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Ok just stuck my hand up there and "fished" around a bit and it has temporarily stopped doing it. I didn't do much so I'm not convinced. Water level in overflow is ever so slightly below the water line but seems to drop and rise but very little. Does that make sense that it moves slightly up and down in the overflow? Never studied it before. __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology

01/03/2016, 06:10 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Assuming you have a second emergency drain you need to reduce the flow through the primary drain. Right now you are modulating between a full siphon where the drain pulls more water than the pump delivers so the water level drops. Once the water level drops below the intake full siphon is lost and the drain then cannot keep up with the water pumped into the tank and the water level begins to rise until a full siphon is again achieved and the cycle starts over.

01/03/2016, 06:24 PM	#7
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Also thank you so much for the quick responses. After a few minutes it might be all good! __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology

01/03/2016, 06:38 PM	#8
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	At the very top of the durso there should be a cap on top and that cap should have a small hole drilled in it. I will usually take a toothpick when I do a WC and poke into it. sometimes it gets some salt creep. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/03/2016, 07:03 PM	#9
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Thanks for the tip on the hole. It was covered in salt creep and the new temporary screen I added covered the hole even further. I'll keep the clean moving forward. Thanks as always __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology