What's going on?

ASaleem91 · 06/30/2006, 08:52 PM

Today I was topping off my tank and noticed that the water level was extremely low. I looked around the tank for a couple of minutes and noticed that there was a slow drip comming from the bottom of the upper tank frame. I looked inside the main tank and the water was about to overflow if I hadnt turned everything off and let some water drain into the sump. I started the tank up again and noticed that the overflow box was filling upto the top which usually doesnt happen. Everything in the tank is off right now except one of my Seio 1500's. I need to know why the level in my overflow box is higher than usual and how I can lower the water level so that it is at its normal level.

Thanks,
ASaleem91

bertoni · 06/30/2006, 09:10 PM

That sounds to me like some plugging of the overflow box or somewhere along the overflow plumbing.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 06/30/2006, 09:13 PM

asaleem91, to me it sounds like something is clogging your overflow where its not letting the water drain to the sump fast enough and back in to the main display through your return pump, check these two things and you should be able to pinpoint the problem here, hope this help's...

ASaleem91 · 06/30/2006, 09:32 PM

I'm pretty sure that nothing is clogging the overflow drain because there is a foam block a couple inches before the overflow drain. I have checked the U-Tube also and nothing is clogging it. Also I have started everything up again. The water is still filling the overflow box upto the top but the water level is constant and the water in the main tank is not too high(about an inch from the top of the tank). Should I leave the overflow alone or what?

Thanks,
ASaleem91

ASaleem91 · 06/30/2006, 11:37 PM

bump

Sk8r · 06/30/2006, 11:50 PM

THere just has to be a blockage somewhere---have you got any hair algae or weed clogging up the box, or stuck in a drain hose? Could there be anything where it enters the sump that is not letting it drain as freely as it once did?

MegaPods · 07/01/2006, 12:07 AM

maby the overflow pipe has been blocked by a snail...thats what always happens to mine

ASaleem91 · 07/01/2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
THere just has to be a blockage somewhere---have you got any hair algae or weed clogging up the box, or stuck in a drain hose? Could there be anything where it enters the sump that is not letting it drain as freely as it once did?

There was hair algae in the box but now half of it is gone. Do you think that it could be in the drainage pipe. If so how can I remove it?

dreams · 07/01/2006, 09:51 AM

is the foam clean?....if the foam is clogged w/ gunk that will slow down the flow

ASaleem91 · 07/06/2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dreams
is the foam clean?....if the foam is clogged w/ gunk that will slow down the flow

I have just cleaned the foam and the overflow box is still filled to the top of the teeth.

Also the water is getting higher slowly. Where could the clog be and how can I unclog it?

Thanks for your help,
ASaleem91

ASaleem91 · 07/06/2006, 09:53 PM

bump

bertoni · 07/06/2006, 10:32 PM

That's a tough one. Can you locate some equivalent to a plumber's snake to check for plugging? A music store might carry some cleaning equipment along those lines, too.

ASaleem91 · 07/06/2006, 10:37 PM

would a small rod work if i stuck it up the drain pipe?

bertoni · 07/07/2006, 01:20 AM

I think that'd be fine.

ASaleem91 · 07/07/2006, 11:12 PM

Before I went to buy equipment to fix the overflow I decided to try to solve the problem one last time. I took the overflow apart and cleaned the overflow box and the U-tube. I started the overflow again and BOOM it started to work properly.

Thanks for all your help guys,
ASaleem91

jerehmy · 07/07/2006, 11:53 PM

how long was your overflow set up before it got clogged?

ASaleem91 · 07/11/2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jerehmy
how long was your overflow set up before it got clogged?

Since September 2005

06/30/2006, 08:52 PM	#1
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	What's going on? Today I was topping off my tank and noticed that the water level was extremely low. I looked around the tank for a couple of minutes and noticed that there was a slow drip comming from the bottom of the upper tank frame. I looked inside the main tank and the water was about to overflow if I hadnt turned everything off and let some water drain into the sump. I started the tank up again and noticed that the overflow box was filling upto the top which usually doesnt happen. Everything in the tank is off right now except one of my Seio 1500's. I need to know why the level in my overflow box is higher than usual and how I can lower the water level so that it is at its normal level. Thanks, ASaleem91 __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

06/30/2006, 09:10 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That sounds to me like some plugging of the overflow box or somewhere along the overflow plumbing. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/30/2006, 09:13 PM	#3
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	asaleem91, to me it sounds like something is clogging your overflow where its not letting the water drain to the sump fast enough and back in to the main display through your return pump, check these two things and you should be able to pinpoint the problem here, hope this help's... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

06/30/2006, 09:32 PM	#4
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	I'm pretty sure that nothing is clogging the overflow drain because there is a foam block a couple inches before the overflow drain. I have checked the U-Tube also and nothing is clogging it. Also I have started everything up again. The water is still filling the overflow box upto the top but the water level is constant and the water in the main tank is not too high(about an inch from the top of the tank). Should I leave the overflow alone or what? Thanks, ASaleem91 __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

06/30/2006, 11:37 PM	#5
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	bump __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

06/30/2006, 11:50 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	THere just has to be a blockage somewhere---have you got any hair algae or weed clogging up the box, or stuck in a drain hose? Could there be anything where it enters the sump that is not letting it drain as freely as it once did? __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/01/2006, 12:07 AM	#7
MegaPods Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nitro WV Posts: 51	maby the overflow pipe has been blocked by a snail...thats what always happens to mine

07/01/2006, 09:51 AM	#9
dreams Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 93	is the foam clean?....if the foam is clogged w/ gunk that will slow down the flow

07/06/2006, 09:53 PM	#11
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	bump __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

07/06/2006, 10:32 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That's a tough one. Can you locate some equivalent to a plumber's snake to check for plugging? A music store might carry some cleaning equipment along those lines, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/06/2006, 10:37 PM	#13
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	would a small rod work if i stuck it up the drain pipe? __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

07/07/2006, 01:20 AM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think that'd be fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/07/2006, 11:12 PM	#15
ASaleem91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 248	Before I went to buy equipment to fix the overflow I decided to try to solve the problem one last time. I took the overflow apart and cleaned the overflow box and the U-tube. I started the overflow again and BOOM it started to work properly. Thanks for all your help guys, ASaleem91 __________________ ASaleem91 "I'll believe it when I see it" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank

07/07/2006, 11:53 PM	#16
jerehmy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 511	how long was your overflow set up before it got clogged? __________________ Fish are the best medecine for body and mind Current Tank Info: 55g, 40g, 29gx2, 60g, 10g African Cichlids (Breeders) 40g SW Reef with a 20g sump/refugium 75lbs prime LR Mag 9.5 SCWD and Remora skimmer, 2x96w PC's