Creating a syphon through a u tube

[kpnosal]

I've done this a million times but for some reason, tonight, I can't for the life of me get a spyjon flowing without air bubbles.

I broke down and cleaned everything, even tried a new u tube. Nada.

Any suggestions?

 

[hotelbravo]

the siphon wont work if your tubing is held higher than the water line. it needs to have a good amount of tubing laying lower so that gravity pushes the water out and forces a siphon to begin. sometimes when i need to clean my sump out i have a ton of trouble getting a siphon started since the sump and the drain bucket are at about equal level and gravity has a hard time helping create the siphon.

 

[Xxero]

You can run a length of airline tubing up one end of the U-tube until it reaches the top arch of the tube. Slowly suck the air out of the tube until the water reaches the top of the U and begins to flow on its own. When it begins to flow, pull out the airline tubing.

Also make sure that your return pump is delivering appropriately. Sometimes after breaking down equipment and cleaning it, your flow settings will increase or fluctuate because there is now less resistance.

Hope this helps and good luck! :bigeyes:

 

[geekengineer]

I also shake the tube around to break up the bubbles and that helps push them out. But xxeros right need enough flow too.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I added small plastic hose 'nipples' to the very top of the 'U' and then a lenth of airline and sealed the end of the hose with the protective tip that comes with the wire shelving sold at the hardware store. All I have to do is uncap the hose, let it drain, then suck on the hose until water starts to come up inside the air hose line and recap the end. Works every time and it's so simple.

 

[Xxero]

I added small plastic hose 'nipples' to the very top of the 'U' and then a lenth of airline and sealed the end of the hose with the protective tip that comes with the wire shelving sold at the hardware store. All I have to do is uncap the hose, let it drain, then suck on the hose until water starts to come up inside the air hose line and recap the end. Works every time and it's so simple.

There's a great idea! :thumbsup:

 

[ca1ore]

Effectiveness of any siphon is dependent upon level differences between the starting and finishing 'reservoirs'. Too small a difference and the siphon will be slow and bubbles will accumulate.

 

[Reef908]

I also second the post mentioning about return pump as something to check. Prior to having a drilled reef ready, I had a hang on back siphon setup to the sump and constantly had bubble issues in the U tube after a few days. I found after much trial and tribulation that as soon as I increased my return flow, the bubbles would be pushed through and the pressure would keep them from accumulating in the U tube.

 

[heathlindner25]

If I ever set up a u-tube system,I make sure to use an aqualifter with it....for when the power goes out

 

[CStrickland]

It shouldn't be necessary to tap into the utube, and it increases the risk of the the siphon failing. The capped tube sounds safer than the auqualifter option, but still. It's better to set up the overflow properly in the first place: both ends are submerged and the flow is strong enough to prevent bubbles accumulating because the water level difference is sufficient and the flow is matched to the width of the tube.

These are one of those designs that people make worse by tweaking IMO.

 

[heathlindner25]

It shouldn't be necessary to tap into the utube, and it increases the risk of the the siphon failing. The capped tube sounds safer than the auqualifter option, but still. It's better to set up the overflow properly in the first place: both ends are submerged and the flow is strong enough to prevent bubbles accumulating because the water level difference is sufficient and the flow is matched to the width of the tube.

These are one of those designs that people make worse by tweaking IMO.

Have you ever used or worked on a u-tube overflow ,or are you just speculating?
Because the aqualifter is the best way to run that system in my opinion,when the power shut off you will lose siphon,when the power returns the aqua lifter will turn back on and clear your air bubble. One hose of the aqualifter shoved up into the u -tubes highest point,and the other hose ran into your sump.
Without this fail safe, if you are not home to create the siphon you will flood your system. HTH

 

[gottalikesharks]

Once your u tube is up and running you should be able to shut your pump off and turn it back on without having to do anything else. On my fowler tank I use to shut the pump down everyday for a half hour to feed, it always just restarted no problem, and my return pump is a little under sized.

 

[Xxero]

.....both ends are submerged and the flow is strong enough to prevent bubbles accumulating because the water level difference is sufficient and the flow is matched to the width of the tube.

This is an accurate statement.

And when your power is shut off, the u-tube siphon never breaks. Whenever the power comes back on, the overflow fills back up, and things carry on as normal. An aqualifter is not necessary if your return pump is strong enough for your set-up. With proper flow, air bubbles will not accumulate in the U-tube.

 

[CStrickland]

Have you ever used or worked on a u-tube overflow ,or are you just speculating?

See my sig

 

[MondoBongo]

Have you ever used or worked on a u-tube overflow ,or are you just speculating?
Because the aqualifter is the best way to run that system in my opinion,when the power shut off you will lose siphon,when the power returns the aqua lifter will turn back on and clear your air bubble. One hose of the aqualifter shoved up into the u -tubes highest point,and the other hose ran into your sump.
Without this fail safe, if you are not home to create the siphon you will flood your system. HTH

as long as both ends of the tube remain submerged the siphon doesn't break. this is how the eshoppes overflow boxes work, i have two of them.

i would never use an overflow that required me to have an additional pump for power outages. that is another failure point, and in my opinion a design flaw. there's simple no need for it.

 

[jbm421]

+1 on the airline tubing. I used to have a tank with a u tube back in the day left the airline tubing in there because every 4 or 5 days I would have to get rid of the bubble starting to form.

 

[SeedlessOne]

Have you ever used or worked on a u-tube overflow ,or are you just speculating?
Because the aqualifter is the best way to run that system in my opinion,when the power shut off you will lose siphon,when the power returns the aqua lifter will turn back on and clear your air bubble. One hose of the aqualifter shoved up into the u -tubes highest point,and the other hose ran into your sump.
Without this fail safe, if you are not home to create the siphon you will flood your system. HTH

You wont need another pump if the tubes stay submerged (which they should) so no aqualifter is needed.