Murphy paid a visit :(

So as the title says I just had an unannounced visit from Mr Murphey. I apologize now if it sounds like a rant, I just need to vent to people who actually speak aquarium care. (Bless my boyfriend but I say things like sump and refugium and he looks at me like I am speaking another language) But today I got home early (THANK GOD) from work and I heard something funny that wasnt my little "angels" the cats. I look and BAM skimmer with no water running through it and water everywhere! One of my starfish decided it wanted to go down the water slide -.- . (he seems ok but thats my later question) It stopped the suction in my overflow but pump kept on a going.

Figures I just read the post Todd_Sails (I believe it was him, im so flustered I cant find it) about a sensor to shut the pump off. But now I'm worried if this event has shown me if I have a bigger problem in store... A Leak. I am hoping its just the wood just got super soaked and its water running out that I cant immediately stop dabbing a towel. But figure its coming from under the tank. I am not the strongest girl around, so there is no way in heck I can lift 1200+lbs. So NOW, I am going to have to take everyone out, drain ALL of the water, move the tank off the stand, and investigate. *sigh*

Back to the starfish, Im still learning more and more about these guys, according my bf if they lose a limb it will turn into a new star. I don't know how true that is, and since my star is now, I would like to say happy he is out of a pipe and crawling on the side of my tank... on the opposite side of the tank, I want to hope he is doing ok. Any input on durability of these guys would be appreciated very much. OH and as far as my overflow goes, my grandfather is one of the many nobles of DIY I asked him for help making a box to go AROUND my over flow, and bless him for going through the effort, but not only did he superglue it together, but instead of looking like a chess -rook, it has lots of holes in the front. *sigh #2* So I have to fix that too. Needless to say starting a Saltwater tank has been rough this past 2-3 months.

Overall good news (I guess..) there was maybe 5-10 gallons at most on my floor. So not the second coming of Noah's Ark in my house.

 

Sorry to hear. I put a shower liner in my stand. It has saved me a few times. It can only hold so much water but so far has been enough.
Maybe something to think about if you redo things.
ToolKing.com: Oatey 41630 Shower Pan Liner Kit, 5-Ft. X 6-Ft.
Got mine at Home depot.

 

Ya when I build my stand for my 45g corner tank I plan on putting a like 1/2~1 inch lip and spraying the inside with rubber or never wet so if it overflows I can just shop vac it up

But yea that Murphy is complete arse he has visited me a few time

 

The risk of foreign objects fouling a skimmer is another reason to use a filter sock between the overflow and skimmer.

 

I would wait until you've dried up the water before going so drastic in terms of investigating a leak. Most likely (although not for sure obviously) it looks like there's a leak because of the water that's overflowed. If you know the culprit (the starfish) and can fix that problem, it's unlikely that a leak occurred at exactly the same time.

We've all been there unfortunately. I'm sorry I can't help with your specific questions because I am very plumbing impaired.

 

I agree with OFK, I wouldn't go crazy looking for a leak. Let things settle, I've seen wood leak water for 48 hours before. I would just put things back together and then take 3 to 100 deep breaths

 

Yeah, I almost broke down because none of the fish were out, and just seeing the poor thing in the overflow like "uh halp.. I stuck." in a little starfish voice, just put me in a SAVE THE STARFISH frenzy. Luckily if anything, none of my electrical stuff got wet, but today has been quite the day. That and the star is back up like nothing happened.

 

oh, I forgot to mention, that I think I recall that you have chocolate chip starfish? They are pretty hardy. If they lose a limb, I've read where they will generate a new one.

 

It was a chocolate chip star ^^ looking at him he only took some external damage. It's little chips are well uhm chipped and he is flaking I guess you can say, but his little suction-sensors are still out and about cleaning up.

 

Bummer. Sounds like you are avoiding problems for the future with the guard though. Can you put up pics of the guard? I'm getting ready to put one on my overflow to keep the anemone out.