Water Level in Waterbox Display is Rising, Help!

hannernanner · Mar 7, 2022

This morning I went to check the tank and the water level in the DISPLAY was rising. It's currently only about 1/4" from the top of the tank, I'm afraid it will overflow! My first thought was that something was clogging the overflow, so I got my siphon in there and ran it around (it's hard to see way down in there, so inconclusive). I'm panicking. What's going on here?!

Chrisv. · Mar 7, 2022

I find my waterbox overflow to be dangerously under sized. Don't care for it tbh. I've never had this issue with ANY other brand of tank, but I regularly do with my WB.

Is this an AIO model or one with an external sump? Either way, you're right, something is causing back pressure. If it's an AIO, pull out your first chamber sock/basket/cup for a minute and see if the situation fixes itself. If it does, then water is being slowed by the stage 1 filtration.

hannernanner · Mar 7, 2022

@Chrisv. thanks for the quick reply, sorry I should've specified it's the 130 model, with the built in overflow. So, no compartments.

hannernanner · Mar 7, 2022

Also, I've adjusted the overflow level so that it's utilizing the main overflow and also the emergency overflow, neither of which made a difference in water level in the display...

Chrisv. · Mar 7, 2022

hannernanner said:
@Chrisv. thanks for the quick reply, sorry I should've specified it's the 130 model, with the built in overflow. So, no compartments.

Hmm in that case, I agree that something is causing back pressure. Any chance that algae has grown on the teeth of the overflow in a quantity that could block it?

Other common culprits are vermetids growing inside the plumbing, or a snail that entered the plumbing somehow.

PSU_Reefer · Mar 7, 2022

So the overflow box isn’t full but the display if filling up? Maybe clean the grates of the overflow?

If the overflow box is full You can also open the ball valve up to increase how much water goes into the sump

Chrisv. · Mar 7, 2022

More concerned that the system was previously tuned properly, but is now out of wack. Yes you can treat the symptoms by screwing with flow, but if you don't fix the problem it could get worse.

One way to clear potentially obstructed plumbing is to run some clear vinyl hose through your plumbing and twist it/move it around. Something with smaller O/D than the I/D of your plumbing.

hannernanner · Mar 7, 2022

Oh boy, feeling really silly. The lights in the tank hadn't come on yet, so I couldn't see that in fact a clump of algae had gotten stuck to the overflow teeth overnight. Phew. Thanks for the quick replies, as always!

Chrisv. · Mar 7, 2022

hannernanner said:
Oh boy, feeling really silly. The lights in the tank hadn't come on yet, so I couldn't see that in fact a clump of algae had gotten stuck to the overflow teeth overnight. Phew. Thanks for the quick replies, as always!

Glad you got it squared away!

PSU_Reefer · Mar 7, 2022

hannernanner said:
Oh boy, feeling really silly. The lights in the tank hadn't come on yet, so I couldn't see that in fact a clump of algae had gotten stuck to the overflow teeth overnight. Phew. Thanks for the quick replies, as always!

it does bring up a fair concern that I’ve never really thought about. In the event of a blockage there’s nothing stopping the display from overfilling. Even if no water continues to the a lot of water gets pumped out before your return gets shut off.

Anyways, glad it was an easy fix for you on a Monday