Water level canondrum

[worstcaseontario]

So I woke up to something interesting not long ago. I didnt think to grab photos before leaving for work so I will describe it in detail. I have a redsea 250 g2+. It has been set up for just shy of 2 months. Water level has remained the same no changes to equipment or anything. Woke up this morning to come and find my display water level a bit low. My overflow was much emptier than normal but still draining. My sump water level was increased in the return chamber is what alerted me to it. So my question is, which I have a feeling I know what the answer is going to be. Is my return pump dying? It is a vectra s2 not that it means anything. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you for your advice, help and time!

 

[fishguy242]

Need to check for any blockages in return line ,"snail" etc. clean screen on pump ? before replacing pump.

 

[worstcaseontario]

Need to check for any blockages in return line ,"snail" etc. clean screen on pump ? before replacing pump.

I will check when I get home but when I looked this am there was no snails or anything like that. Nothing in front of or on the pump intake. nothing that I could see in the line. Thank you!!!

 

[Doctorgori]

How can you DT level be low? You saying the return pump isnt pushing up enough water. Shouldnt your ATO be keeping your sump levels constant regardless of whatever pump GPH?

Maybe Im Just not picturing it right probably

 

[worstcaseontario]

How can you DT level be low? You saying the return pump isnt pushing up enough water. Shouldnt your ATO be keeping your sump levels constant regardless of whatever pump GPH?

Maybe Im Just not picturing it right probably

The display is slightly low. The over flow water level is about 2.5 inches lower than normal and the sump is over filled with water that should be in the display.

The ato is working as it should. I checked the fill log and it didnt over fill. No power outages either.

 

[Doctorgori]

The display is slightly low. The over flow water level is about 2.5 inches lower than normal and the sump is over filled with water that should be in the display.

The ato is working as it should. I checked the fill log and it didnt over fill. No power outages either.

Yeah that sounds more like a pump issue then

 

[worstcaseontario]

Yeah that sounds more like a pump issue then

Fair enough. I was hoping not but kind of expected it. Jebao here I come.

 

[fishguy242]

Fair enough. I was hoping not but kind of expected it. Jebao here I come.

inspect and clean pump 1st.

 

[worstcaseontario]

inspect and clean pump 1st.

Yeah, I'm going to pull the pump tonight when I get home to give it a proper inspection before I make the final call to replace. If it is dead, trip to fragbox is in order.

 

[carri10]

if you're running a bean animal overflow, check that the valve on the main overflow is not too open - close it a bit to balance siphon flow and return pump flow.

 

[worstcaseontario]

if you're running a bean animal overflow, check that the valve on the main overflow is not too open - close it a bit to balance siphon flow and return pump flow.

Fair enough! I'm running the factory bean animal overflow. I will check it but I dont think it's too open. The tank has been running for almost 2 months without adjusting anything. Can they move on their own? It's weird how all of a sudden over night it went wonky.

 

[Mark Goode]

Before you do anything drastic, try adjusting the valve to the sump. My level rises and falls periodically on my RS 525, sometimes to the point of the 'plughole gurgle' from the overflow. I adjust as necessary either way.

Edit: someone beat me to it.

 

[worstcaseontario]

Before you do anything drastic, try adjusting the valve to the sump. My level rises and falls periodically on my RS 525, sometimes to the point of the 'plughole gurgle' from the overflow. I adjust as necessary either way.

Edit: someone beat me to it.

Can they move that quickly over a span of 6 hours though? It was fine when I went to bed at 1030 last night and by 6am, my sump level rose by a number of inches with water trickling to just kind of keep running but at a much reduced rate?

 

[Mark Goode]

Possibly, I've never timed it. I wouldn't be surprised though. No idea why it happens.

 

[JayM]

Can they move that quickly over a span of 6 hours though? It was fine when I went to bed at 1030 last night and by 6am, my sump level rose by a number of inches with water trickling to just kind of keep running but at a much reduced rate?

Valves don't move on their own. It's obvious that the tank is draining faster than the pump is refilling. You have a restriction somewhere in the return circuit, or your pump has slowed for some reason.

Though probably not likely, maybe you had a power outage and the system hasn't balanced itself yet? Mine takes some time if I don't help it along.

Also not very likely, but you may have a leak at the pump to return plumbing that's pushing some water into the sump vs. pushing it all back into the display.

 

[worstcaseontario]

Valves don't move on their own. It's obvious that the tank is draining faster than the pump is refilling. You have a restriction somewhere in the return circuit, or your pump has slowed for some reason.

Though probably not likely, maybe you had a power outage and the system hasn't balanced itself yet? Mine takes some time if I don't help it along.

Also not very likely, but you may have a leak at the pump to return plumbing that's pushing some water into the sump vs. pushing it all back into the display.

Fair enough. I'm at a minimum pulling the pump when I get home this evening. Something is a foot. That's for sure!!

 

[BryanM]

Can they move that quickly over a span of 6 hours though? It was fine when I went to bed at 1030 last night and by 6am, my sump level rose by a number of inches with water trickling to just kind of keep running but at a much reduced rate?

Yes, it can. It perplexes me as well, and I just adjust the valve. I dont see the DT level change much, but my RS gets noisy, and then the overflow is clearly over or under - no other changes.

I've decided its a maintenance issue.

 

[worstcaseontario]

Yes, it can. It perplexes me as well, and I just adjust the valve. I dont see the DT level change much, but my RS gets noisy, and then the overflow is clearly over or under - no other changes.

I've decided its a maintenance issue.

hmmm, Interesting. The display maybe dropped an inch. The over flow was down like 2.5 inches so it was just overflowing into the main of pipe with the slip over that has the clear plastic cup. Just barely enough to trickle down that.

It may be a maintainence issue as I purchased this s2 used with a new pump in it. May be a existing issue that wasnt apparent when I purchased it and installed it into service in my system. Hopefully I can get it sorted this evening. Get it replaced tomorrow if it comes down to it.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

If the pump is running I wouldn’t think that’s your problem. Are you monitoring the power usage at all? If so has it changed?

As my overflow tubes get slime and other crud on them I have to occasionally adjust my valve. Once a year I try to clean out the tubes and I always have to adjust after that.

 

[worstcaseontario]

If the pump is running I wouldn’t think that’s your problem. Are you monitoring the power usage at all? If so has it changed?

As my overflow tubes get slime and other crud on them I have to occasionally adjust my valve. Once a year I try to clean out the tubes and I always have to adjust after that.

Yep, power usage is being monitored and has remained the same. No fluctuation in that regard. Theres no build up in my return line. (Running clesr line for now and see no build up. ( tanks been in service for just under 2 months.