I got home tonight and found my basement FLOODED. I instantly looked up at my aquarium and saw the top 2 inches of my aquarium lacked water (my tank is 125 gallons, so 2 inches off the top is A LOT of water on the floor). I opened the stand on which the aquarium sits and looked at my sump. My sump was FULL to the brim. I checked the power, and the power was out.
Now you would think when the power went out, the overflow flowed to the sump and caused it to overflow. HOWEVER, I left more than in enough room in my tank to cover any power outtage.
I then noticed that the water level in my display tank was actually LOWER than my overflow holes. In other words, my overflow is a little under an inch off the top of my tank, BUT I had 2 inches of water missing from the top. I started thinking how the HELL did this happen
Next, I turned the power back on (apparently a breaker had turned off) and the pump started pumping water from the sump back to the display. After about a minute, the water level in the display was normal again, and that's when I smelled something burning. I looked at my sump and saw the heater smoking. I immediately unplugged the heater and threw it out. I guess the heater is what initially caused the power outtage in the first place.
However, I was still unsure what was going on with the water levels. I checked the display tank for leaks, and NOTHING. Everything was dry. Nothing leaked. Then out of curiousity, I unplugged the pump that pumps the water from the sump to the display. The water from the display started decreasing, but then the water level passed the overflow holes and kept decreasing. FINALLY it hit me. Once the pump was turned off, the water was being sucked down to the pump through the return pipe. In other words, the water that once flowed from the sump to the display was now flowing from the display to the sump through the same pipe.
I realize that the pump is not supposed to allow this (i.e. water flowing backwards), but I guess mine is broken (or at least this feature is).
Anyway, I thought this story was interesting to share, although believe me it was NOT fun.
Now you would think when the power went out, the overflow flowed to the sump and caused it to overflow. HOWEVER, I left more than in enough room in my tank to cover any power outtage.
I then noticed that the water level in my display tank was actually LOWER than my overflow holes. In other words, my overflow is a little under an inch off the top of my tank, BUT I had 2 inches of water missing from the top. I started thinking how the HELL did this happen
Next, I turned the power back on (apparently a breaker had turned off) and the pump started pumping water from the sump back to the display. After about a minute, the water level in the display was normal again, and that's when I smelled something burning. I looked at my sump and saw the heater smoking. I immediately unplugged the heater and threw it out. I guess the heater is what initially caused the power outtage in the first place.
However, I was still unsure what was going on with the water levels. I checked the display tank for leaks, and NOTHING. Everything was dry. Nothing leaked. Then out of curiousity, I unplugged the pump that pumps the water from the sump to the display. The water from the display started decreasing, but then the water level passed the overflow holes and kept decreasing. FINALLY it hit me. Once the pump was turned off, the water was being sucked down to the pump through the return pipe. In other words, the water that once flowed from the sump to the display was now flowing from the display to the sump through the same pipe.
I realize that the pump is not supposed to allow this (i.e. water flowing backwards), but I guess mine is broken (or at least this feature is).
Anyway, I thought this story was interesting to share, although believe me it was NOT fun.
