Fish Tank Disaster!

[Cooper2085]

Well, i say disaster its more of a setback really! After a few years out of the loop (sold all my aquariums and fish about 2-3 years ago) i decided now was the time to set up a tank for my kiddies!

Its currently cycling, but i have everything turned on. The airpump stopped working today though (only day 2 of the cycle) and upon closer inspection it was full of water. This is the first time this has happened to me, any ideas why this happened or what caused it?

 

[kiriyama]

Well, i say disaster its more of a setback really! After a few years out of the loop (sold all my aquariums and fish about 2-3 years ago) i decided now was the time to set up a tank for my kiddies!

Its currently cycling, but i have everything turned on. The airpump stopped working today though (only day 2 of the cycle) and upon closer inspection it was full of water. This is the first time this has happened to me, any ideas why this happened or what caused it?

Did you have a non return valve on the air tubing, if you have a power cut for example usually the water will start to syphon back down the airline, this valve stops the water causing any damage

 

[Cooper2085]

Its amazing how much you can forget in just a few short years isnt it! No i didnt have a non return valve attached and can now remember having them on all previous pumps! Thank you for the reply and when im all set up and cycled il get some pics up. Lets take bets on how long it is before i have 4 aquariums and am breeding corys again!

 

[OldMan47]

I use a check valve on air pumps located lower than the water level in tanks. If the air pump sits on a shelf or something above the water level, the check valve is not needed. It is there to prevent siphoning water and water simply will not siphon up hill. I have one air pump set up resting on top of a file cabinet. When I needed to start using it, I didn't happen to have a check valve on hand but I had plenty of air hose to reach from the file cabinet to the tank. I never did seem to get around to installing the check valve because the air pump works great right where I put it.
If you have drawn water into an air pump, don't forget that most of them can be rebuilt fairly cheaply and will start right back working fine for you.