Plumbing ??? Tank is going to overflow.

[dbg]

Fed the fish this afternoon and noticed that the water was way up in the display tank. I just refilled the sump this morning (it was low), but all the water from the sump seems to have gone up into the display. Do you think the overflow is clogged, or maybe the pvc plumbing? I've had the tank running with no problems for about 8 months, and have not had anything like this happen before.

Plumbing: 90 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump, has a PF-800 overflow (800 GPH from display to sump) box, and a 950 GPH pump in the sump about 4.5 FT below the overflow box. The 950 GPH pump is connected to a SCWD.

Whats happening???

Thanks in advance,
Dylan



The first two pics (I know you can;t see them very well, sorry) show lines I have drawn that show how much water has been slowly leaving the sump and going up to the display today

The third pic is the overflow box, which has now become submerged itself.

 

[jasonp87]

My guess would be something plugging the drain lines that has slowed, not stopped, the flow. Do you have a valve on the drain you may have bumped? A snail or something else in the line could be the problem as well.

 

[Mikesmith34]

I would certainly check the return line for some sort of blockage

 

[NanaReefer]

I would certainly check the return line for some sort of blockage

Would be the drain not the return that's clogged. DT level is high while sump is low.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Would be the drain not the return that's clogged. DT level is high while sump is low.

Yup.

 

[alpha_wolf_nyc]

Hello all. This is officially my first post ever!

Check the air intake on the overflow... salt creep may build up in the hole and cause the tank to drain slower.

 

[saltyfish]

There is a restriction somewhere between your overflow box and the end of your drain line. Could be anything such as a fish, snail, algae, ect. Run a long pipe cleaner down the line to clean out out.

 

[Mikesmith34]

Would be the drain not the return that's clogged. DT level is high while sump is low.

OK I get the stupid face for the day:crossedlips: I meant drain side blockage

 

[dbg]

Thanks a ton for all the input everyone! I attached a ball valve to the pump in the sump to slow down its flow the tiniest bit, and that seems to have worked as a temporary fix (I know I shouldn't try to restrict the flow of a pump!).

Check the air intake on the overflow... salt creep may build up in the hole and cause the tank to drain slower.

Great idea- I'll check that next.

Thanks!!!!

 

[NanaReefer]

Did you place the valve before or after the pump?

 

[Jlobes]

Did you place the valve before or after the pump?

This!!

its totally fine to restrict the flow of the pump, and many do so. The only thing to be aware of, is that you want to restrict on the output side, not the intake. you do not want to restrict the amount of water the pump can "suck", but limiting the "push" is acceptable and not an issue.

 

[dbg]

Ok, good to know! I placed it on the output side:

The valve I just added (green one) is right above the sump pump on the output side. Further to the right of the picture there is a valve with a red handle, but that one goes to my closed loop system and I realize that it is before the pump, but I never restrict it and only shut it when the pump is off for servicing.