I have a Cuiver's Dwarf currently in a 250g, and It set up with a simple sump underneath of a 55g tank and a sock filter etc. I have a 1.5" straight PVC tube set as the return/drain line to the sump, that is just set to the level I want the tank water level to be......
The issue I am having, which I haven't noticed before, but now, almost nightly, over the last week or so, my caiman has decided to sit on top of the return pipe, basically getting sucked onto it. She is plenty strong to get herself off of it, but I noticed it the first time because I would hear the rush/gurgle of water when she got off of the pipe. She sits on it and blocks the water return until the tank level fills enough to basically empty the sump and cause the return pump (1600gph or so) to run dry.
I obviously don't want to hurt the caiman or burn out the return pump. I thought about putting a longer straight PVC in, and drill a bunch of holes around the outside of it to set the water level, but why is my caiman doing this? Has anyone seen something like this before?
The issue I am having, which I haven't noticed before, but now, almost nightly, over the last week or so, my caiman has decided to sit on top of the return pipe, basically getting sucked onto it. She is plenty strong to get herself off of it, but I noticed it the first time because I would hear the rush/gurgle of water when she got off of the pipe. She sits on it and blocks the water return until the tank level fills enough to basically empty the sump and cause the return pump (1600gph or so) to run dry.
I obviously don't want to hurt the caiman or burn out the return pump. I thought about putting a longer straight PVC in, and drill a bunch of holes around the outside of it to set the water level, but why is my caiman doing this? Has anyone seen something like this before?
