dano December 29, 2011 December 29, 2011 For the third time now in the past 8 months my staying in the hobby is being severely tested. This time while I was away my overflow malfunctioned, some lighting started putting off voltage in the aquarium, and I lost more fish and corals. Now down to one lucky pecula whom Jan mightily saved! So this is the problem I need some help with. I do not understand how the overflow works and the float that closes off the overflow tube to the sump for some reason is not staying afloat. Instead it closes off the overflow tube when it shouldn't resulting in water overflowing over the top of the tank and draining of the sump. Shutting down the whole system and restarting leads to the float working as it is supposed to for a few moments and then without apparent cause just sinking and closing off the overflow tube. Thanks much for any suggestions offered.
Coral Hind December 29, 2011 December 29, 2011 I would do away with the float on the overflow so you don't have any more problems. If can't do away with then I would clean it very well, maybe a vinegar bath, to make sure it works freely.
NamReefs December 29, 2011 December 29, 2011 where do you live in falls church? if you done mind i can stop by sometime this weeken to see if i can do anyhelp. im not really sure i can do it.
flowerseller December 29, 2011 December 29, 2011 Can you pm a pic to me and post one for others to see?
dano January 2, 2012 Author January 2, 2012 thanks for all the suggestions... just got back to town... I'm not sure how all the different parts work so when you say do away with the float I don't know what the impact will be. Also don't know what you mean by drilling tank... there is an overflow in the corner of the tank with a tube that goes down to the sump. the tube has this float valve which has a long neck stat stays in the tube while the float lifts with the water level. I will go through some old notes to see if i can figure out how to put a picture on the posting. Thanks again.
treesprite January 2, 2012 January 2, 2012 So the tank is drilled on the bottom, it sounds like. I don't know why it would need a float valve in it. Does the return pump only turn on when the float valve is down past a certain point?
dano January 2, 2012 Author January 2, 2012 No... return pump works all the time... I bought this set up used and just assumed this was a fairly standard setup with the float stopper for the overflow...I guess not.
zygote2k January 3, 2012 January 3, 2012 It's an AGA Megaflow kit. The float valve is like a bobber that sits in the top of the standpipe and bobs up and down as the water in the overflow rises or falls. If the hole in the top of the float gets clogged, you'll have a flood. Dial back the return pump to stop the float from constantly rising- it should stay pretty level most of then time. If the sponge on the bottom of the standpipe is still there, see if it's clogged with detritus and rinse it out weekly.
treesprite January 3, 2012 January 3, 2012 But what is the purpose in it? I had the impression that it was supposed to stop from having flooding, but it sounds more like it causes flooding.
zygote2k January 3, 2012 January 3, 2012 But what is the purpose in it? I had the impression that it was supposed to stop from having flooding, but it sounds more like it causes flooding. It's a quiet overflow system that was in use before the durso came out. I'm guessing the reason that this one floods is because he's pushing too much water through it.
dano January 4, 2012 Author January 4, 2012 It's a quiet overflow system that was in use before the durso came out. I'm guessing the reason that this one floods is because he's pushing too much water through it. What is the durso? so do you think I can just remove the float valve without suffering any negative consequences (since keeping it in is netting me too many negative consequences)? Maybe calling it a float valve is not accurate... it is a cylindrical plastic emptying into a tube on the bottom and a tube on top ... a bobber of sorts
Chad January 4, 2012 January 4, 2012 Durso standpipes look like this http://shop.dursostandpipes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12 I think the negative consequence you will get is noise.
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