Help urgent! Tank not doin so hot

[SharkBait48]

Hey guys so today my tank stopped circulating water and it started to over flow
Onto the floor

I'm wondering if anyone can help at 10 a clock at nigh with advice?

[Coasting]

Maybe you could share a bit more about your setup?
Have you checked to see if your overflow is plugged in any way assuming you have one?
If its overflowing it means something pumping in, but nothings coming out.

[Borderjumper]

Check your drain lines for obstructions... Algae or snails?

[SharkBait48]

My tank is a corner flow model and it has the return and the way to the sump are in the left corner

The drain goes down into my sump which then brings it back into the tank

How do you guys check your lines? It would be difficult for this tank I think

[maron6977]

So did the tank overflow or the sump ? What kind of drain pipe style do you have (in the overflow) durso or herbie , etc. ? More info the better .

[Chase31]

Yes as much info as possible would be easier to help.

[kien]

Do you only have one pipe that drains into your sump or two? As others have said, we need a bit more info on your setup. If you only have one drain pipe, how big is it? Does it have a valve on it? How big is your return pipe and pump?

If you only have one drain pipe it is possible that it got clogged with a snail or algae or fish. Without an emergency drain pipe you would be in trouble in such and event. Have a look and poke something down your drain pipe to check for obstructions.

[SharkBait48]

It looked to me as if the sump was getting drained and then the tank would overflow.

I have PVC pipe in the overflow and can't see into it

But underneath the tank I have a see through hose

[Chase31]

Sounds like your overflow is plugged do you have something long enough to go from the top of ur overflow to the clear tubing, maybe a coat hanger or something to check for a clog

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

If the water in overflowing from your main tank if means your drain pipe is plugged.
If the water is overflowing from your sump means the return pump is clogged or dead and your water level in your sump is overflowing.
if by any chance you have extra power heads around or in your home I suggest bringing it to the surface agitating the water by circulation to save your inhabitants from low O2 until you figure out the problem.
Hope its only overflowing from the tank or the sump as in no leeks...

[SharkBait48]

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAd?AdId=536150555&Guid=141e6d7b-21a0-a20b-2982-c5c2ffff5749&MessageId=MSG.VIEW_AD.EDIT_AD_SUCCESSFULMXmessageU rlMZhttp%3A%2F%2Fedmonton.kijiji.ca%2Fc-AdDetails%3FAdId%3D536150555%26Guid%3D141e6d7b-21a0-a20b-2982-c5c2ffff5749&mpname=Activity-EditAd&mpuid=1700203%3B127%3B536150555%3B71435345%3B%3B

im trying to paint a picture for you guys bare with me sorry
thanks for trying to help me

here was my ad I made a couple weeks ago when I was going to start up a new set up

I just dont know how with this setup how I could unclog the pipes theyre to weird of angles

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Sounds like your overflow is plugged do you have something long enough to go from the top of ur overflow to the clear tubing, maybe a coat hanger or something to check for a clog

:thumb:

[maron6977]

So you must have a bulkhead going thru the glass where your plastic drain hose is attached , but the PVC drain pipe - can you pull it out of the bulkhead or is it glued in ???

[SharkBait48]

I literally cannot bend something and contort it into position to help sweep the pipes along and clear any debris

I have my heads at the top of the water but that might not be enough

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

If that is your setup with those power heads in your system you should be fine until you figure it out but do add the heater to your main tank.

at the end of the flex pipe from the bottom of the overflow box you should be able to pull and release the flex pipe then poke the coat anger up the pipe or down the over frow drain if you could reach.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

poke at it from the overflow pipe down wards and get some family member to view it from the bottom to see if anything besides the coat hanger is coming through...

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Or maybe unplug the flex from the sump at the end and reverse it with the intake of your return pump...turn the pump on in burst be careful by watching the pump speed and how the water is flowing into the overflow box..

[spit.fire]

I'm guessing it's a due so overflow, you should be able to just pull the standpipe in the overflow out to check the stand pipe for clogs

If there's no clogs in the stand pipe, remove your flex line completely and check that, if that doesn't solve it pull the pvc pipe that goes from the flux hose into the sump out and clean that


If you do all that you'll have you're system running normally in no time

[reefme]

Your drain pipe maybe too deep in side your sump. Raise it a little higher. Keep it 3" or less below water.

[SharkBait48]

Thanks for everybody's help!
Great to see everybody looking out for this fellow reefer!

The cause of all the trouble was a snail trapper deep in the pipes, took a few things apart and with the help of a buddy we sucked that sucker out!