Sump is down!

[Bee0912]

Well the morning did not start out good. I got up to find that the stupid lifter air pump on my overflow is not working. It is only 6 months old but I guess that the life of them?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282104

Well this morning my overflow is full of air and the pump is trying hard but it does not have the power to draw it out.

I try to get it working better and i have no luck. So I shut off my pump that has been sucking air all night in my sump and pull it out. I dropped the pump into the main tank and I have it running just circulating the water around. i also have 2 air stones. But that’s it.

How long can it last like this?

I want to order the pump on line but do I have 3 days?? there is a shop here that i believe has the diaphragm for them and I can rebuild this one but they do not open till noon and I have school at 10AM then to work till 11PM tonight and then back to work at 7AM and back at school till after they close and the same as today on Friday! so i cant get to the shop till Saturday?

So how long will my tank be ok with a 800GPH pump and 2 air stones in it.

Don’t worry I know how bad this is and I feel like crap for not having a backup plan. Oh and yes I will bee ordering 2 pumps just to have around for this reason but I need to just fix it first.

I have a few other threads that say this as well but this is just another reason to have the tank drilled!

 

[Pharaoh]

You could always just go pick up a power head with the air line input. They will do the same thing as a aqua lifter.

The bio will only last a few hours in the sump without it running.

 

[Bee0912]

You could always just go pick up a power head with the air line input. They will do the same thing as a aqua lifter.

The bio will only last a few hours in the sump without it running.

And i have been wanting a power head this is a good a great thought. thanks!

 

[Pharaoh]

No problem...

 

[Bee0912]

Ok well now I have a power head running in the tank but still no overflow! i am starting to think that I have a leak in my overflow! so it not sucking the air out because it is trying to suck it out of the entire room. but I have it primed in the second chamber and it is not leaking?

I am leaving for school in 25 minuets and won’t be back till 11! I am getting worried.

 

[Bee0912]

Well i got it running by hooking up the old lifter pump and sucking on it really hard by mouth. then quickly put the power head on it and it is running but it still has about 1/4 inch of air trapped at the top of the overflow?

I am leaving for school but will be on my laptop all day so any more help or ideahs would be great. I am scared to leave. I dont want to burn up my pump in my sump? ( but then again it will be a reason to but that Mag 18 I have wanted!)

this is the last straw i am having it drilled when i move the first of the year.

 

[Pharaoh]

You really have to get the air out of there the first time. The power head and pump will keep it out once you remove it. I think you should be OK.

Drilling is always a good and reliable option.

 

[zennzzo]

Shouldn't the overflow continue to do it's job once the siphon is created? unless of course the power goes out?
Sounds like the overflow is fouled somehow...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3642&prodid=23394&catid=3

the last two items on the ordering list for CPR overflows are what you need to make your Aqualifter more reliable
the prefilter and diaphragm

the prefilter will make the pump diaphragm last longer...

 

[Bee0912]

Shouldn't the overflow continue to do it's job once the siphon is created? unless of course the power goes out?
Sounds like the overflow is fouled somehow...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3642&prodid=23394&catid=3

the last two items on the ordering list for CPR overflows are what you need to make your Aqualifter more reliable
the prefilter and diaphragm
View attachment 425847View attachment 425848
the prefilter will make the pump diaphragm last longer...

Well it has a nipple on top to if nothing is blocking it then air will get in and break the siphon so it does need something pulling on it at all times.

So unlike the lifter pump the power head will not draw the air out it will just keep it out? Once I get it out?

 

[zennzzo]

Well it has a nipple on top to if nothing is blocking it then air will get in and break the siphon so it does need something pulling on it at all times.

So unlike the lifter pump the power head will not draw the air out it will just keep it out? Once I get it out?

Aquarium air tubing size check valve should be in that hole...
or on that line somewhere...