Pipe Drain Blockage!

[savetheocean]

My reefready tanks overflow drain (Pipe has something stuck in it so the water drains in it SO slowly I cant run the pump for a minute without putting so much strain on it. The pipes are also glued in there so what do I do? I think its a big clump of snails that got stuck and debris has been gathering on top of it.

My only idea was to put the heater in the DP and shut off the return pump so whatever is in there dries up - but thats dangerous because the water in the sump gets stagnant and the fish dont get filtration.

 

[Idoc]

No unions in that section of pipe so you can take it apart?

 

[savetheocean]

No unions in that section of pipe so you can take it apart?

It doesnt come out, trust me.

 

[Keepswiming]

You can put a heater in the tank for now. Maybe try a coat hanger to break it free. Works on my sink.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Get unions to add to the plumbing.

Pull the standpipe to the return. The water in the overflow will drain through that line.

Get something to catch excess water under the bulkhead of the drain as best as possible.

An inch or more below the bulkhead, cut the pipe with pvc cutters.

Clean the blocked drain.

Using pvc cement, install the unions, so if this happens again you will be able to deal with it easier.

Until you are able to do this, a powerhead and heater in the tank will keep things alive.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Besides the unions , one of these will help

 

[Hi.Gene]

I've used a metal coat hanger and pushed it up from the bottom.

Just make sure that all your valves are open all the way before you start snaking it up there.

Also, to prevent this from happening in the future, use gutter guard from home depot.

 

[Greybeard]

...to prevent this from happening in the future, use gutter guard from home depot.

Or some sort of screen or strainer, anyway. Even with one, it can still happen... our tanks are a perfect environment for encrusting marine organisms of all sorts.

 

[savetheocean]

Whatever it is some of it cleared and its a bit faster but I can hear that its still only dripping through the pipes not rushing. Im going to get one of those pipe cleaners and see if I can clear it out.

 

[Coralfuture]

Those or a fresh plunger works well too! Small one for sinks! I've done it a few times just make sure there is a vacuum to push and pull the water to dislodge the clog....doesn't work with both ends exposed to air.
https://www.amazon.com/MINTCRAFT-83...2531250&sr=8-3&keywords=plunger+sink+4+in+cup

 

[savetheocean]

Those or a fresh plunger works well too! Small one for sinks! I've done it a few times just make sure there is a vacuum to push and pull the water to dislodge the clog....doesn't work with both ends exposed to air.
https://www.amazon.com/MINTCRAFT-83...2531250&sr=8-3&keywords=plunger+sink+4+in+cup

I stuck a hanger down there and it worked, I heard it unclog! Took an hour though.

 

[Coralfuture]

Nice! Now the real question...what was it?

 

[savetheocean]

Nice! Now the real question...what was it?

I dont really want to know lol.

 

[beaslbob]

I stuck a hanger down there and it worked, I heard it unclog! Took an hour though.

glad to hear.

I was just thinking you could have setup a hob diy pvc overflow to keep things flowing while working on the real overflow.

But that's not needed. LOL

 

[savetheocean]

glad to hear.

I was just thinking you could have setup a hob diy pvc overflow to keep things flowing while working on the real overflow.

But that's not needed. LOL

Yeah!

I actually had to stick the hanger down the tiny air tube on the top of the pipe. I am now getting 5x more filtration than before and I cant even hear the pump anymore. (Before I was putting so much strain on it to just keep it running)

 

[beaslbob]

sometimes if the air hole is small or blocked like from salt creep, the overflow will drain much slower.

 

[DracoKat]

Same thing happened to me the other day.. snails blocked the ball valve. Caused my water to almost overflow (thank goodness I measured the overflow area!).

took me a bit to get the valve loose to get the snails out. it does tighten up over time

 

[beaslbob]

that's the reason I try at all costs to avoid ball valves.

 

[Birddog]

Besides the unions , one of these will help

Oh boy Salty, where do one purchase that wonderful marvel!

 

[steallife904]

now its cleared you need a fix so it won't happen again or can be fixed easier. Put some kind of strainer or something over the overflow so nothing big goes in (careful though because this 2 could get clogged). The biggest fix would be to add a union so you could unscrew the drain line and see clog and remove fast. siphon out the water from the overflow, cut the drain line under tank and glue in a union.