Help Big Problem

[Saltwater Noob]

Hey guys I have a big problem for some reason today my return pump keeps sucking my sump dry and blowing air into my tank. Ihave changed all the media and still its keep sucking it dry its like the overflow can't keep up with the return any ideas? I have had the same setup for 6 months with no problems then this started today. I am going to leave the return off overnight and am going to try to fix it tommarow will leave my other powerheads and skimmer running though over night. anyhelp would be great thanks Dan

[lcstorc]

Very unusual for this to be a new problem. It definitely sounds like your return is pumping more water than the overflow can handle. Do you know what the overflow is rated for? How about the pump? It is a delicate balance that you must keep in check.
HTH

[bluespotjawfish]

Do you have a u-tube type overflow? If so, you need to clean the u-tube. Otherwise I don't know.

[Woodstock]

Hummm... remember that all evaporated water loss is shown in the sump's water level. A silly question but I have to ask; Are you topping off with fresh water regularly?
Or the return pump could be pumping water up faster than the water is flowing down into the sump. Clean the overflow teeth and pipes going down into the sump. You might have a snail or other type of blockage. Also, keep an eye on the main display's water level since it could overflow if the overflow/drain is clogged.

[Saltwater Noob]

I checked the overflow it is clean but when I add water to the sump it gose right to the tank and rasies the tank level I am not sure why this is happenng I am thinking about adding 2 overflows is this a bad idea?

[goldenmean]

Did you check the plumbing between the overflow and the sump?
It seems that something has to be blocking the water somewhere between the overfow and the sump since this set up has worked for you for the past 6 months.

Do you have a valve of some sort on the return plumbling?
If you do and it became more open that could also cause your problem.
I have a ball valve on my return plumbing to control the flow from your sump.
That could solve your problem if the is no blockage elsewhere

[sasquatch]

What goes up, may not necessarily come down lol, check for obstructions, kinks or as Goldenmean suggests an open valve, if your return pump is over rated to the overflow did you have it valved down?

[blue_eyes53813]

Did you get it fixed? I had the same thing happen to me a couple weeks ago. What type of overflow are you using?. My problem was that the overflow box got raised somehow. Still dont know how it happened. Once I leveled the box out and lowered it a little it was fine.

[Saltwater Noob]

still have the problem checked the u tube the overflow and the train to the sump all are clear I checked the pump but there is no ajustment I started iot back up and within a min the pump was sucking air pics coming

[bluespotjawfish]

When you say you checked the u-tube, did you clean it? It doesn't take much to slow the flow. Do you have an overflow box? If so it needs to be lowered like Blue_eyes suggested.

[Saltwater Noob]

it is lowered enough here are some pics the tank level is low in the pics due to the pump is off and yess I cleaned the U tube with a tooth brush

















Whats I can't understand is this has been working fine and I just top of the sump every week no problems I bought this used and they guy has it on this tank for over a year no problems also

[lcstorc]

Did you check/clean the hose going from the overflow to the sump?
Other than that, I am stumped. Then again i am bad at the plumbing stuff.

[Saltwater Noob]

yep took everything apart clean it all put it back together I am at a loss and don't know what to do tank has been without a return for about 12 hours so far

[swissgaurd]

do you have any air pockets in the U tube.

if so you can take a flexable airline,put it inside the tube and suck the air out or hook it up to a power head.

[Saltwater Noob]

I used a air hose and sucked it out the overflow is draining to the sump fin the return is just pulling the water faster than the return can drain it seems but now sure why its been working fine for last 6 months