Flooding in my family room

cgjw2000 · #1 07/31/2006, 10:35 PM

I have a 72 bow all-glass with a built in mega flow. We lost power for over 15 hours in my area and the water kept coming down the drain pipe even thought there was no funnel. I took the drain pipe off and glued all the loose joints but small amounts of water keep coming down. The drain pipe is adjustable and I suspect water is getting through the small space left to adjust the pipe’s length (male/female joint). Has anybody experienced this situation? What have you done to fix it? Please advise, I loose power whenever there is a major storm (rain/snow/wind).

Your help will help me keep my hobby and my wife’s hard wood floors shining…

bertoni · #2 07/31/2006, 10:44 PM

The overflow is defective or is missing some seal, maybe. Is it still under any warranty? If you don't mind not being able to adjust the height, perhaps gluing that joint would do the trick.

dp122098 · #3 07/31/2006, 10:55 PM

You should be able to have the overflow completely empty when the pump isn't turned on. If the Overflow doesn't empty then you are in for a lot of trouble because you will have to empty the tank to find out where the leak is then seal it with silicone.

newreefbishop · #4 07/31/2006, 11:41 PM

I am hoping that you leak tested tank before filling.... Also is the an acrylyc or glass tank....

As DP said if the overflow wont completely empty you need to find the where the leak is only way to do that is "complete water change".

Not a good prospect U say because you definately nee to let the silicon cure property to support weight of the water....

bertoni · #5 08/01/2006, 01:29 PM

This isa MegaFlow style overflow. It doesn't empty the same way most overflows do. Google it to see what I mean.

cgjw2000 · #6 08/01/2006, 09:08 PM

Yeah, it does not empty all the way and water keeps coming into the overflow through the bottom. The overflow has two walls one that lets water come at the bottom, middle and top. When the pump is off water stops coming in through the top but still comes in little by little through the other wholes. I hope this is normal... it looks like it is. I guess the solution is in gluing the adjustable portion of the drain pipe... I will try that and see if this works... thank you.. I did not test for leaks but its the pipe that is letting water through.

bertoni · #7 08/01/2006, 09:51 PM

I think that's your safest choice.

cgjw2000 · #8 08/01/2006, 09:53 PM

Thank you

jprince58 · #9 08/01/2006, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cgjw2000
Yeah, it does not empty all the way and water keeps coming into the overflow through the bottom. The overflow has two walls one that lets water come at the bottom, middle and top. When the pump is off water stops coming in through the top but still comes in little by little through the other wholes. I hope this is normal... it looks like it is. I guess the solution is in gluing the adjustable portion of the drain pipe... I will try that and see if this works... thank you.. I did not test for leaks but its the pipe that is letting water through.

I have one of these tanks and have had no problems since setting it up. The perferations in the outer wall of the MegaFlow allow it to gather water at three different levels in the tank. The inner wall should **NOT** have any holes...only the comb at the top. When the pump is off, it will continue to drain until the anti-siphon holes in the Durso pipe begin sucking air. At that point, you should have no further water flow. Even if you don't have a good seal on the Durso pipe, it should only drain what little water is in the overflow chamber. If water is still flowing into the overflow chamber of the MegaFlow from the tank, you have some issues with your tank that need to be addressed.

bertoni · #10 08/01/2006, 10:34 PM

Hmm, that's a good observation. These overflows are more complicated than I realized. Hmm, short of draining the tank, I think you're going to be stick gluing the tube, though.

MJAnderson · #11 08/02/2006, 07:45 AM

I have the same setup and don't have a problem. Two thoughts. Empty the overflow drain completely (I empty my sump then let the water flow into it when I remove my standpipe). Once it's drained, stick the return hose into a cup/bucket. If it continues (that is it never stops completely) to drain water, your "inner overflow" has a bad seal. If it does stop, then it's the standpipe. Go glue crazy or get a new one. I think the whole setup is $40.

Just to make sure of the obvious, are you sure it's the drain pipe and not the return pipe?