Unknown pump/drain problems

anicemess

anicemess

New member
I posted under my tank thread but I need some input from the equipment side too. This project is getting the best of me and I am about at the end of my rope...

Bought new pump from fish tanks direct. After the problems with them, I hooked it up and the flow was perfect, for a week or so. Yesterday, I found the tank overflowing without me doing anything to tank other than feeding fish. Now all of a sudden, more water is pumping in than is draining out so the tank overflows. I even closed the return flow 50% yet it keeps overflowing. I took the pipes out of the overflow and the water drained completely out. I thought it took longer than it should but the drain hoses are not obstructed, so what on earth is the problem?

I just had surgery on my hand couple days ago and I can't do much but I can't for the life of me figure out what is wrong. Please somebody come up with some ideas. I have to shut the pump down until I figure out what's wrong, but with my injury, I can't fix anything major for weeks....


If it wasn't for the marvelous trigger I got from markitech, I would quit this hobby soon....
 
anicemess said:
1 inch drain hose with a brand new sunlight 1500 (gph) pump. It just dawned on me that the drain hose has a 1/2 inch ball valve connected to it a foot from the sump. I will have to check that for blockage...
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a half inch fitting ANYWHERE in the line makes the entire thing half inch.
 
William Lutman said:
Take it out, why would you put 1/2" valve in 1" hose?
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hold on now, it was a good idea at the time, but now I don't remember why. It's the one one thats fits that u could turn with your hand.

Yep, laugh now cause you will get old too and your kids will laugh at you then!

I can't do anything right now with hand in cast and drugged up....

Yea, sounds stupid now but I'm sure there was a good reason then....hmmm...I'm sure there was.....
 
Herbie said:
a half inch fitting ANYWHERE in the line makes the entire thing half inch.
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Sure but its only the drain; all tubes, hoses covered so snails don't get in. Been working fine for years. I probably should not have touched tank or sump while drugged up though.

One of these days, this tank will be awesome!
 
Now I remember. You put a valve on drain to dissipate the loud and annoying sucking noise which I now cannot fix until I get my cast off. Great job!
 
If ur water can't drain... Then ur return will come in faster then it can drain... Hence over flow of water.

Honestly. Fix ur tank problems before you start adding to the tank... No sense in adding $$ and then losing everything bc of something that happens. Or even overflows into ur floor. I understand u had surgery. But u need to fix the plumbing issues. U dont want to lose that trigger.

I know it's been a looooong journey for u... But poor planning = poor results. Not calling you out, but many people in this hobby rush things... Only to get screwed later.

If you can't do it urself, have a friend come over and do it for u.
 
anicemess said:
Sure but its only the drain; all tubes, hoses covered so snails don't get in. Been working fine for years. I probably should not have touched tank or sump while drugged up though.

One of these days, this tank will be awesome!
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Been working fine for years? Isn't this the tank that came in through your wall last year? Maybe I'm confused.
 
anicemess said:
Sure but its only the drain; all tubes, hoses covered so snails don't get in. Been working fine for years. I probably should not have touched tank or sump while drugged up though.

One of these days, this tank will be awesome!
Click to expand...


we understand it is only the drain and that is a very important part!


Anicemess i met you and you are super nice but i really believe you have bit off way more then you can chew. This tank has been disaster after disaster look at all the living things that have perished in your tank. Im so sorry that you jumped to this kinda of under taking with ripping the front of your house off to get this but sometimes no matter how much pride we have we have to say enough is enough. This is going to sound super mean and please don't take it as that but i really hope none on here sells you anymore fish till you realize you need a lot more experience and help with a tank this big. again im really not trying to be mean just saying its not fair to these aniamals that culd have had long lives in a stable tank tank with good husbandry.
 
anicemess said:
Now I remember. You put a valve on drain to dissipate the loud and annoying sucking noise which I now cannot fix until I get my cast off. Great job!
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Even so, why did you put on a valve that was smaller than the drain pipe? You effectively created a bottleneck that is now stopping the regular flow. And when you add a more powerful pump that needs a larger drain you're going to end up with this kind of issue.

My recommendation, pay for an aquarium maintenance company to come out and get this solved once and for all. It will cost some cash, but you've got a large enough system that people coming over and doing patch jobs just isn't going to cut it.
 
If I'm not mistaken, ball valves restrict flow even if it's the same size. So you either get a "full flow" ball valve, or INCREASE it by one size. So for a 1" line, you would use a 1-1/4" ball valve...

Having said that, i agree with all those that are saying to fix the tank problems before getting anymore livestock. Good luck!
 
Actually the problem is listening to the wrong people who think they know more than they really do. Plus the fish I keep buying is from members here who have no idea of age of fish and have dubious fish experience. Shame on you for saying such nasty things, especially when I have more experience at fish keeping than you do. I've had tanks before most of you on this site have been born. The pump I bought came from one of you, the skimmers, the fish etc. You're half right, it is the people on this site but it's not me buying, it's you selling half sickly livestock and broken down equipment.
 
anicemess said:
Actually the problem is listening to the wrong people who think they know more than they really do. Plus the fish I keep buying is from members here who have no idea of age of fish and have dubious fish experience. Shame on you for saying such nasty things, especially when I have more experience at fish keeping than you do. I've had tanks before most of you on this site have been born. The pump I bought came from one of you, the skimmers, the fish etc. You're half right, it is the people on this site but it's not me buying, it's you selling half sickly livestock and broken down equipment.
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With such wonderful examples of community and camaraderie all over this site I am surprised and appalled to see this response. So many people have tried to help you Noreen, but the result is always the same. You take no responsibility for this debacle of a tank? Where are these fish you've been keeping for so long because I know many of the fish we keep have life expectancies that go into decades? How can you claim such expertise when even simple plumbing issues seem to cause you complete distress? I had turtles when I was 9 years old but I would not claim to know more about them than a 20 year old herpetology student. The members, nay the family of CR can, will, and has helped you. You just need to allow and respect the help that is offered. Try to take a giant step back and look at the responses you receive from a 30,000 foot view. I've learned nearly everything I know about aquaria here and I've kept fish for over 20 years. It's not about time, it's about knowledge and the relative comfort of these living beings for which we take responsibility. This is not my normal approach to this forum but frankly, I find your post above offensive and if you can ruffle me you've accomplished something. Please try to listen to what our members have been trying to tell you. Take a step back, get your mechanical issues completely solved and then proceed with enjoying this hobby. Like home depot says: "you can do it, we can help", but no one will help you if you will never admit error or responsibility and it will get worse if you simply blame everyone who has tried to help.
 
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