Flooded the bedroom

[coraline79]

I do have a pump to my overflow. It's a CPR overflow with a pump connected to an air suction line.

If you have the right overflow, there is no need for a pump. My overflow has a partition in the back, the tube goes on one side and the drain on the other. when the power goes out, about 3 inches of water is left in the tube side of the partition, and the suctoin is maintained. Had a 4 hour outage the other day w/o a drop on the floor, and it went right back to work when everything came back on.

[matt]

The CPR external overflows are infamous for flooding. I suggest you replace it with something much more reliable. There are well made j-tube overflows, I think life reef makes some good ones, but the best by far is an internal overflow like a calfo or a couple of boxes. You'd have to remove everything from your tank, get it drilled and fitted with the overflows, so it's probably easier to just buy a new tank that's drilled, transfer everything to the new tank, then sell the old one. It's not too bad a job, and no matter what it costs it's worth it.

I don't know what kind of auto top-off you have, but it kind of sounds like it worked the way it was supposed to. Your sump emptied, it filled it. There are switches that turn your return pump off if your sump level gets too low; the best ones are conductivity switches, not mechanical float switches. Mechanical float switches that are mounted under water will almost always fail eventually. See if tunze has something like that with the osmolator.

[Bill S]

You might also consider limiting the volume of your topoff. On my 55, it's a 5 gallon salt bucket. On my 215, it's about a 35 gallon container. These are both such that even if they were completely full, my systems should be able to handle the extra volume from them in the event of a stuck float switch. A stuck float switch AND a subsequent power failure might give me a problem though!

[labrown]

If you have the right overflow, there is no need for a pump. My overflow has a partition in the back, the tube goes on one side and the drain on the other. when the power goes out, about 3 inches of water is left in the tube side of the partition, and the suctoin is maintained. Had a 4 hour outage the other day w/o a drop on the floor, and it went right back to work when everything came back on.

What kind of overflow do you have? Looking to buy...

[coraline79]

What kind of overflow do you have? Looking to buy...

I have an Eshopp U tube overflow. I picked it up at Aquarium Designs for 45 or 49 bucks can't remember. It comes with the U Tube, the bulk head, and a prefilter for the drain.

[BIGBIRD123]

I spent 4 yrs listening to my wife gripe at me about the HOB overflows...the wet carpet...the having to drive 4.5 hrs back home from my job because the tank was overflowing...the putting red tape on all the things she needed to unplug...the lack of a "truly" good HOB overflow and had my tank drilled for a calfo with 2- 2" bulkheads. My tank works fine even if one of them clogs but it would take something massive to clog one. I say bite the bullet...and have the back of the tank drilled. JMHO from EXPERIENCE.

Steve

[Darth-Tater]

Ace can drill your tank for you. btw I have flooded my classom floor twice in the past. The last time I ruined all of lessons I have been using for 10 yrs ( ikept them on the floor near me. 20 gallons screws up salinity and books. So I bought a top-off unit and now everything is working super. But Ace drilled the tank for me.

A soggy tater (but not anymore Thanks www.top-off.com)