H2O squirts through siphon break hole

[planejane]

I finally got my 75g up and running, with fresh water to test everything!!!
I'm really astonished at how well everything is working. Mark (from AM) drew out all the plumbing necessities and I put it together. I even built the sump with a design taken from Melev's.
MY one and only issue, for now, is that water is squirting through the siphon break hole on the return pipe (the line from the return pump), it's loud and spraying all over. I've stopped it by wedging a sponge in between the pipe and glass, but don't see this as a long term solution. I'd be afraid of the sponge coming loose and blocking the overflow.. Should I plug it with silicone ? Or maybe I've put it together wrong? The hole is on the inside curve of the 90* elbow just before the return nozzles, maybe it's in the wrong place?

 

[RalphEWJ]

Congratulations! I know that is an exciting moment.

The hole is best placed so it is under the water at the normal water level. This would avoid the spray.

When the water level drops, then air gets in and breaks the siphon. Just make sure that the sump has enough room for the water that siphons back before the level drops to the level of the hole.

 

[planejane]

Thanks for your reply Ralph. I do have the hole under the water level, I assume it's the flow rate that makes it hit the glass and spray up out of the water. I have the overflow drain and return rates matched up quite well , barely any noise , so adjusting the return rate down probably wouldn't be an option. And, no problem with the sump capacity, it holds all the water with room to spare when pump is turned off.

 

[digidana]

congrats janie!!! (...and...beats me.)

 

[goreefer]

Jane,
When you drilled the hole for the siphon break did you drill it at an angle? I always drill them so that the water comes down rather than accross, if that makes sense.

 

[planejane]

Gary, it came from manufacturer predrilled, Marineland. If worse comes to worse I guess I could replace the whole thing and drill it as you did.

 

[Engloid]

That's odd to put it on the inside of an elbow. I would have put it on the bottom so that it was pointing downward. how big is the hole? I typically drill them a little less than 1/8" but not as small as 1/16".

 

[seased]

I assume your using the mega-flow kit? if so, that is the same setup that I have. Raise the overflow tube so that the water level in the overflow is an inch or less from the top. You will still get a little spray, but not bad. Also, over time, that siphon break will get clogged - so make sure you keep it clean or your siphon break will be the output of your pump return - I learned that the hard way.

 

[cee]

I assume your using the mega-flow kit? if so, that is the same setup that I have. Raise the overflow tube so that the water level in the overflow is an inch or less from the top. You will still get a little spray, but not bad. Also, over time, that siphon break will get clogged - so make sure you keep it clean or your siphon break will be the output of your pump return - I learned that the hard way.

Me too and that's why I think 1/8" hole is a bit on the small side

 

[RalphEWJ]

Maybe if you re-drill the hole a bit larger it will reduce the velocity of the water coming out of it and reduce the spray.