Dual Dursos just slowed to a trickle

[William Norman]

My dual dursos don't appear to be draining well all of a sudden. So this tank has been up for me for few years and I purchased it from some else that had the tank and plumbing running for at least 3-5 years.

All of sudden my tank is not draining. I am not sure what happened. I have played with the gate valves and still minimal flow. I double checked the covers over both drains are clear. Air holes are clear.

Could both gate values have gone at once ? Seems unrealistic. I haven't changed anything.

 

[WVNed]

If your drains stopped running your tank would either overflow or the returns would be blowing out a storm of air.
If your return pump slows way down there is nothing to drain down but a trickle.
If your tank has a normal water level then look at your return pump.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Agreed, something is preventing your return pump from working to it's full capacity.

When's the last time you've cleaned it? That would be the first thing to check, (obstruction inside the volute)

 

[William Norman]

In order to keep the return pump from overflowing the tank I have diverted 90-95 percent of my flow into my manifold.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Maybe a snail or something stuck in the pipe work.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

In order to keep the return pump from overflowing the tank I have diverted 90-95 percent of my flow into my manifold.

Sounds like you figured out the problem.

 

[William Norman]

Maybe a snail or something stuck in the pipe work.

The caps on the dorsos are glued on. Should I just drill them out and try to snake the lines ?

 

[K7BMG]

If this was all of a sudden then I would think a critter(s) are blocking the drain lines.
Or maybe algae build up on the interior of the drain lines flaked off and is causing the obstruction.

Gate valves fail but it is a rare thing, and for two of them well you should play the lotto then.
The solution is simple, but most likely a pain. Pull and clean out the drain lines.

 

[William Norman]

Sounds like you figured out the problem.

LOL .. Now I have minimal flow into the tank.. Not actually what I would like.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I would. I’ve had a snail get in there and overflow the tank at 2am once and most recently my file fish jumped in my overflow then decided to hang out in the elbow on the durso... I’ve now made a cover with egg crate and zip ties on both sides instead of leaving them open.

 

[WVNed]

Are your dursos glued in or can you remove the part inside the tank?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

LOL .. Now I have minimal flow into the tank.. Not actually what I would like.

Ahh... so what you're saying is that you had to divert 95% of the flow to prevent the tank from overflowing??

 

[William Norman]

If this was all of a sudden then I would think a critter(s) are blocking the drain lines.
Or maybe algae build up on the interior of the drain lines flaked off and is causing the obstruction.

Gate valves fail but it is a rare thing, and for two of them well you should play the lotto then.
The solution is simple, but most likely a pain. Pull and clean out the drain lines.

Oh No!!!.. It is going to be such a pain the way the person set up the tank. not much room. I guess it is better to disconnect everything underneath instead of drilling out the caps on the dursos. My neck and back hurts already just thinking about it.

 

[William Norman]

Ahh... so what you're saying is that you had to divert 95% of the flow to prevent the tank from overflowing??

Yes.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Oh No!!!.. It is going to be such a pain the way the person set up the tank. not much room. I guess it is better to disconnect everything underneath instead of drilling out the caps on the dursos. My neck and back hurts already just thinking about it.

Yep, won’t be fun! And never glue the caps! I don’t even recommend gluing the durso’s in.

 

[WVNed]

Do you have a union under the tank where you can break the drain and stick a wire up it?

 

[William Norman]

Are your dursos glued in or can you remove the part inside the tank?

Yes they are all glued in. Why ?? Why would someone glue them ???? Oh woe is me. As K7BMG suggests I am going to have to disconnect all the lines and snake them. I want to go back and hit the original plumber of this tank in the side of the head.

 

[William Norman]

Do you have a union under the tank where you can break the drain and stick a wire up it?

Yes, but everything is so tight and crowded. Not going to be fun.

 

[Water Dog]

Never been a fan of restricting Durso drains with valves as that could lead to a potential flood, but what happens when you adjust the gate valves on your drain lines to fully open?

 

[William Norman]

Now I am going to be dreaming/obsessing all night, about doing this tomorrow. - Thank you all for the advise. Really appreciate the guidance. I was just thinking last week, that when I move in a few years that I am going to replub the entire tank.