diy powered siphon

[submersible]

I got this idea from the python siphon that hooks up to the sink. It uses a venturi to create the siphon. I wanted to make siphoning easy, so that I would actually do it, and not have to do a water change at the same time. I tee'd off my return pump, and added a venturi, which is directed to a sock. This way I can siphon as long as I want and siphon the bottom of the sump, which is on the ground.

All the parts were just a few bucks.

I took a 3/4" tee, with one side threaded, and 3/4" thread to barb adapters I found in the sprinkler section at home depot. Lowes has them too.
I trimmed most of the threads off one of the barbs, so I could fit it inside the tee, and still fit the pvc. Theres a little lip inside the tee, which holds it in place. Then attached the other barb adapter to the threaded side of the tee.

Now I just attach the downspout and tubing, open the ball valve, and start siphoning.

Note, if you have to much restriction(90's) downstream of the venturi, it will not work. This took a few trys in the bathtub to find an orientation that worked. I also used a threaded ball valve, so I could try different variations.

At the other end of the tubing I used another barb, attached to a short section of pvc, to siphon in tight places.

 

[submersible]

....

 

[brycerb]

how about a youtube video?

 

[TheAquatard]

thats awesome! how much water pressure do you need to make it operational?

 

[submersible]

how about a youtube video?

Sure. Let me see what I can do....

thats awesome! how much water pressure do you need to make it operational?

My return pump is a Mag 18. It will still siphon while cycling water in the tank(30-40% power through the venturi), but suction is much higher with the full power through the venturi.

 

[JR719]

I'm also for a vid. I seem to be having a tough time wrapping my brain around this.

 

[submersible]

Here ya go...

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/otdma3XQGuo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ag0FbfM7aEM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[T Diddy]

that is too frickin cool. Great job!!:beer:

 

[submersible]

thats awesome! how much water pressure do you need to make it operational?

They also sell the tee and barb adapters in 1/2". So, you could downsize the tubing, and use a smaller pump.

 

[rrasco]

So this is hooked up to your return and you just open a valve and get a siphon going?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Why not just stick a powerhead on the end of the siphon line and drop it in the sock? Seems like both ways would allow you to siphon dirty areas of the tank, filter the water, and recirculate it back into the tank. Your project is cool, just wondering if I'm missing some advantage it has over the powerhead approach.

 

[submersible]

So this is hooked up to your return and you just open a valve and get a siphon going?

Exactly.

Why not just stick a powerhead on the end of the siphon line and drop it in the sock? Seems like both ways would allow you to siphon dirty areas of the tank, filter the water, and recirculate it back into the tank. Your project is cool, just wondering if I'm missing some advantage it has over the powerhead approach.

I tried that, but I had fill most of the tubing with water before it would start siphoning. Maybe my powerhead is just old and tired. My sump is in the room behind my tank, so I have a 15ft hose attached. Now I can open the valve, grab the hose, walk over to the tank, siphon, walk back, turn off the valve, and coil up the hose.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Ok, that makes total sense - thanks for the explanation. I can imagine a typical powerhead struggling with 15' of air-filled hose.

 

[kcress]

I like that. Nice job. I wish you hadn't called it a siphon as it has nothing to do with 'siphons' and makes it all a bit confusing.

 

[submersible]

I like that. Nice job. I wish you hadn't called it a siphon as it has nothing to do with 'siphons' and makes it all a bit confusing.

Thanks. I guess I was thinking there was some siphon when used in the display tank.

Hmmmm.. "Aqua Pooper Scooper"? "Super Sucker"? Guess is too late now...

 

[kcress]

:fun2:

Sucktator.

 

[Eurobeaner]

Pretty cool! This is one of those super easy things to incorporate into a future build that will help make things easier!

 

[jlcoop277]

Which way does the barb inside the "T" aim?

 

[submersible]

Point the barb down-stream. The water is forced through the narrow path, like a nozzle on a garden hose.

 

[submersible]

Heres how the original python works.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x866mPXZ4kY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>