HELP Main drain blocked but emergency is handling overflow

[danreef55]

There is something blocking my main drain. The main stand pipe is in two sections I have remove them and tried snaking ro tubing down the drain but there is 14' of pipe leading to the sump. Fortunately the emergency drain is handling the situation easily but I really want to resolve this. I did add 15 mexican turbo snails that are large enough to have blocked the drain but there is a piece of airline tubing in the center of the stand pipe which I believe would have stopped it from getting down the top.

HELP any suggestions greatly appreciated

 

[danreef55]

Adding some additional information....
There are true union in the stand each of the drains so I can open the main coupling buy that still leaves approx 9-1/2" of pipe to snake. I checked for plastic drain snakes but no luck so far. I guess if it comes to it I could cut the drain line in a few places and try to clear it. Any ideas?

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

This happened to me recently on my redsea tank while clearing some ulva.
It does t take much to block them.
Turn main drain fully open and it should flush through any detritus then adjust to normal setting to see if cleared.
Good luck

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

It's also worth buying a long e.g 4 foot flexible pipe cleaner off amazon they are hugely helpful for any future issues & cost pennies

 

[danreef55]

This happened to me recently on my redsea tank while clearing some ulva.
It does t take much to block them.
Turn main drain fully open and it should flush through any detritus then adjust to normal setting to see if cleared.
Good luck

Thanks these a 1-1/2" drainpipes here is the sump

 

[danreef55]

I turn off both of my return pumps hoping the backflow would loosen whatever is in there but no joy. I may try to do this a few time periodically to see if this helps

 

[Reefering1]

Maybe get a roll of 3/8" tubing and snake that through from the sump end up... something sturdy enough to push a snail through without passing by the side of it, but still flexible enough...

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Thanks these a 1-1/2" drainpipes here is the sump

That's very impressive
Something substantial to clog those.
Any thoughts as to what it could be?

 

[danreef55]

That's very impressive
Something substantial to clog those.
Any thoughts as to what it could be?

Large Mexican turbo snails and I just noticed my Flame Hawk is MIA. This fish was only about 2-1/2"

 

[C_AWOL]

I would wager it's more likely to be a snail than the flame hawk.

I assume you already opened the gate valve to max if there is one on the main drain?

I would disassemble at the gate valve if opening the valve doesn't solve the problem and use a garden hose/large flexible hose to push the snail through.

If the snail is alive and stubborn then peroxide will make it let go very quickly if necessary

 

[danreef55]

I would wager it's more likely to be a snail than the flame hawk.

I assume you already opened the gate valve to max if there is one on the main drain?

I would disassemble at the gate valve if opening the valve doesn't solve the problem and use a garden hose/large flexible hose to push the snail through.

If the snail is alive and stubborn then peroxide will make it let go very quickly if necessary

Yes I do have a gate valve. Do you think that the suction created by back flow created by killing the pumps would work. I have tried it twice so far

 

[Lavey29]

If you have 14 feet of pipe then your gonna need some type of drain snake like they use on bathroom sinks. You need to run top to bottom if you are already sure the top and bottom are clean.

 

[Aaron Stone]

Yes I do have a gate valve. Do you think that the suction created by back flow created by killing the pumps would work. I have tried it twice so far

If it's a turbo in there it may have a difficult time passing the 90s even if you can get something to push it through with. I like the idea of jamming some hose about 1/2 the width of the pipe down there, but you may need to cut at before the 90s.

 

[JGT]

I have a herbie drain but have a strainer over the submerged main drain to prevent stuff going in and clogging it.

 

[JonoH]

I doubt its a turbo, i have hundreds in my tank, but never had one jam up the plumbing.
Could be the fish has gone in and got stuck...

What size pipe are you running?
How is the top of the main Siphon - is it just open, or does it have a 90° turn down?

 

[danreef55]

C_AWOL nailed it I double checked the gate valve and it wasnt fully open. The drainage issue has cleared for the moment and flowing free. My concern is I didnt see anything exit the main drain so the obstruction is likely still present. Hopefully it wont rear its ugly head again. Wishful thinking

C_Awol thanks bud

 

[danreef55]

I have a herbie drain but have a strainer over the submerged main drain to prevent stuff going in and clogging it.

JGT I have ordered a custom lid for the tank but I will definitely use this suggestion while the lid is being fabricated. Thanks for the idea

 

[JonoH]

C_AWOL nailed it I double checked the gate valve and it wasnt fully open. The drainage issue has cleared for the moment and flowing free. My concern is I didnt see anything exit the main drain so the obstruction is likely still present. Hopefully it wont rear its ugly head again. Wishful thinking

C_Awol thanks bud

I have had gate valves seeminly block up - but they were not blocked, just still adjusting to the water level changes.

Has only been a challenge since i added my frag tank though, as it links into another return each with their own gate valves - balancing them took a while.

 

[danreef55]

I have had gate valves seeminly block up - but they were not blocked, just still adjusting to the water level changes.

Has only been a challenge since i added my frag tank though, as it links into another return each with their own gate valves - balancing them took a while.

I almost have it running silent again. The tank has been up for almost two months now and noise was never an issue.

 

[danreef55]

I wanted to thank you all for your assistance. The noise from the emergency drain tipped me off as it should be I was sweating it a little