my return pipe seems clogged??

[Dastins]

I have a 1" return pipe flowing down to my return tank. In the last few hours it seems like it's clogged or has really restricted flow. I have a plastic netting over the hole so nothing has gotten stuck and the netting is not dirty? I'm worried about my tank over flowing while I'm at work. Amy ideas??

 

[TheEngineer]

Return or drain? Sounds like drain. Stuff tends to build up in those lines even if you catch the big stuff. Does it run open or as a siphon?

 

[Aaron hacking]

If it's straight enough you might be able to get a coat hanger through it or maybe a piece of wire. If you have a check valve I would becareful not to be too rough with it. If you scratched the sealing surfice bad enough it would cause it to leak.

 

[Dastins]

It is the drain and it runs 100 % open. I have three 45 degree bends to the lower tank.

 

[Dastins]

First picture is top view down during the build. .

Second is front view during build. . The left size is what is clogged.

 

[Aaron hacking]

Even better... Find the smallest wire you can... Same thing a plumber does when they snake your drains... Only smaller.

 

[Aaron hacking]

Ewe with 90's it might be tougher to get a wire down. Do you have like a small air compressor with a blower attachment?

 

[Dastins]

I actually tried that with turkey baster to no avail

 

[Aaron hacking]

Do you have a picture of your overflow?

 

[TheEngineer]

Can you isolate it and pour a pot of hot water down it?

 

[Dastins]

No overflow pic right now but I'll upload one when I get home later. I'll try the hot water method as well. Question, if this is boiling hot water how long should I wait before returning it to the tank.

 

[Aaron hacking]

As soon as it cools down I'm sure...

 

[Dastins]

Worried about damaging the live rock in the sump, I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[Aaron hacking]

Your pipe isn't totally clogged off right? Just slowed down? See if you can run a piece of string down it and pull something through it. At the very lease you can find out exactly where the clog is or where it begins...

 

[AZDesertRat]

Has the level in the display tank risen dramatically?
Remember, it is the return pump that controls how much goes down the overflow to the sump. If the return pump is dirty, the tank level won't rise and the overflow rate will decrease.
If the overflow is restricted the level in the display will rise as it is now outrunning the overflow rate.

I think you need to clean the return pump to return to your normal turnover rate.