Please help me prevent a disaster.

[mapleredta]

Last night I was coming in from watching the UFC fight (You scared the crap out of me Anderson!!!) and my return pump was acting as if it was starting to pull air. (not unusual since I don't have an ATO yet.) So I added about 2 gallons of water and it still was pulling air. At this point I thought something was weird so I flip the light on and start checking for leaks. Nothing! So I add some more water and same thing, I know something is wrong now. I glance at my drain and water is barely flowing. I look at the tank and the water level is now even with the black brace. So glad I didn't flood my tank. :doh: I take the drain pipe off and nothing is in the top part of it so I am certain a snail is stuck some where. Well, sure enough, just under my ball valve I have a fitting that I have a small 3" hose that directs the water into my filter sock. I stick my finger in the fitting and feel the snail shell.

My question is, what do you guys do to prevent snails from getting into your drain pipes? I am thinking about closing off the top of the overflow and hope that would cut down on my stress from here out.

Also, I noticed that when I unplug my return pump, that it acts as if it is pulling water out of the tank somehow. :confused2: I need to address all this before I have a serious issue. Thank God for being cheap and not having my ATO on the tank yet lol.

 

[gnashty]

some people use a netting (kinda like the feeding clip netting) to keep inverts out..

nice finally meeting you yesterday!!

 

[weaglereefer]

Use a hofer gurgle buster, snails won't fit in there.

 

[cr500_af]

Net over the intake, and I would lose the ball valve if possible (I took mine out recently). Is your return drilled with a siphon break?

 

[mapleredta]

cr500_af;547658 wrote: Net over the intake, and I would lose the ball valve if possible (I took mine out recently). Is your return drilled with a siphon break?

Barry, I do not know if the return has a siphon break or not. I need to check now.

 

[smallblock]

The return pump will also siphon back into the sump.

 

[smallblock]

get rid of that fitting as well and use hard pvc

 

[zippgirlrn]

I have a cover over the top of my overflow, keeps fish from jumping in, snails from crawling over and cuts down on algae growth in the overflow. The cover is just cut acrylic painted black

 

[weaglereefer]

I used hard plumbing for the return after the bulkhead in the overflow chamber. When you get to the top, you need a 90degree fitting; I drilled a small hole in the corner of the 90 here. It shoots some water into the overflow, sure, but the siphon break is instant when the pumps cut off.

 

[jef4y]

I have the same fear, which I need to do something about as well. I think the netting idea is great. I can't cover my pvc overflow itself because I can't GET to it (thank you Marineland! argh), but could cover the whole overflow area.

Another thing I'm thinking I could do would be to add a float switch in my main display and if it hits a given level to shut off the return pump and call out the troops. I have the spare switch and everything to do it, I've just been a bit lazy in getting it put together.

 

[jennm]

AGA Durso style standpipes have an intake screen on them. Wide enough not to impede flow, but not so wide that big stuff can get down it.

If you're covering a pipe with netting, mesh etc., better be sure to keep it clean. Food, waste, algae etc., can clog up on it and restrict the flow too.

Jenn

 

[rbredding]

I used diffuser grating to make two covers for my overflows... no jumpers in my overflows, no snails either..

my durso standpipes extend slightly higher than my overflow weir, so I just removed the grid in that area so it will pass through the cover and it also helps to keep the cover in place..

 

[rolo65]

Could always take a hole saw the size of your drain inlet....cut a peice of eggrate with the hole saw....super glue it in....as long as the top prices of the drain aren't glued together you could still take it off for cleaning when needed

 

[cr500_af]

I have a black acrylic lid over my overflow box... I contacted Grouper about making one. He's so freakin' awesome he had one already made out of black acrylic and just said "Come get it".
:thumbs: