tank problems!!!!!

[fishy1171]

Hi I am having the hardest time trying to figure out what it wrong!!! I turned my tank off yesterday to do a water change(its a reef ready tank), and when I turned it back on the overflow section will not fill all the way. The water level is staying right at the end of the PVC drain to the sump, so it keeps making this sucking sound. I thought maybe it was draining faster than it was pumping back up, but my sump water level isn't rising or lowering and the level in the actual tank isn't changing either. I can pour some water in to the overflow, and it just drains down into the sump. Every now and then the level in the overflow will rise, but then its like someone flushes the toilet and all the water rushes back down. I havent ever had any problems with it before, and I just can't figure this out. If any body has any suggestions can you maybe call me @ 210-883-6672 cuz I won't be able to get back on line until tonight.
Thanks
Jen

[witecap4u]

Im assuming you have a durso pipe(upside down J looking pipe) as your drain in the overflow box. If so, there should be some kind of hole in the top of it. It sounds like that hole is plugged possibly.

cs

[mathias]

put more water in the tank and your overflow will drain faster and cut down on some of the sound or some people I have seen put filter media in there to slow down the drain less noise...

[jaded]

Its all about that hole at the top of your durso tube... the smaller the hole that faster the flow so if it gets salt creep (or some other restriction) is will drain the overflow faster. Try digging the hole out with a needle, nail... before anything else

[Tim Marvin]

I agree, check the hole.

[matt]

Yup, sounds like the pipe vent is clogged. If you don't have a durso then I have no idea what's causing it, but it's got to be some sort of clog. Maybe you have one of those PVC stand pipes with all the slots cut in the side. If so, take that out and make sure there's nothing in it.

[GaryP]

Also check to make sure you return pump doesn't need to be cleaned. You could be draining faster then the pump is pushing water to the main tank. If you haven't cleaned your pump in the last 3-4 months, pull it out take it apart and soak it in vinegar. Clean with a tooth brush and put it back in service.

A lot of the time the pump won't work as well after it is shut off as it does before.

[Tim Marvin]

It can't drain faster, it will only drain out the same amount of water that is going in.

[don-n-sa]

It can't drain faster, it will only drain out the same amount of water that is going in.

LOL...I knew that there was something wrong with that statement, but I could not put my finger on it... :wacko

[Tim Marvin]

I think what Gary is saying is that the top inch or two in the box is draining faster, so every time it start draining it empties to the bottom of the pipe and the pump isn't flowing fast enough to keep it going and has to refill before it starts again.... Again though, it would not do that if the hole was open.

[jaded]

I think thats exactly what Gary was saying... if the syphon is to strong (hole to small) or complete (no hole) then the overflow level will drop until the tube sucks air then it will rise until the weight of the water starts the syphon again... this will only end when you are so sick of hearing that sucking sound that you either adjust the hole size to meet your syphon needs or you take a ball peen hammer to the tank... i recommend option #1

[fishy1171]

I just wanted to thank everybody for thier suggestions. I did clean out the hole and also there was some air traped in the lines, so I forced the air out and now it seems to be working much better.