Display leaking to overflow

[Aquavaj]

I'm pretty sure I have a leak between the display and center overflow. I only noticed this when I had to turn my return pump off for a few days. Water in the display is going down way too quick to be evaporation and the sump water level continues going up. Thought maybe it might be a leak at the stand pipes and bulkheads but amount of water that went down to the sump already has surpassed the amount in the overflow.
While not optimal this should be ok as long as the return pump doesn't stop for an extended period of time right? I marked the level and over a 24 hr period it went up about an inch in the sump. I have about 5 inches left after the siphon from a return pump stop. As a precaution I could always program a small pump in the sump to pump to a container if the water rises to a certain point.

 

[KrisReef]

Is there a stand pipe inside the overflow?

 

[bradreef]

I would run two return pumps for safety. But, that doesn't cover power failure.

 

[Aquavaj]

Is there a stand pipe inside the overflow?

There's 3 - 2 main and 1 emergency

 

[Aquavaj]

I would run two return pumps for safety. But, that doesn't cover power failure.

I have about 5 or so inches before sump overflows so that gives me about 5 days. I'm in CA so never lost power for more than a day and I rarely am gone more than 5 days as well. Again I can probably rig a float switch in the sump to trigger the apex to pump from sump into another container. Of course best would be to drain and reseal but this is a 180g so that ain't happening.

 

[UncommonSense]

I have about 5 or so inches before sump overflows so that gives me about 5 days. I'm in CA so never lost power for more than a day and I rarely am gone more than 5 days as well. Again I can probably rig a float switch in the sump to trigger the apex to pump from sump into another container. Of course best would be to drain and reseal but this is a 180g so that ain't happening.

Also in California, also never lost power for more than a day…

I still keep a portable generator around, just in case Murphy comes knocking….

You might consider trying a live reseal on the overflow box; I’m no expert on that, and typically do my seals dry… but, I hear it’s possible!

 

[KrisReef]

Is your return pump line siphoning water back to the sump?

Otherwise the standpipes and overflow should keep the tank level at the top of the weir or top of the standpipes.

I think we need a picture of the overflow, the standpipes, and your return?

 

[twentyleagues]

Its 100% possible the weir is leaking. I mean how often have we heard silicon does not stick to plastic or acrylic. I dont know about you but all my overflows are plastic or acrylic and its stuck to the glass with silicon.

 

[resortez]

I'm pretty sure I have a leak between the display and center overflow. I only noticed this when I had to turn my return pump off for a few days. Water in the display is going down way too quick to be evaporation and the sump water level continues going up. Thought maybe it might be a leak at the stand pipes and bulkheads but amount of water that went down to the sump already has surpassed the amount in the overflow.
While not optimal this should be ok as long as the return pump doesn't stop for an extended period of time right? I marked the level and over a 24 hr period it went up about an inch in the sump. I have about 5 inches left after the siphon from a return pump stop. As a precaution I could always program a small pump in the sump to pump to a container if the water rises to a certain point.

Do you have a check valve on your return pump????

At what level do you keep your return nozzles??? Do you keep the nozzles below the comb of the overflow box or at the top of the water level running????

 

[Aquavaj]

Also in California, also never lost power for more than a day…

I still keep a portable generator around, just in case Murphy comes knocking….

You might consider trying a live reseal on the overflow box; I’m no expert on that, and typically do my seals dry… but, I hear it’s possible!

Yea I have a genny too for extended outages. I'll look into the wet seal method but sounds pretty risky in that uncured silicone is quite toxic.

 

[UncommonSense]

Yea I have a genny too for extended outages. I'll look into the wet seal method but sounds pretty risky in that uncured silicone is quite toxic.

Agreed… though, I have looked through the MSDS for ASI 502 Clear A… the ingredients are somewhat proprietary, but they do list <9% “petroleum distillates” specifically…

I know I did glass center braces below the factory plastic braces on a running 180G with this knowledge; using a 10ml syringe of silicone… >1ml of my total syringe volume was petroleum distillates, in a ~700,000ML water volume… (and I was working above the water line; mind you… this math just helped me rationalize any accidental boogers of uncured silicone contacting the tank water!)