Pretty please.... some plumbing help

[dano]

Since I didn't get any responses to my previous posting this AM about plumbing help I would really appreciate any consultation I could get. So even a phone call could maybe help me figure out what to do. After moving yesterday, my overflow and return are dripping and I'm not sure what to do to get a good seal. So I can't fill the tank and my corals and fish are now in buckets for the second day and I'm afraid they will suffer. Thanks so much for any help.

[DaveS]

Are these threaded fittings? Maybe more teflon tape?

[Jan]

Is there anyone in the Falls Church area that can help Daniel out? Some of his livestock is starting to die. I don't know anything about plumbing or I'd be there. He just called me. He has a bad leak coming from his overflow.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Jan

[zygote2k]

put the livestock into the tank but don't fill it to the top of the overflow. go get a new bulkhead for the fittings in the overflow.

[DaveS]

Agree. Given the time of day, use the tank like a big bucket. You can put the heater and powerhead in there with the live rock. Maybe do a small water change.

 

I'd help but I'm not out that way much.

[LanglandJoshua]

put the livestock into the tank but don't fill it to the top of the overflow. go get a new bulkhead for the fittings in the overflow.

 

+1

 

If it is an HOB overflow, with the PVC in the rubber connecter sometimes if it is not tight enough you can have leaks.

[dano]

+1

 

If it is an HOB overflow, with the PVC in the rubber connecter sometimes if it is not tight enough you can have leaks.

[dano]

thanks all... what a stressful experience this beautiful hobby is! So I'm now going on after my third night of less than 4 hours sleep... Update... I came back to my apt and one of my containers was all clouded... clarkii and three stripe, urchin, some snails, tiny starfish all dead. disintegrating candy cane. Couldn't tell if my beautiful and huge GBTA was dead or alive but it looked awful. I think it still has a little life left and I'm hoping. Called Jan and Coral Hind who were very helpful and Dave helped me incredibly walking me through tightening the nuts and what Zygote and Dave S posted here which I didn't know. Started to fill tank with sand and then water and then rock and it was very murky. Waited some and put in some corals and then fish and then more corals. Around 1:20 AM when I was finished adding all but my most beautiful corals and clam which I waanted to keep out in a tub in case there was a die off in the tank and because it was still so cloudy, I was putting my light fixture in place and dropped it in the tank. SH**! Luckily not plugged in. Then the last step to empty the skimmer collection cup because it was collecting fast and when I replugged in the skimmer it didn't work! AYYYYY! So after another half hour of messing with that trying unsuccessfully to get it to work, I called it a night.

Tank is still a number of gallons below level for overflow and I ran out of water. New apartment doesn't have the right fittings for my RO/DI so I need to pick up some water which I will make a new post about. Thanks all for your help. Hopefully the worst is over.

[Integral9]

I think you could have saved yourself a ton of work by leaving the sand and rock in the tank. Not to mention all the other livestock. But what's done is done, live and learn.

 

I am concerned about you pulling the sand bed out and then putting it back in though. It's highly likely that you have stirred up the anaerobic layer and released a ton of ammonia and nitrates into your tank. Eek! Have you tested your water?

 

Also, i like to keep a few powerheads laying around in case I have to take down my sump for one reason or another. So if you don't have any extras, I'd pick up 2 so that they can make up for the lack of flow from the sump.

 

As for your skimmer, sometimes electric motors get stuck and a bump or two will set them free. However, if it's been a while since you cleaned the skimmer pump, you might want to do a thorough cleaning; paying particular attention to the impeller blades, impeller shaft and to where the impeller shaft seats in the pump housing.

[dano]

Thanks for the advice... I wold have loved to save time and work but my concern was that moving the tank with the rocks and sand was too heavy and also more likely to break. Yeah... I'm scared about what I stirred up and hope that when I return home I won't have a bad scene. This certainly hasn't gone verty smoothly or well and I will have to do it again in a number of months when I will be moving again...egads!

[Integral9]

oh, I hadn't realized you had moved your tank. Taking the rock out makes more sense now.

[Der ABT]

go get some poly pads, they will help with the water quality

 

i have been out of town and am busy tonight but am not too far from you in arlington, if you need help with something let me know, i have an extra coralife skimmer in the garage if you need something to tide you over its not the greatest skimmer but it works

[dano]

Thanks very much.... when I get home from work I'll hopefully see no further damage so I hope not to need any further help on this one. I am bringing a remora urcin and a prizm home from my office tank so that should tide me over.