Flooding - HELP!!!!!

lemon drop

lemon drop

Member
My husband and I went off to work yesterday and the power went out while we were there. We came home to a low water level and a very wet floor.
When we first bought this tank, fully set up and stocked, it seemed to have a stop mechanism to prevent overflow. The last few water changes I have had to shut the flow off mannually. I don't really understand how it worked to begin with, so I don't know what to fix.
Please explain!!!!!!
By the way, I have a 120 gallon (4x2x2) with a 20 gallon sump under the tank in the cabinet. I have a filter bag and protein skimmer with some live macro algae in the sump. The return pump is a Gen-x with 55HP.
Thanks!
 
threed240

threed240

Member
Could you post some pics? And your return lines, do they have a siphon hole at the top. If not, try drilling a small hole just below the water line on your return lines. This will break the siphon created by water flowing backwards down to the sump. Your return pump has 55hp? As in Horse Power??
 
gwh57

gwh57

Member
Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
a 55hp return, ....now were cookoin with gas!
Now we know why it flooded! :thinking:
 
lemon drop

lemon drop

Member
Ok, I was just reading the label right off the pump. I beleive hp stands for Horse power. I realize that is a lot, but it works. The horse power should not effect the flooding since the electricity is off.
So can you clarify where to drill the hole in the return line. Do I drill it below the tank (in the cabinet)? Or do I drill it just below the water line in the sump?
My return lines go from the sump up through the bottom of the tank and into two tubes with multiple small holes all the way to the top of the tank.
Any thoughts on why it use to work and not now?
I will work on posting a picture.
 
lazypinoy

lazypinoy

Member
im lost. :notsure: . did ur water level drop to the point where ur return nozzles(ur multiple small holes*lets not think dirty lol*) were? bcuz if this happened when ur power went out then back pressuse from ur tank pushed water back into tha sump through the return lines. UNLESS u have equipped some sort of a check valve. but i dont kno if this might be tha case. cuz im lost. :notsure:
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
if i had to guess i would be almost positive you dont have any anti-siphon holes, or "siphon-Break" holes drilled,, thus leading to the flood
 
lemon drop

lemon drop

Member
Well I wasn't home, but I imagine....
The power goes out. My tank starts draining into my sump below my tank and continues until it overlows the top of the sump tank.
I am guessing that my set up use to have a check vaulve, that has apparently failed. I am interested in drilling a hole, as this seems like it could not fail. I am just not sure where to drill it.
Any constructive help would be appreciated.
 
lemon drop

lemon drop

Member
lemon drop

lemon drop

Member
Originally Posted by Phixer
Check valves are prone to failure, at least with the clear ones you would be able to see them.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/246917/check-valve-siphon-break
Phixer, Thanks for the link to the related thread.
I still have questions.
Do I drill the hole in the line between the sump and the pump, or between the pump and the main tank?
Do I drill the hole just below the point the sump will overflow, or just below the main tank?
Last, my husband is very concerned about drilling a hole in a line carrying water. Won't the water be pushed out of the hole when the pump is running?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The only place where a hole will be drilled in any line is the line inside the tank that pushes the water out in the tank........Where that water line submerges below the water line in the tank is the one you want to drill....What you would do is drill a small hole just below the normal operating water line in the tank....With that done when the power goes out the water level will only drop to that hole you drilled in the line, and once it reaches that hole it will loose suction and therefore stop any backflow....HTH
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Originally Posted by Threed240
Here is a pic where to drill your hole. This is my set-up.
Exactly what I was implying.....Good pics....
 
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