Sump heater busted

[Fragged Up]

So woke up to my sump only filled about 4 inches noticed heater cap was busted off after I got shocked touching near it shut everything down pulled heater out vacuumed and dried about 10 gallons in my tub and floor filled it back up and not a single leak is detected I have been monitoring it now for about 2 hrs and everything is still dry. Anyone have any idea how this water got out of my sump I’m completely lost

 

[Timfish]

It's not real clear to me the sequence of events. A more detrailed description of what you found and did would help. Guessing though, maybe the heater failed then water that leaked into the heater splashed out as it was boiled? I would be running GAC and be doing some large water changes to reduce the metals that would have gotten in the water from the heater element.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So woke up to my sump only filled about 4 inches noticed heater cap was busted off after I got shocked touching near it shut everything down pulled heater out vacuumed and dried about 10 gallons in my tub and floor filled it back up and not a single leak is detected I have been monitoring it now for about 2 hrs and everything is still dry. Anyone have any idea how this water got out of my sump I’m completely lost

Likely from explosion of heater but not sure how 10 gallons

 

[Fragged Up]

It's not real clear to me the sequence of events. A more detrailed description of what you found and did would help. Guessing though, maybe the heater failed then water that leaked into the heater splashed out as it was boiled? I would be running GAC and be doing some large water changes to reduce the metals that would have gotten in the water from the heater element.

Thanks for the response so so far what I am thinking is pump shut off for few overflowed sump then pump kicked back on and not enough in sump so heater was exposed and basically melted it’s end off

 

[Timfish]

So when you turn the return pump off the sump overflows? If you haven't already done this to set your max sump water level first make sure the return pump output is at the surface or there is an antisiphon hole in the return plumping just below the operating water level, this insures only the water above the wier on hte overflow will drain back to the sump. Be sure to have the anti siphon hole in a location where splashing isn't an issue when water is first turn on. Turn off the return pump. Keep an eye on the sump to be sure it doesn't overflow and be ready to remove water from the sump. With the return pump off and the water level at the overflow weir so not water is draining and the water in hte sump/refugium is about an inch below the top mark that water line ("Full, Pump Off" for example). Then turn the return pump on wait a few minutes for the flow from the DT to the sump reaches normal flow then mark the water line in the sump ("Full, Pump On" for example).

 

[exnisstech]

This ^^ it is the first step when setting-up a tank with a sump. At least for me it is.

 

[Fishy888]

So when you turn the return pump off the sump overflows? If you haven't already done this to set your max sump water level first make sure the return pump output is at the surface or there is an antisiphon hole in the return plumping just below the operating water level, this insures only the water above the wier on hte overflow will drain back to the sump. Be sure to have the anti siphon hole in a location where splashing isn't an issue when water is first turn on. Turn off the return pump. Keep an eye on the sump to be sure it doesn't overflow and be ready to remove water from the sump. With the return pump off and the water level at the overflow weir so not water is draining and the water in hte sump/refugium is about an inch below the top mark that water line ("Full, Pump Off" for example). Then turn the return pump on wait a few minutes for the flow from the DT to the sump reaches normal flow then mark the water line in the sump ("Full, Pump On" for example).

Excellent advice. I always fill my sump via the display tank so that the DT is as full as it can be. I flll the sump to about an inch or even half an inch from the top. Then I start the return pump. Once the return is pumping water in the display and water is draining back into the sump I mark the water level. That's your fill line.

 

[TokenReefer]

Do you use an ato? I'm just curious why there wasn't enough in the sump for the return. If my pump goes off my sump is flooded...plenty to return

 

[exnisstech]

Do you use an ato? I'm just curious why there wasn't enough in the sump for the return. If my pump goes off my sump is flooded...plenty to return

It sounds like their sump level is not set correctly and or may not have a syphon break on the return line. Pump stops and syphons down to sump untill the return nozzle is exposed then syphon stops. Water has over flowed from sump to flooring. Then pump comes back on and water level in sump is too low and heater or exposed. At least that how I take it. Timfish called it.

 

[TokenReefer]

It overflowed onto the floor... Ahh missed that