problems with starting CPR100 overflow

[milkshake]

Ok..here we go. I have a CPR100 hooked to the tank. I also have have a Iwaki (japanese) external pump driving my return. From what I read about the CPR100 it is supposed to handle 800gph.
The pump is driving 540gph at 4ft head. There is 4'6" from floor to top of the tank. I have the overflow box sitting all the way down on the edge of the tank. What is happening is, the return water is rising and the overflow is not keeping up with it. What I have done is, suck on the siphon hose at the top of the overflow box to get it started and then run over to plug in the pump to try and keep it going. I have turned the ball valves 1/3 the way off on each return line and still too much water filling up in the tank. Do you guys think this is a pump situation or just a slack of understanding what to do on starting this !#@#$ thing. There is a couple of pics in my gallery. They are not very good as I had to take them with a camera phone then email them to myself and then save them in a file and then upload to the site. Ya'll get all that?

 

[outy]

if your under 800gph and you have a aqualifter and or a airline to a powerhead theres no reason it wont work. if theres air in the top of the cpr then thats your problem these overflows need a constant syphon for them to work.

what i do is run my aqualifter in my basement and there is a natural syphon to the prefilter before the aqualifter and i have a foolproof cpr that way i run a mag 9 with no problem

 

[milkshake]

So if the airline was hooked to a powerhead about 6" below the water level and the other end hooked to the CPR, there would be a constant siphon? I sure would have to put alot of trust in that powerhead. If the sucker ever lost siphon, the return pump would still keep pumping water into the tank.

 

[bradleyj]

I run an Aqualifter pump on mine with a prefilter before the pump and never have problems. I do keep a spare pump on hand just in case it quits working but they usually last for about a year if used with a filter. They are cheap, so it is easy to keep a spare on hand.

 

[milkshake]

So..tell me what happens if it does quit working. FLOODING??

 

[bradleyj]

No, it will keep workinf for about a day. It loses siphon slowly from the bubbles being trapped in the top of the overflow. It is easy to telll when the pump quits working, water starts to raise in the overflow because it isn't pulling as much water. I keep the front of the overflow clean from algea just so I can observe how much flow is always going thru.

 

[milkshake]

I think I'm going to find a different overflow. If I decide to go out of town for a few days and it quits working, flooding will happen.
I think I made a really bad choice going with this !#!@ box. Happy CPRing...as CPR will be needed when the wife gets a hold on ya for the floor being flooded.

 

[outy]

i felt like you after the first night of owning one too

with my aqualifter below my tank the aqualifter never has to work as a natural syphon is always present [only works when i start back up after a water change] i prefer this to the powerhead method. i also put a baffle in my sump so that if the cpr fails it will only suck out a little water instead of flooding

there is much less maintanance with the cpr i had u tubes for 8 years i still have them in the basement and wont switch back

 

[mattgreene22]

outy - can you take a pic of your set-up? also, would you ever consider running the aqualifter on a timer...just often enough to suck out some air bubbles periodically?

 

[milkshake]

I decided to go with an overflow with U tubes. There was originally only one U tube and it could not keep up with the tank. So I added a second U tube and is running perfect now.

 

[raddogz]

If you are looking for a different overflow may I suggest a Lifereef overflow. I had one on one of my prior tanks and it worked flawlessly, going through a few rolling black-outs without a hitch.

I have no affiliations with Lifereef, just really liked the product.

 

[milkshake]

yeah raddogz, that is what I am wanting to do. But for at the moment this will have to do. "$"

 

[raddogz]

You can also try the Used Equipment forum as they do come up from time to time.

Good luck!

 

[HornetMech242]

I sent you a PM on how to fix it with $2.00 of airline tubing.

Chris

 

[outy]

outy - can you take a pic of your set-up? also, would you ever consider running the aqualifter on a timer...just often enough to suck out some air bubbles periodically?

my aqualifter is a year old and as i said it never has to run so i dont need a timer its only there in case of power failures and or water changes

 

[HornetMech242]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7642934#post7642934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outy
outy -
my aqualifter is a year old and as i said it never has to run so i dont need a timer its only there in case of power failures and or water changes

I dont understand how it "is not running"? If it is plugged in then it is running. Are you meaning that there is no load on it until the power goes out and when it comes back on it restarts the syphon?

Chris

 

[milkshake]

shannahan14...do you have a diagram or picture of what you spoke in the PM?

 

[milkshake]

Here are a couple of pic's that show how things are set up. I am trying to figure out exactly what you are talking about when it comes to the airline tubing. I am still trying to set everything up so nevermind the mess. Me and friend just hooked the sump up a few days ago.

 

[outy]

I dont understand how it "is not running"? If it is plugged in then it is running. Are you meaning that there is no load on it until the power goes out and when it comes back on it restarts the syphon?

it only runs when it detects air or the syphon stops with the water pouring down from the syphon the aqualifter is dead silent no vibrations but if undo the airline to clean a small snail you can hear the pump fire up too clear the air out then shut off when the syphon has restarted.

if it doesnt have to suck air or water its dead silent no vibrations