Overflow and Plumbing Clog

[sethgmore]

Did we drill and snake? What is in there I wanna know!!!

Currently at it I’ll keep you updated. Was able to take a piece of the standpipe off to look straight down and it looks like an upside down turbo snail but I’m not 100% sure.

 

[UncommonSense]

Ya

I love the herbie setups but I don’t wanna go through all the plumbing. I was actually able to take a piece of the standpipe off and I might have found the culprit let me know what you think.

Does it look like an upside down snail to you?!

That absolutely looks like an upside-down snail!!

That’s hilarious! It’s the exact diameter of the pipe!!

 

[UncommonSense]

Currently at it I’ll keep you updated. Was able to take a piece of the standpipe off to look straight down and it looks like an upside down turbo snail but I’m not 100% sure.

Could you try fishing it out with the drain snake, or a disassembled coat hanger wire/etc?

 

[sethgmore]

Haha I’m quite curious too!! Especially after seeing that photo of the pipe clogged full of bristleworms in another thread!!

Could you try fishing it out with the drain snake, or a disassembled coat hanger wire/etc?

I’m concerned of wedging it in further I have a shop vac and I’m trying to suck it out right now

 

[sethgmore]

That absolutely looks like an upside-down snail!!

That’s hilarious! It’s the exact diameter of the pipe!!

Hahah I know it’s crazy. I forgot to mention when the pipe drops below the tank it goes from 2” to 1.5” and back to 2” so I think it’s stuck in the 1.5” part

 

[UncommonSense]

Hahah I know it’s crazy. I forgot to mention when the pipe drops below the tank it goes from 2” to 1.5” and back to 2” so I think it’s stuck in the 1.5” part

That would definitely do it!! Reducing drains like this is a big no-no, for exactly this reason!

The shop vac might get it out… if that fails, my though was hooking with a metal wire inside the shell opening to pull it up and out!

Either way, I’m glad you’ve discovered the issue!

That photo is priceless, by the way! It’s the worst-case scenario I’ve always thought about, but never seen!

It should be noted that many marine snails will happily climb above the water line, allowing them to climb over weirs with enough overhead clearance!

— I’d say weld in a replacement weir tooth, then put the screen cover over the top of the weir!

 

[sethgmore]

That would definitely do it!! Reducing drains like this is a big no-no, for exactly this reason!

The shop vac might get it out… if that fails, my though was hooking with a metal wire inside the shell opening to pull it up and out!

Either way, I’m glad you’ve discovered the issue!

That photo is priceless, by the way! It’s the worst-case scenario I’ve always thought about, but never seen!

It should be noted that many marine snails will happily climb above the water line, allowing them to climb over weirs with enough overhead clearance!

— I’d say weld in a replacement weir tooth, then put the screen cover over the top of the weir!

Ya the design caused this for sure. No luck with shop vac I’ll try the wire idea let me know if you have any other ideas I’m open to anything. Haha I know I’m so glad I at least found the issue. Luckily I have a cover so it definitely got through the broken piece of weir which I’ll fix.

 

[UncommonSense]

Ya the design caused this for sure. No luck with shop vac I’ll try the wire idea let me know if you have any other ideas I’m open to anything. Haha I know I’m so glad I at least found the issue. Luckily I have a cover so it definitely got through the broken piece of weir which I’ll fix.

I think the wire should get it, and if not; you can always escalate to smashing the shell up so it blows through the pipe!

How motivated are you feeling to do some plumbing? That 1.5” reduced section looks like it wouldn’t be horrible to replace with 2”!

 

[sethgmore]

I think the wire should get it, and if not; you can always escalate to smashing the shell up so it blows through the pipe!

How motivated are you feeling to do some plumbing? That 1.5” reduced section looks like it wouldn’t be horrible to replace with 2”!

Ok I’ll try with a coat hanger wire right now. I have all the plumbing with me right now to be honest not very motivated to do it unless necessary but you’re right it should be changed to 2” below the tank

 

[sethgmore]

I think the wire should get it, and if not; you can always escalate to smashing the shell up so it blows through the pipe!

How motivated are you feeling to do some plumbing? That 1.5” reduced section looks like it wouldn’t be horrible to replace with 2”!

I think the wire should get it, and if not; you can always escalate to smashing the shell up so it blows through the pipe!

How motivated are you feeling to do some plumbing? That 1.5” reduced section looks like it wouldn’t be horrible to replace with 2”!

Wish me luck

 

[UncommonSense]

Ok I’ll try with a coat hanger wire right now. I have all the plumbing with me right now to be honest not very motivated to do it unless necessary but you’re right it should be changed to 2” below the tank

It would be a good time to upgrade… but, kicking that can down the road is always easier!

Wish me luck

Good luck! I’m curious if the snail’s still alive!

 

[Hairyteeth]

C
Good luck!!! Stick with some super glue would work too just put a glob on the end and let em dry together and pull er out!

 

[sethgmore]

C
Good luck!!! Stick with some super glue would work too just put a glob on the end and let em dry together and pull er out!

I like that idea

 

[sethgmore]

It would be a good time to upgrade… but, kicking that can down the road is always easier!



Good luck! I’m curious if the snail’s still alive!

Thinking I might have to cut the pipe. What’s the best spot you think? Vertical or horizontal part. It’s a small section so I’m worried about the plumbing with a coupler and very small new pieces of pipe

 

[UncommonSense]

Thinking I might have to cut the pipe. What’s the best spot you think? Vertical or horizontal part. It’s a small section so I’m worried about the plumbing with a coupler and very small new pieces of pipe

hmm… I’m thinking of replumbing… you have to have some wiggle to get things back together…

What about redoing everything from bulkhead to the horizontal 2” pipe?

A 2” union on the horizontal pipe, 2” NPT to 2” slip adapter off the bulkhead, and remake the elbow/short lengths of pipe to the bulkhead slip adapter/union?

 

[sethgmore]

hmm… I’m thinking of replumbing… you have to have some wiggle to get things back together…

What about redoing everything from bulkhead to the horizontal 2” pipe?

A 2” union on the horizontal pipe, 2” NPT to 2” slip adapter off the bulkhead, and remake the elbow/short lengths of pipe to the bulkhead slip adapter/union?

Ya true might need to go get more supplies all I have is pipe and couplers with the primer and glue

 

[sethgmore]

hmm… I’m thinking of replumbing… you have to have some wiggle to get things back together…

What about redoing everything from bulkhead to the horizontal 2” pipe?

A 2” union on the horizontal pipe, 2” NPT to 2” slip adapter off the bulkhead, and remake the elbow/short lengths of pipe to the bulkhead slip adapter/union?

There’s also this outside part I could run a snake through on the left

 

[UncommonSense]

There’s also this outside part I could run a snake through on the left

Hmm… that could work!

I’m also thinking of the likes of going to your local big box hardware store to get a really long drill bit, or several drill bit extensions (which can conveniently be returned later!)… then, you could just poke a hole through the darn thing and get a wire/snake through it to rip it out, or smash it up without cutting any more plumbing!

 

[sethgmore]

Hmm… that could work!

I’m also thinking of the likes of going to your local big box hardware store to get a really long drill bit, or several drill bit extensions (which can conveniently be returned later!)… then, you could just poke a hole through the darn thing and get a wire/snake through it to rip it out, or smash it up without cutting any more plumbing!

Ya that’s a smart idea. I’m really wanting to try to just push it through from the standpipe with a long stick or something and seeing if I can push it into the 2” pipe and then flushing it out. My concerns are lodging it tighter in or it getting stuck at a new point in the pipes. It’s been stuck for over a week because I was on vacation so I’d like to think it would push through or break

 

[UncommonSense]

Ya that’s a smart idea. I’m really wanting to try to just push it through from the standpipe with a long stick or something and seeing if I can push it into the 2” pipe and then flushing it out. My concerns are lodging it tighter in or it getting stuck at a new point in the pipes. It’s been stuck for over a week because I was on vacation so I’d like to think it would push through or break

These shells are remarkably thick! I think you’ll need to apply some brute force to get it to break apart… I’d bet you could drill a few holes in it, then get it to at least break into thirds from weakening the shell!

I’m also worried about it getting more stuck… — it appears to be right at the bulkhead, right where the 2”-1.5” reducer is… this means it probably won’t fit through the 1.5” pipe intact!