I need help

[infinity1]

What?s up guys, I have a huge problem!!!! So my reef tank has been doing ok for the last year or so, but my issues lately is that every time I do a water change I have no pressure nor a drip to be honest going back into my sump. Tank is filled and my return pump runs dry cuz the lack of water coming back down to my sump. Unfortunately it?s 3am and I?m still awake cuz my pump has run dried 3 times since I did my water change. Is there a clog don?t seem like but I am somewhat a rookie to this. I?ve done many water changes never had an issue . Last 3 water changes the water returning back into sump has become less and less.

 

[Rjukan]

Hi. I'm guessing it's not a drilled tank? What kind of overflow are you using? Wier style or tubes?

It's been a while since I had a non drilled tank with a sump, but I remember filling the display to the very brim, then starting the overflow siphon, then turn the return pump back on after you know the overflow is running again. What size is the tank?

 

[infinity1]

Hey it?s a drilled tank. That?s why I?m confused and frustrated. I was up till 4 am last night. Idk what happened but now there is minimum flow coming back into the sump. Atleast my return pump is not going dry.

 

[greybolt03]

I had a snail get caught in my drain pipe one time and the same thing happened. I ended up putting mesh over the tube opening to keep it from happening again. Check for clogs in the drain tube

 

[Loose tenticle]

Had a drain strainer one time clogged that caused that

 

[Andrew9909]

Without knowing exactly the style and type of overflow it is, its hard to narrow it down. But without any other information the most logical reason would have to be a clog somewhere between your overflow and your sump.

 

[infinity1]

Well I got home tonight from work and the pressure returning back to the sump was much better. I stopped the wavemaker to feed. I checked about 30 min later and it?s back to barely coming down. It has to be a clog somewhere. Just too busy with work etc. to start breaking down my plumbing. But it has the be done I guess.

 

[infinity1]

When I?m filling my display tank and it reaches the top I see the water rushing into my sump and it does not seem like there is any kind of clog the water flows freely back into sump, but as soon as I stop the new water due to the tank being filled and the sumps levels being good it starts dripping down and all the force of the water basically disappearing. Then pump runs dry.

 

[Antf]

Have you tried slowing down the return pump? I close the valve going to the main tank about halfway. It seems that the pump is pumping faster than the water can return to th sump.

 

[infinity1]

I have the return pump at its lowest pressure. It was never an issue till lately. I just don?t get it. At 9am the flow is great coming down into the sump and at noon it barely goes down. Drips back into the sump.

 

[albano]

It seems that the problem may with the pump, not the return. How small is the sump that the tank does not overflow when the sump is emptied into the tank?