NEED HELP QUICK: TANK ABOUT TO OVERFLOW!!

[mfl74]

I’m in need of help if anyone is online tonight! My drain and overflow don’t appear to be working right. I can’t see any clogs or issues. But the water fills in up in the overflow above the open grate and just keeps on going almost overflowing the tank. Then I have to turn off the return pump and let it drain down. With my sump filter socks in or out it doesn’t make any difference, and water is coming down the return line into my sump where the filter socks are. I can’t see any other area that would be “clogged” or having an issue but I NEED HELP TO PREVENT AN OVERFLOW and to get my water circulating again. Please help if you have any ideas, any ideas at all, and THANK YOU in advance!

 

[JCOLE]

Does your return line have a ball valve? If so, can you turn the flow down until the water levels out? Also, what is on your return pipe? Is that a cap? How is it draining? Maybe consider removing the cap and just allowing an open pipe?

 

[JCOLE]

Also, can you take the riser pipe out? If so, I would to inspect the inside and make sure there isnt something blocking it like a snail, etc.

 

[rockdiver]

If it was working before this then there is a clog somewhere.
Just like a sink always drains then it dont same thing. It's plugged up somewhere

 

[Rrb1399]

Looks like the durso doesn’t have the vent or elbow ?

 

[mfl74]

I attached two pictures. I’ve circled in red the drain line straight from bottom of overflow into my sump, valve on it. The second picture I’ve circled in blue my return line, no valve on it but it has a T-valve that is permanently closed it’s just there if I ever want to divert some into another chamber in my sump (had thought ahead to a small refugium possibly).

When you say take riser pipe out won’t this cause a flood or big issue??

Thank you so much for the quick help and response!

 

[mfl74]

Looks like the durso doesn’t have the vent or elbow ?

I’ve had it set up since the very beginning like this, can you tell me more about this so I can check it out? Thank you!

 

[Rrb1399]

On a durso the drain should not have a valve

 

[mfl74]

At the top of the pipe there’s an air hole I guess. This is the factory corner overflow kit that came with the tank. It’s not clogged with salt or anything, I poked at it a bit to make sure it was clear.

About taking this riser pipe out to inspect, won’t this cause all the water in the overflow to come rushing into my sump? I forget how it’s attached, maybe just with a friction push fit type connection and I could just pull straight up and remove it (?). Any help appreciated!!

 

[rockdiver]

The water would come out you would need to empty it.. the overflow. But if the water is only going in your sump should be low.
The water is pumping in just fine but it is not draining back out quick enough.
Is the return area in the sump running dry ?
If it is not returning the water quick enough your sump should be getting low... if you have a ato it may be also pumping fresh water in if your return pump is not running dry. Just a fyi

 

[dedragon]

Yes if you pull the pipe with the durso to clean, the overflow water will go directly to the sump. Does your sump have enough room for the extra water? If not just put 5-10 gallons in buckets for now, then pull out the pipe, i suspect a clog if it has slowed down the flow.

 

[ATB USA]

You have to have a snail or fish in one of the pipes

 

[mfl74]

The water would come out you would need to empty it.. the overflow. But if the water is only going in your sump should be low.
The water is pumping in just fine but it is not draining back out quick enough.
Is the return area in the sump running dry ?
If it is not returning the water quick enough your sump should be getting low... if you have a ato it may be also pumping fresh water in if your return pump is not running dry. Just a fyi

For now I have my ATO turned off tonight, and the sensor is in the final return pump chamber of my sump and that water level and that of the sump is fine and looks normal. The issue is just that the overflow is filling up too quickly.

 

[ATB USA]

The stand pipe should just pull out and you can check it

 

[mfl74]

Yes if you pull the pipe with the durso to clean, the overflow water will go directly to the sump. Does your sump have enough room for the extra water? If not just put 5-10 gallons in buckets for now, then pull out the pipe, i suspect a clog if it has slowed down the flow.

I’m going to pump out the water out of my overflow if I can fit my pump in there, or siphon it out. Then I’ll try pulling the overflow pipe out and inspecting I guess. I’m also going to try and “snake” up from the drain pipe with this thing.

 

[mfl74]

You have to have a snail or fish in one of the pipes

I only have two fish and they’re both in the tank. I never added snails. Not sure what it could be but hope I can find out.

 

[rockdiver]

Well it has to do with the overflow pipes has to be in the plumbing also check in the sump to make sure where it comes in is not being blocked

 

[mfl74]

Well it has to do with the overflow pipes has to be in the plumbing also check in the sump to make sure where it comes in is not being blocked

Checked this and no blockage. Now I’m trying to take the stand pipe out to check it. I just got done siphoning about 3g of overflow water out of the overflow first, as my sump is pretty full and can’t hold much more.

 

[zalick]

If it was working before, and you changed nothing, then there is a clog. If no clog, you must have changed something. Is your return pump DC? Did you increase its flow?

 

[Tamberav]

Do you have a valve on the drain that returns to the sump? Stuff can get lodged in those.