FEEL LIKE GIVING UP!!!

[fletch]

Well I am getting very discouraged I woke up this morning to a small flood, The Filter on my pump for the wet/dry plugged up and the wet/dry got really really wet!!! It overflowed all over my floor, >and when it did my 10 gallon tank with my Skimmer in it pumped dry so my skimmer pump and the return pump were running with no water in them (They seem to still be working ok ) I hope that they were not damaged.
I think I need to connect the two tanks some how so they can balance out with each-other and keep a uniform water level with each-other. The problem is that the 10 gallon tank is glass and I know that glass bits are on the pricey side.
Maybe I should just eliminate the wet/dry and get a 20 gallon long tank and put everything in that? I almost feel like just saying the hell with it all and giving up on it.

[omard]

fletch, fletch...

We have all been there...

Always going to be some "frustrations" along way of doing anything worthwhile.

Is part of "learning"..

Lots of possible pitfalls in this hobby...some you just have to learn yourself...others you can avoid by reading & sharing here.

Great satisfaction will come when you know you are doing everything right as best your resources will allow...

Take a deep breath...figure out what you need to fix problem..and think of all such experiences as great learning exercises...at least you know for sure, you will not let this happen again..

Rgds,

OmarD

Don't give up.
We need to find out why it flooded and then fix that.
Do you have a drawing of your setup?
you have a sump with a return pump so how did this get clogged up?
If you have a common sump with bio balls, then do you have a sponge between the bio balls and the pump? if not this would help the pump from getting clogged up.

Where is your skimmer located? I take it is not in the sump area?
What was the water level in the tank after the flood? your return head back to the tank dose it have a small hole just above the water line? if not drill a hole here pointing down wards to the tank water which will stop the siphon of water back down into the sump area.

[fletch]

Thanks Omard, Sometimes all you need is a kind word and somebody to vent on that has been there.

[fletch]

Hi Nautilus, Thank You for your reply,
No I don't have a drawing yet but I can make one and I'll post it after I get it done. Yes there is a sponge between the bio balls and the pump I also have filter material in the tray between the intake and the drip plate, I think it is silt from the sand that did it but I'm not sure.
The Skimmer is on the back of the tank ( I have 2, 1 for the wet/dry and 1 for the 10 gallon with my skimmer in it)
And Yes I do have a hole in the Return just above the water line. But what I think happened was when the tank with the skimmer pumped dry it raised the water level in the tank above the hole in the return line so it back siphoned into the Wet/Dry until the tank water level was below the hole in the return line and then it broke the siphoned and stopped.

[Craig Manoukian]

Hang in there fletch! Seems like you are on track to solving your dilemma!

[fletch]

Thanks Craig, Do you Think that the tank with the skimmer and the wet/dry should be joined together somehow?

[NUGIO]

Yes fletch i had the same prob with a fuge and sump not balacing themselves. i joined the two with an overflow box and have had no problems since.

[fletch]

Thank You Nugio,
Not to sound dumb but how did you do that?

[fletch]

This is a drawing and a picture of my filter set up