im sorry this may be the wrong spot for posting this, but I have finally got my old tank going with my new set up and everything seemed to be fine. 75 gal/10gal sump built by an aquarium maintenance company. I have recently just added an in tank protein skimmer, I have an overflow with an aqua lift. This week 2 different nights my tank has overflowed. It has ran anywhere from 20 to 40 hours before doing this and the crazy thing is it has done it both times any ab 5 in the morning, I’d here the protein skimmer get loud, run to the living room and there is water everywhere, looks to me but not 100% that the display tank is what’s flooding, so now I’m confused on what I need to do next. I would assume the overflow box quit pulling water and the pump just kept pumping causing it to overflow. Now I’m scared to fill my sump back up because I certainly don’t need that kind of water in my floor again. Thoughts on this?? Thank you
Overflow
- Thread starter jbump14
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Reeferdood
2500 Club Member
More than likely the aqua lift has failed or the airline is plugged up. When I had an overflow that needed an aqualifter pump I would keep a drill bit small enough to ream the nipple free of any contaminants.
Let us know if this resolves your issue.
Let us know if this resolves your issue.
Erica-Renee
Valuable Member
Right after you prime the overflow , Watching the water tubes that go over the back of the tank ARE Air bubbles getting trapped in the tube at a fast rate. If so your return pump might be running to slow. You need the return pump pushing water up into the tank at a fast enough pace that the external over flow box is PULLING The air out of that tube. Of Course you also have to be sure its not running to fast that it over runs the water tubes or external over flow box. If you have air bubbles in the tank or super strong surface currents inside the tank close to the over flow this will also cause air to build up.
Pictures of the setup Can also help to insure you have everything Configured Correctly.
Pictures of the setup Can also help to insure you have everything Configured Correctly.
Reeferdood
2500 Club Member
Mine was a CPR and it was made to sit in one position. Also, make sure you are not overdriving the capacity of that overflow with too much water....
Scotty Buttons
Valuable Member
You should be able to lower the overflow box thus lowering the water level in the tank. Sorry if I missed this in your original post, but do you have a power head hooked to the overflow box? Something on that end is wrong
Erica-Renee
Valuable Member
one more question . is your skimmer in the sump or on the back of the tank.HOB Skimmers are well known to over flow , If it over flows adds air bubbles to the tank or return pump if its in the sump. The excess air bubbles then get pumped into the tank and over flow tubs and breaks the siphon .
Its just another possibility and something to check
Its just another possibility and something to check
WVNed
The fish are staring at me with hungry eyes.
You haven't told us enough to tell what is wrong. When you ran in the room which one was full to the top, sump or DT? Neither?
Are your levels are fluctuating? Do you have an ATO putting water every time it does?
Are your levels are fluctuating? Do you have an ATO putting water every time it does?
Ok guys I’m attaching pics of what I have. I do have a power head close to the overflow box, I have a q1 3000 pump, coralife 125 in a 10 gal sump. Both times I got there to late, the back of the display tank was wet so I’m assuming that is where it happened. I do see some big air bubbles that stay in the overflow box tube. The sump is low at the moment I’m not wanting to fill it back up. If this happens again my wife probably won’t allow another tank in here. I have had this set up, minus the skimmer in the tank for a while with no issues, only thing is that we just moved into a new home and now this is happening. I can’t see it being due to have a skimmer in there but idk if my level moved on the height of the overflow if it’s air I’m there or the second powerhead I added that you see in front of overflow tank, I didn’t feel like one powerhead was enough movement but maybe I’m wrong there. Thanks,
So I just put ab a gallon into the sump, after cleaning the aqualifter and ports and making sure everything is as it should be. Seemed to do fine for a minute but then my overflow box filled up, I went down to the sump and gave the hose from the tank a good shake then the water level in the overflow dropped back down where it should be?
Erica-Renee
Valuable Member
Is the hose twisted , Kinked or stopped up.?
What happens if you just pour water into the back overflow box? Does the water run down freely into the sump?
Reeferdood
2500 Club Member
On another note, if the drain line is underwater without allowing it to vent you might have this issue. Try not having the drain completely underwater in the sump, see if this helps.
Well luckily I found the problem but it was really simple and something I certainly shouldn’t have overlooked. The tube enters a sock which is back behind my skimmer and you can’t see if very good. It was flowing, so the sock was filling up and was running over the edge of the tank. I’m glad I found it but so sorry for who’s time I wasted.
Erica-Renee
Valuable Member
Glad you have it figured out.
Rcpilot
Addicted to LPS
Glad you figured out the problem.
There's a reason very few poeple use the aqualifter overflow system anymore -- you've just found out one of the reasons. Have you considered drilling the tank and getting rid of the aqualifter system?
There's a reason very few poeple use the aqualifter overflow system anymore -- you've just found out one of the reasons. Have you considered drilling the tank and getting rid of the aqualifter system?
don_chuwish
Smells something fishy
So the sock was clogged? This is certainly one reason I'd never consider single drain line systems! 2 at least, preferably the 3 in a BeanAnimal.
