Reef Tank Troubleshooting trivia

[Mako Shark II]

Folks, our forum has been kinda quiet lately, so I thought I’d stir it up a little. I just saw Marcus’ post about his new floor, but I had planned on posting this anyway, so here goes.

Question:
In a Reef-Ready (drilled) tank / sump combo, what’s the Primary thing, that can make the main display Tank, spill all over the bloody floor???

(No, the glass did not crack. Nothing "Broke".)

(Yes, this Just happened for the first time ever tonight in the Mako Household! Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!)
:mad2:

 

[bshumake]

The only thing i can think of would be an obstruction in the drain line.
Wait. Did it overflow or is the tank empty?
If thats the case then I would say a seam failed.

 

[Mako Shark II]

DING!
DING!
DING!

We have a Win-nah!!!!!!

Very good Barrett.


Yep, the dumb_ss Black Damsel that jumped the gutter guard over six months ago has been living (and GROWING) IN the Overflow box itself.

Despite all efforts, up to and Including removing the entire canopy (not a small task on my tank!), I could not retrieve him from the Overflow box (speedy, elusive little bugger!), so……… Live and let Live…. Until today!

He obviously got caught in the middle of a water change and got too close to the suction of the drain, for a little while at least, once I threw the main pump back On. That would have been the root cause. (GRRrrrrrrr!!!!!!)

Once The $pousal Unit started shrieking from the other room, my recent “water change on the fly” was pumping new, perfect 78 degree 1.024 salt water into the sump, into the tank, right over the edge and ALL OVER THE STUPID FLOOR!!

As I was mega-freaking, killing the power and grabbing every towel I had in the Sump Closet to throw on the floor of my hearth room, I kept screaming, “THIS CAN’T HAPPEN!!! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!!! IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!!! THERE’S NO WAY FOR THE TANK TO OVER-Flow to…….(expletive deleted) .……”

It was at that very moment that I realized the drain must have failed (just Shoot me now!) so I ran to check the Overflow box, which was clear of obstruction, top & bottom.

So I ran to the Sump, only to find (what was left) of the ill-fated Damsel, now impaled on the Bio-Balls in the Dry portion of my sump. (I really never did like him anyway!!! Moron fish.)

This is the ONLY time this has ever happened to this tank.

ARGH!!

And the Next Tank, will have Dual Overflows, w/ Standpipes!!!!!!!!

 

[bshumake]

Well, I would have to say that either get dual overflows or if you can drill another hole in the overflow for an emergency drain.
I got a tang trapped in my overflow. He just jumped in there one day and i didn't realize it till I came home and noticed the overflow was at the waters level. My tank isn't level by about 1/8 so my second overflow is basically my emergency.
I took the durso cap off my drain and saw nothing obstructing the drain, so I knew something was in the 90.
Thinking there was a snail in there I stuck my finger in and got poked with a spine. So I took the cap off and looked in the side of the 90, and there was a face looking back at me!
Thinking he was dead I got my hemostats, grabbed his head and ripped him out of the 1" pipe.
So i'm standing in the kitchen looking at my poor dead buddy...and he breathed! Holy frijolies! I tossed him back in and he swims limply around for a while. Suprisingly, he made a full recovery.
By the way, the club has glass drill bits and they're at my house if you want to drill another drain.
B

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Hey Marty,I built a cover for my overflow box.I used a 1/4'' piece of plexi glass.I was afraid that would happen with my tank.

 

[Goibot]

Hey Marty I had a Blenny that decided he liked the algae in my overflow better than the DT. I had to build a gutter guard hat for each of the overflows. It works

 

[ducklabdad]

I also built a gutter guard"hat" as Tracy put it on both sides of my little nano, as my clown goby did not think I kept the tank warm enough and kept getting into the side with the heater!

I have plenty of gutter guard that you are welcome to if you would like. I bought it in "bulk" a while back at a garage sale!!

 

[Mako Shark II]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14946354#post14946354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bshumake
So I’m standing in the kitchen looking at my poor dead buddy...and he breathed! Holy frijoles! I tossed him back in and he swims limply around for a while. Surprisingly, he made a full recovery.

By the way, the club has glass drill bits and they're at my house if you want to drill another drain.
B

Glad he's okay. Tangs are special. This was just a (black) Damsel. The Blacks are bullies and kinda jerks; they get huge - 5" once fully grown, not like all my other smaller yellow-tailed Blues. The other one is beyond healthy; he’s nearly 3” long. They’re very pretty as adolescents, but dark midnight blue at maturity.

...and you want me to re-Drill the bottom of my TANK?? GASP! (Ask Richard about that dude....)

Not a chance Mate! I'm all set-up. Totally! (It's different when you're looking at it new in the Box in the garage, but I've got over 200 pounds of LR in it now!!!! Ain't happenin'!

And honestly, it wasn’t like I didn’t have Gutter guard on!! The young Black Damsel, had to High Jump over 4 Inches OUT of the water to clear the Gutter-guard!!! Stupid moron Fish!

Have a look:

Clearly though, I agree guys and now I’m going to have to redo the Overflow box protection. I just really thought I had it handled! David, I like your idea. Thanks.

 

[Rendos]

Here is Lisa's.

 

[Mako Shark II]

Oh. That's just friggin' great....

Now I have Gutter-Guard envy....

I almost wish the stupid fish would have jumped into the fan; although THAT would have made a mess on the wall.