More DIY Overflow Problems!!!

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Juxtaroberto

Juxtaroberto

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 1, 2009
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Los Angeles, CA, USA
This morning, for some strange reason, I think my DIY overflow (the PVC one) stopped sucking in as much water as before.

Out of nowhere the tank began overflowing (good thing I was there! I was JUST about to leave for school).

When I got home I took the overflow and decided to flush it out, thinking something (like the little knifefish) had gotten in, but its empty!

For some strange reason its not pulling in as much as before!

Right now I set the water level in the sump low so that it sucks air in and doesn't pump as much water into the tank, so it seems pretty balanced.

But WHY would my overflow stop pulling as much water out of nowhere?

Help!
 
Well, since there are three holes, I would cover one, and blow on one, and see if the air flow went through okay. I did this with all three holes. Then I stuck the end of the tube that's attached to the pump to the overflow intake, hoping that the fast flow would dislodge anything, but the water went through okay.

Is there another way to check?
 
Also... all the fish are accounted for, and there isn't anything in the tank that could get stuck in there, such as gravel, stones, or plants.
 
You just learned the reason why you should have two instead of just one.

How long has the overflow been in operation? When they have been going for a while, they get growth on the inside. The growth doesn't cause the restriction, it causes gas build up in the pipes. The gas causes the reduced flow. That is why the check valve is there; so you can suck the air out when it slows down. Checking for gas build up needs to be part of your maintenance routine.
 
CHOMPERS;2677415; said:
You just learned the reason why you should have two instead of just one.

How long has the overflow been in operation? When they have been going for a while, they get growth on the inside. The growth doesn't cause the restriction, it causes gas build up in the pipes. The gas causes the reduced flow. That is why the check valve is there; so you can suck the air out when it slows down. Checking for gas build up needs to be part of your maintenance routine.
Click to expand...

Hmm, it's been in operation for about 2 weeks. And I DID suck on the check valve. Besides, wouldn't the air bubble thing have been resolved after I took the pipes out, drained them, and then submerged them again?

I'm gonna go check if my local hardware store has more PVC elbows and stuff. The reason I didn't built two was because they JUST had enough for one, coincidentally.
 
So I went back and sucked on the check valve again. Air bubbles came out, and then none, but when I would suck again more air bubbles would come out.

Does that mean there's an air leak somewhere? Like in the silicone around the end of the check valve connected to the PVC?

And why would it have acted up until now? Wouldn't it have been bad from the start?
 
I'll bet your check valve is leaking. Keep about a foot of air line on it. After you get all the air out, put the end of the air line in the tank. If it doesn't get anymore air bubbles, then it is the check valve.

But yeah, there is an air leak somewhere.
 
CHOMPERS;2681000; said:
I'll bet your check valve is leaking. Keep about a foot of air line on it. After you get all the air out, put the end of the air line in the tank. If it doesn't get anymore air bubbles, then it is the check valve.

But yeah, there is an air leak somewhere.
Click to expand...

could also be the seat where the valve is attached & the 1 foot of airline in the tank will only prove if the leak is the valve itself. May be prudent to pull the valve & reseal
 
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