question about plumbing

K

Kay

My tank is doing something weird. When I turn off the return pump for water changes, etc., the water level in the tank drops down to two inches below the teeth of the overflow, bringing the level in the sump all the way to the top, a little overflowing.

Yesterday my return pump went out and I had to replace it so I got several gallons of water coming out of the sump. When I got the new pump in I turned it off and stood there with a pitcher and put the water from the sump back into the tank to keep it from overflowing, and it stayed the same level anyway and finally settled down, and then I could put the water in the tank without it going down. It didn't used to do this. This happened with the new return pump and the old one. I could keep less water in the sump but it would cause microbubbles. Have any ideas about what to do?

Kay
 
Thanks for the reply. What would I do to fix it? The tank was plumbed about six months ago when I switched tanks and it wasn't doing it then. The water in the overflows isn't all the way to the top of them if that makes any difference.

Kay
 
Can you tell that is what it is doing? Going to the bottom of the nozzles, when you shut it off? Either move the nozzles up higher in the tank. So that the siphon from the nozzles shuts off right after the water level goes down to the teeth level. Or did you have the little holes drilled on the inside corner of the elbow on the return lines? Those little holes may be clogged up now. If that is the case you can clean those little air holes out.
 
@janakaybravo wrote:
Thanks for the reply. What would I do to fix it? The tank was plumbed about six months ago when I switched tanks and it wasn't doing it then. The water in the overflows isn't all the way to the top of them if that makes any difference. Kay said:
In the return lines about even with the top of your overflow drill a 1/8 hole in each line. That will break the siphon when the water reaches that level. If you don't understand, DONT drill anything! Ask here first!
Click to expand...
 
There's no holes, but that's a good idea. I don't do drills, but maybe my husband can do that for me. Are you talking about the white pvc pipe on the inside of the overflows? I did notice you are right. The water level is going down to the level of the pipe inside the overflows.

Kay
 
Kay I believe Marc has a picture some where on his site about the exact place to drill these holes. But if the 45degree elbow attached to the pvc coming up as your returns from the pump are glued I am not sure you could get to them to drill them now.
 
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