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Jimroth's Big Ol' Tank
- Thread starter jimroth
- Start date
I'm suprised you had 2 darts fail, especially a "Gold" version. Those are usually pretty reliable pumps.
Did it run dry or something maybe?
Did it run dry or something maybe?
Nope, no run dry. And this is the second time it's failed, and my fourth Dart failure overall.
I don't know, is it too much head pressure? It's pushing plenty of water, the intake is not restricted (2" bulkhead). They start to leak at the seal.
Bax -- Thanks, I already bought my third Dart! I can't figure out why my spare seized up. I'm going to tear it down and see if I can get it going.
I don't know, is it too much head pressure? It's pushing plenty of water, the intake is not restricted (2" bulkhead). They start to leak at the seal.
Bax -- Thanks, I already bought my third Dart! I can't figure out why my spare seized up. I'm going to tear it down and see if I can get it going.
My WORST problem is that my drains are clogging up. Water is backing up in the tank, filling my coast-to-coast overflow. I've had to throttle back the pump to get any overflow at all.
Yesterday, on the heels of a successful pump replacement, I disassembled my drains at the sump end and tried to clean the inside walls with smaller PVC pipe. It didn't help. I got a lot of stuff out of there though. I tried a flush with hot tap water, hoping to kill any organic clog. Also no joy. I don't think a plumbers snake is a good idea, but I don't know. My main suspect is the 90 degree angle just behind the tank, and it's not something I can easily get to. I have thougt about just sending some golf balls down there, but what if they get stuck in a joint or union? Or put some nylon rope though while it's running, like dental floss? I may have to just replace as much of the pipe as I can, it's just PVC the cost is trivial.
Yesterday, on the heels of a successful pump replacement, I disassembled my drains at the sump end and tried to clean the inside walls with smaller PVC pipe. It didn't help. I got a lot of stuff out of there though. I tried a flush with hot tap water, hoping to kill any organic clog. Also no joy. I don't think a plumbers snake is a good idea, but I don't know. My main suspect is the 90 degree angle just behind the tank, and it's not something I can easily get to. I have thougt about just sending some golf balls down there, but what if they get stuck in a joint or union? Or put some nylon rope though while it's running, like dental floss? I may have to just replace as much of the pipe as I can, it's just PVC the cost is trivial.
Jim
mnat may be on to something there. May replace that 90 deg L with either spaflex of a sweeping L.
Also pick a location or locations, that are easy to get to and to control spillage at and cut into the pipe and add a YT with a cleanout plug so you can clean it every six months or so.
I'd stay away from plumber snakes they are usually covered in oils when new or rust when old. Long handle stiff brushes whould be better, like they use for cleaning furnaces. Sometime you see them in HD or Lowes.
I can't belive you're blowing through Darts like this! There must be some factor of head that is effecting the pumps like this. I'm still running a Dart I bought used five years ago and my new Dart (Also purchased five years ago)is still wrapped in a box!
mnat may be on to something there. May replace that 90 deg L with either spaflex of a sweeping L.
Also pick a location or locations, that are easy to get to and to control spillage at and cut into the pipe and add a YT with a cleanout plug so you can clean it every six months or so.
I'd stay away from plumber snakes they are usually covered in oils when new or rust when old. Long handle stiff brushes whould be better, like they use for cleaning furnaces. Sometime you see them in HD or Lowes.
I can't belive you're blowing through Darts like this! There must be some factor of head that is effecting the pumps like this. I'm still running a Dart I bought used five years ago and my new Dart (Also purchased five years ago)is still wrapped in a box!
The problem of course is that the pipe comes from behind the wall to the back of the tank. Not much room to work back there. The good thing is that I did put some unions between the pipe (with the 90 deg elbow) and the tank. And there are unions on the other side of the wall. It's quite possible I can replace the long straight pipe from the laundry to the garage, and replace the connection through the wall with a sweeping flex PVC section, with a union on the end. I will need to take a serious look when I get home and play with some flex PVC to see if it will work.
Or I can replace it with what was there initially and get three more years out of it...
Or I can replace it with what was there initially and get three more years out of it...
I'd definitely suggest NOT throwing a golf ball down there by itself. If it gets stuck you have a bigger problem to deal with.
Maybe try using a metal hanger, just bend the end into a small semi-circle shape so you can push it along and scrape the pipe walls in spots where you feel a clog. If the pipe run is too long for a hanger, then the nylon rope sounds like it could work.
How bout this... feed the rope all the way through the pipe until you can grab it on the other end, then drill a hole in the golf ball, run the rope through it on either end, and tie a know in the rope on both sides of the golf ball. That will give you a way to pull the golf ball in either direction by pulling on the rope. 8)
As far as all the pumps failing, I can't say why it's happening without seeing your setup. Could it just be that they are getting too hot and the seals are melting? I guess it could be a head pressure issue, if they are all having problems with the seals, that could indicate some kind of pressure and/or heat problem.
Maybe try using a metal hanger, just bend the end into a small semi-circle shape so you can push it along and scrape the pipe walls in spots where you feel a clog. If the pipe run is too long for a hanger, then the nylon rope sounds like it could work.
How bout this... feed the rope all the way through the pipe until you can grab it on the other end, then drill a hole in the golf ball, run the rope through it on either end, and tie a know in the rope on both sides of the golf ball. That will give you a way to pull the golf ball in either direction by pulling on the rope. 8)
As far as all the pumps failing, I can't say why it's happening without seeing your setup. Could it just be that they are getting too hot and the seals are melting? I guess it could be a head pressure issue, if they are all having problems with the seals, that could indicate some kind of pressure and/or heat problem.
I've got some 2" spa flex if you need it Jim.
Thanks all. I think a miracle happened! I was messing with the inlet in the overflow, stopping and starting the siphon with my hand, and suddenly it was back to normal again. Maybe I sent a big pressure wave that knocked something out of the elbow or something. Or the stuff I loosened came out. Anyway, it's working like it used to and I unthrottled my pump.
That said, I'm going to only consider it a temporary reprieve and start planning to re-plumb the drains with a better design, no sharp turnas and add a cleanout if possible.
That said, I'm going to only consider it a temporary reprieve and start planning to re-plumb the drains with a better design, no sharp turnas and add a cleanout if possible.
Good to hear it. Although I was hoping you were going to give my idea a try... just to see what would happen. :
TanksNStuff said:Good to hear it. Although I was hoping you were going to give my idea a try... just to see what would happen. :
Listen it might come to that. The siphon is still backing up periodically. It's driving me nuts! My new theory is that there's an air leak in the siphon line and a bubble is forming in the pipe, aided by the rough interior of the pipe. When I block the siphon and then restart it, it goes back to normal for a while. I think I'm going to reseal all the joints with silicone, and if that doesn't help, replumb.
Working great again now. ???
One of the suckiest things about NJR's website fiasco is I don't have exact dates for my various purchases and other events, since I no longer keep a logbook. I haven't lost a fish in a long time (have lost some corals) :-( Both the angels are doing great. All of my RBTAs walked off and disappeared a few months back. I'm dumbfounded. The clowfish stayed at the last location but where'd the biggest anemone go? I dunno. Somewhere and I bet it's dead.
One of the suckiest things about NJR's website fiasco is I don't have exact dates for my various purchases and other events, since I no longer keep a logbook. I haven't lost a fish in a long time (have lost some corals) :-( Both the angels are doing great. All of my RBTAs walked off and disappeared a few months back. I'm dumbfounded. The clowfish stayed at the last location but where'd the biggest anemone go? I dunno. Somewhere and I bet it's dead.