dgasmd March 2, 2003 March 2, 2003 Well, I woke up this morning, walked the dogs, went into my main office where most of the high deals and major planning of my life occurs: the bathroom in front of the stair to the basement where my tank is. As I got into some heavy thinking, I realize that there was something odd. Everything was very quiet. Why can't I hear the gurgling of the overflow in the tank? I pinched that thought, did some quick cleaning (I know it is a lot more than you wanted to know), and ran downstairs. As I walked into the basement, I realized a couple of things: the water is completely calm, the carpet is completely soaked, there is no noise from the equipment in the garage, and the freaking tank has overflowed!!!! I run to the garage to check the equipment and notice a few more things: the garage floor is completely full of water, the sump is bone dry, and all the pumps are dead (iwaki 100 for skimmer, iwaki 30 and iwaki 40 for returns, AmpMaster 3000 for close loop, and mag 18 for the UV filter). I run back inside to check the circuit box and both of the 20 amp dedicated circuits had tripped. I take a step back, take a deep breath, and go into mental DEFCON 5. First things first. Why did the tank overflow in the first place and then drain all 70 gal of water from the sump? I get a ladder and see what happened. One of the 2 bags of ChemiPure I had added a couple of days ago to "try them out" had been sucked into the overflow box's drain pipe and blocked it off completely. It is a 1 1/2" pipe for god's sake!!!! I take the thing out and proceed to go to the garage to dry out all the stuff, which is now soaking wet including the wires and plugs for most thigns. I first checked the status of the living things in the tank. The fish seemed to be swiming around, the temp had gone down to 78 from 80 baseline (not bad at all), but the pH was 7.91 from a baseline of 8.1 at night (likely the Ca reactor had backed flow into the sump). After I was done with the drying, I proceeded to put 30 gal of salt water I had just made last night into the sump to at least be able to run the return pumps. That is if they were not all burned from running dry for god only knows how long. I reset the circuit breakers I started to plug things back up one by one to make sure if I came to something that was still wet inside I wouldn't cause fire or electrocute myself in the process (or both). All pumps except for the mag 18 worked fine. Everything worked. Lights have not come on yet, so I can't comment on that. To say I was angry, sad, and other things is a huge understatement. 12 years with fish tanks and this was my first disaster. The worst part is that it was something that stupid that I should have seen it coming a mile away that caused it. We are back in bussiness now, but I can tell you I have learned a lot of things here, most of which I will apply when I re-do the entire thing in one year after I move. I also believe I didn't have much worse problems because I had taken so many precautions already. This is what I have learned and a lot I already do: -put all your ballasts as far off the ground as possible. -do not have anything electric touching the floor. -make sure all the plug-ins are off the ground and at least have a u loop before them in case they get wet. -cover all electrical plug-in with some form of plastic so water can't get to them -have at least one separate pump connected to a different circuit. -place all electrical connections on GCFI -place all electrical connections in the opposite side of the room where all the pipes and water connections are and place them off the ground -make it a habit of checking ALL equipment for function and performance once in the AM and once in the PM. This I have done religiously. -have a spare pump, timer, and heater available -always keep some saltwater made for a water change -have a wet/dry vac available. At least know the neighbor that has one. -have some towels available that you use for the tank only. - do not place anything that you won't mind loosing on the same floor as the tank and equipment is ever. Yes, I mean ever. My computer's hard drive could have been completly toasted! I am sure there is a couple of hundred tips I could write here, but I need to go back to damage control. I guess this proves we are not bulletproof afterall!!!!!
Guest reeftanklfs March 2, 2003 March 2, 2003 Hey dgasmd: We sympathize and empathize; been there too. But I do want to say bravo to all the things that you have done to have prevented a much more serious and potentially lethal situation. I couldn't have elaborated anymore on the tips that you have given, nor could I emphasize them enough to customers (especially that part about having extra equipment around. The safety stuff goes without saying.) Hang in there! Grim
geofloors March 2, 2003 March 2, 2003 Sorry to hear about the disaster Alberto but glad everything is still OK. I had a similar situation with a polyfilter a few months ago. George
Coral Hind March 2, 2003 March 2, 2003 WOW! Lucky you didn't go away for the weekend. Hope everything makes it through alright. They say having a fish tank relieves stress. :D
dgasmd March 2, 2003 Author March 2, 2003 Well, after more disaster management, everything seems alive. The only thing missing is one of the new lettuce nudibranch I added a couple of days ago. Then again, I haven't seen it since then anyways. The only piece of equipment is the mag 18. I guess I need to get another pump to replace it, but this time I will get something much smaller for the same job. They say having a fish tank relieves stress. This has to be the funniest thing I ahve read in a long long time. :D :D
chideloh March 2, 2003 March 2, 2003 Albeto, My heart goes out to you. I am so afraid of things like that could happen at anytime. Thank God, the damage was what it was and not worse. The quote is only for the people who do not have fish tanks. But for those of us who have tanks, especially EXPENSIVE tanks we know better. STRESSSSSSS....... David
Coral Hind March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 That stuff can happen at anytime. I was at a member's house last month and we were all looking at his prop tank when all of a sudden water just starting pouring over the top. It is amazing how a little snail in the wrong place can make such a big mess.
michaelg March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 ROFLMAO (at prevyets comment- not aberto's problem)! I seem to remember that! I fired up the main circulation on the new tank last night- needless to say, I had trouble falling asleep wondering if all would be OK. Thanks for all the tips Alberto- a good reminder to us all. Michael
Guest andrejka March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 Sorry that happened to you :( Because of fear of something like that, couple months ago I just added float switch for the main tank which switches off return pump in case of overflowing. This stress-relief is well worth it's $40...
Coral Hind March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 andrejka-That would be worth posting in the DIY section for us. Your set-up might save some tanks, floors and even marriages.
chideloh March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 It was a BIG snail. What happened was that I had taken out the strainer to clean and didn't put it back, and wouldn't you know it, the snail was right in the hole. All I can say is, good thing we were all in there. Phew.... David
Guest andrejka March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 There was not much to DIY. One buys a float switch (it's $60, actually): Ultralife float switch, mounts it in the tank and plugs return pump in its outlet.
michaelg March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 Yes- these can be run upside down even. This works when the sump floods, but in alberto's case, it might not have helped, as his tank overflowed. Though I suppose it could be rigged to work in the overflow such that if the water level got too high there, it would shut the pump off. Michael
Guest andrejka March 3, 2003 March 3, 2003 Michael: The switch is placed in tank, not in the overflow, and switches the return pump off when tank fills up above set level (which prevents tank namely from overflowing). Both you and David more than welcome to see it in action! This even might lure David to come and see my tank :D Everybody else is welcome.
KABALA March 6, 2003 March 6, 2003 Alberto. You can send that Mag18 to Dannermfg in NY and they will replace it. I Just sent a mag12 Back around Oct for repair. It had stopped working and I sent it in since the screw broke off in the cover when trying to take it apart to make sure the shaft wasnt broken. They sent me a whole new one no questions asked. Very easy to deal with. In the meantime I just went to AC bought a new one to use for the time being and when they sent it to me I returned it for a refund!!! Mike
dgasmd March 6, 2003 Author March 6, 2003 Mike: Do you have any contact info for them like where to send it, phone number, etc.? Although others may comment about your buying, using, returning the pump manouver, it is not going to be me. :D :D
chideloh March 6, 2003 March 6, 2003 Mike, Can you post the info here? I am having trouble with my Mag 24? Does it matter how old it is? Thanks David
KABALA March 7, 2003 March 7, 2003 Alberto, hey after doing that twice, I found AC was good for something!!!LoL Dave and Alberto, there website is www.dannermfg.com and if I remember correctly you have to email them the problem first and they will send you a repair order you ship along with the pump. That might have changed since I last dealt with them. As for age, Mine was just about 13 months and they didnt hesitate to satisfy me, Hence I bought two 9.5s right after that. Really great service and fast as well. They really cant argue that your LFS didnt have the pump sitting on the shelf for awhile :p right?? David, also do you still have any of that LR you had excess or finally get rid of it? Mike
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