I have the same overflow and had the exact same problem. They packed the wrong tubes with mine. The interior side was way shorter then the exterior. Two possible fixes here. GLUE in risers on the exterior to raise the level in back above the interior tube height or get the right tubes. Sounds like you have the right tube now. As far as not handleing 1200 in flow...What is your plumbing out of the box, maybe that is the culprit. OH Yea, what is diameter of the tubes you did get it working with? 1 1/8 less flow then the 1 1/4 they are spose to work with.
please help overflow not holding siphone
- Thread starter rogergolf66
- Start date
It looks like the U Tubes are too short on the skimmer box side? Can you adjust the skimmer box up higher to keep the U Tubes submerged? This is one reason I always recommend Lifereef. You would not be having this problem. They have a very good design. There is more to it than 2 boxes connected with a U Tube.
As far as handing the flow, again, LR is probably the only overflow that lives up to it flow rating. That being said, why so much return flow? How big is the display and sump? I would use 1000 GPH return on maybe a 250G or larger display.
As far as handing the flow, again, LR is probably the only overflow that lives up to it flow rating. That being said, why so much return flow? How big is the display and sump? I would use 1000 GPH return on maybe a 250G or larger display.
Roger, I was thinking about it last night and I think that makes sense. The U-tubes must be too short on the interior skimmer box side. That's the only thing it can be, as others have mentioned. Are the tubes the same length? Or shorter on one end than the other? They are usually designed so that the tubes are the same lenght. But that doesnt mean the design is worth a crap and the usual things apply. It may need a different U-tube.
Next time ... Lifereef. Or atleast something with a better reputation. Overflows are too crictial to not know what you are getting.
Next time ... Lifereef. Or atleast something with a better reputation. Overflows are too crictial to not know what you are getting.
If this 1200gph is for your 75g or 90g then I think it is a bit excessive to be honest. I would still take out the second u tube and leave only one in there.
Do as others have mentioned and check out to make sure the inside tube isn't shorter and exposed causing this siphon to break. You may need to get a new u tube and cut it down to size for your overflow. U tubes are cheap so it would be an easy fix if that's the case.
Do as others have mentioned and check out to make sure the inside tube isn't shorter and exposed causing this siphon to break. You may need to get a new u tube and cut it down to size for your overflow. U tubes are cheap so it would be an easy fix if that's the case.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
ok well let me tell everyone exactly what I am doing maybe you can help this way. I turn the main pump on to push water up so it is above the overflow box. I then put an air line in the u-tube. then I put the u-tube in the overflow. I then suck on the air line pulling the water into the u-tube from the tank to the back of the overflow. this was all with one tube. It starts to siphon the water from the tank to the back of the overflow. Now at some point because the pump is not going it will run out of water in the black box to bring to the rear overflow.
Well here is what will normally happen. when the water stops flowing intothe box the u-tube will hold a siphon even thought the water it not flowing from back to front. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
instead what happens is when the water stops flowing into the box the u-tube seams to take tomuch water out and it will not hold a siphon if the water is not flowing through. now Iunderstande the overflow will loss siphon if not enough water is flowing through it, but It should hold a siphon long enough to siphon the other tube and turn on the pump.
This all happens in about 3 seconds. no time to siphon the other u-tube or even turn on the pump.
Just so you know I did use 2 different u-tubes some old ones I had around that the U was the same size on both sides and it did hold a siphon. actually the overflow was not pulling enough water because after about 4 min. the pump was much faster then the overflow, and the water was about to really overflow over the tank onto the floor so I had to unplug the pump.
So I think this is all I know. what can I do?
Do I have to use the old tubes?
Do I have to add a ball valve on the return line of the pump so I can slow down how much water the pump is pumping into the main take so the overflow can keep up?
What do you recommend?
I just want to start the cycle on this tank and get the filters working to clear up this water. It has been sitting with only powerheads moving the water around the main display for about 6 days now no filtering
as far as the flow rate I want to be filtering the water as much a posible actually everything I have read wants about 10X rotation per hour. I have 180 gallons of water with a 1050 gph at 3 feet head that is only 5.83 times per hour of water cycling. So the pump size is ok. yes the u tubes are shorter on one side no dout.
I wish I knew about LR overflows first. I did so much research on everything else. I have had overflows before with no problems so I didn't think it would matter what brand
as far as the plumbinh it is all 1 inch line with a double bulk head.
Well here is what will normally happen. when the water stops flowing intothe box the u-tube will hold a siphon even thought the water it not flowing from back to front. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
instead what happens is when the water stops flowing into the box the u-tube seams to take tomuch water out and it will not hold a siphon if the water is not flowing through. now Iunderstande the overflow will loss siphon if not enough water is flowing through it, but It should hold a siphon long enough to siphon the other tube and turn on the pump.
This all happens in about 3 seconds. no time to siphon the other u-tube or even turn on the pump.
Just so you know I did use 2 different u-tubes some old ones I had around that the U was the same size on both sides and it did hold a siphon. actually the overflow was not pulling enough water because after about 4 min. the pump was much faster then the overflow, and the water was about to really overflow over the tank onto the floor so I had to unplug the pump.
So I think this is all I know. what can I do?
Do I have to use the old tubes?
Do I have to add a ball valve on the return line of the pump so I can slow down how much water the pump is pumping into the main take so the overflow can keep up?
What do you recommend?
I just want to start the cycle on this tank and get the filters working to clear up this water. It has been sitting with only powerheads moving the water around the main display for about 6 days now no filtering
as far as the flow rate I want to be filtering the water as much a posible actually everything I have read wants about 10X rotation per hour. I have 180 gallons of water with a 1050 gph at 3 feet head that is only 5.83 times per hour of water cycling. So the pump size is ok. yes the u tubes are shorter on one side no dout.
I wish I knew about LR overflows first. I did so much research on everything else. I have had overflows before with no problems so I didn't think it would matter what brand
as far as the plumbinh it is all 1 inch line with a double bulk head.
If the old tubes you have are working, use those. Did the overflow NOT keep up with 2 tubes or just 1 tube siphoning?
If it's noty keeping up with both tubes going then you need to throttle down the pump. But a dual tube / drain overflow should handle that pump easily. What size are the drain lines and the U-tubes. The Drains should be 1" and the U-tubes should also be atleast 1" . That's inside diameter, not outside. A 1 inch drain will handle 600 or 800 GPH (cant remember which) but either way, a dual overflow with atleast the 1" i.d. tubes and drains should handle the 1200 GPH.
I have a Lifereef dual overflow. Easily handles the flow of my Blueline 55HD, 1000+ GPH rated pump. It is rated to handle 1600 GPH and I have no doubt that it would. The Lifereef has 1" ID drains and U-tubes. So, if yours are 1" it should handle the 1200 GPH. Using 90 degree connectors on the drains can reduce the flow some, the more 90's the lower the flow.
If it's noty keeping up with both tubes going then you need to throttle down the pump. But a dual tube / drain overflow should handle that pump easily. What size are the drain lines and the U-tubes. The Drains should be 1" and the U-tubes should also be atleast 1" . That's inside diameter, not outside. A 1 inch drain will handle 600 or 800 GPH (cant remember which) but either way, a dual overflow with atleast the 1" i.d. tubes and drains should handle the 1200 GPH.
I have a Lifereef dual overflow. Easily handles the flow of my Blueline 55HD, 1000+ GPH rated pump. It is rated to handle 1600 GPH and I have no doubt that it would. The Lifereef has 1" ID drains and U-tubes. So, if yours are 1" it should handle the 1200 GPH. Using 90 degree connectors on the drains can reduce the flow some, the more 90's the lower the flow.
At one point you said the overflow wouldn't keep up with your pump (using old tubes)...are you running 1 inch from each stand pipe or have you joined them to run in one pipe. If so (or several 90's) that could be the problem. I joined my two 1" drains into a 1 1/2 pvc to go to my basement sump and can get 1000 plus out of it.
Thats normal
Here is where you need to explain the problem more. In order to lose siphon, enough air must enter the U Tube to break it. Where is the air entering the U Tube? Is the bottom of the U Tube exposed to air when the pump stops?
That is not true. It should hold a siphon with zero water flowing through it as long as both ends are submerged.
This is a separate problem. You have too large a return pump for that overflow. Again, why so big a pump? You should use 3 - 5x display size, not total system size.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
just an update. I used a 1 inch cupling and glued it to the tubes that came with the unit it have been working for 2 days now. I guess I will have to remove some of the elbows so I don't have to turn the pump down so much with the ball valve.
I just wanted to say Thanks to everyone for there help.
Roger
If you want to keep up with my system as I set it up check this link out every so often.
http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/rogergolf66/
I just wanted to say Thanks to everyone for there help.
Roger
If you want to keep up with my system as I set it up check this link out every so often.
http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/rogergolf66/
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