Help! Tank is going to overflow

Ineedhelp · Nov 22, 2016

I have a 90 gallon drilled tank with a sump... I just moved my tank got the water in it and the draining wont keep up with what my pump pushes back into the tank. Nothing is different, its a different stand that may be 6 inches shorter but that is it.... Any ideas? I have the gurgly tube thing coming out of the PVC in the tank if that helps....

bevo5 · Nov 22, 2016

That six inches makes a ton of difference in head pressure - so that's why you're pushing more water. But the gurgling sound is air in the tube, which means you're not at a full siphon. Right?

What's your setup? How many drains, size etc? Are your drains going full siphon and are the ball/gate valves wide open?

The easiest option would be to get a slightly smaller pump - or put a gate valve on your return to slow it down. You just don't want to restrict flow INTO the pump.

Bluefish9 · Nov 22, 2016

Throttle the pump back with a gate valve. Ball valve will work too and are more easily found at your local hardware store

Ineedhelp · Nov 22, 2016

Thank Bevo, I think I found the reason. The pipe that sucks the water into the sump was turned and pushed ina corner so i dont think it was able to pull the water too the sump as wide open as it should have....

mcarroll · Nov 22, 2016

I agree...I think it's a drain issue. I was going to guess that you might have some kinked drain plumbing.

Let us know if that resolves it!

(6" lower isn't a big difference in head pressure for most return pumps.)

Ineedhelp · Nov 22, 2016

That is what it was, the levels have remained the same for awhile... Now I have to figure out why My skimmer isnt pulling water... Thats not as big of an emergency as waking up with gallons of water all over the floor! Thanks for your help guys.... This place is the best!