Siphon break help

[hipertec]

If I have 4 locline returns and comes from the pump (see pix below)

T A N K
+-+-+-+---
/
PUMP

and I have 1 of the locline with a hole about 1/4" just below the waterlevel.
Will this 1 locline hole be enough for a siphon break for all 4?

Hope I explained right.

 

[gcarroll]

Charles, you are better off putting siphon breaks in all 4 locklines. If you only have one, when the power goes off while you are not home, one of your snails will just happen to be camping on the siphon hole (Stupid stuff like this always happens so it is best to protect yourself). Also as time passes cleaning the siphon holes become further and further from your normal maintenance routine. BTW, sorry bout the flex PVC issue. I was such a scatter brain and flaked on calling you back.

 

[hipertec]

Greg,
thanks for the advice. You have a great point. Ill prob make 1 locline hole and 1 locline pointing up to skim the surface. But do u think that a 1/4" hole will cause a break in the siphon?

No worries about the flex pvc. Thank god we have a HD just down the street.

 

[pledosophy]

It should, works for me I have a 3/16th's.

Your new plan sounds better then your last one.

 

[818]

most importantly have a check valve on those return things, and what Greg just said.

 

[gcarroll]

1/4" should work fine, but I think I also used 3/16th. Very little water exits out of the siphon hole because the water will take the path of least resistance. If you only drill one hole and rely on the other lockline that is pointed upward, that will work as well. At least until you re-adjust it to get more flow in another part of the tank years later after you forgot why it was pointing upward in the first place. Me, I got ADD and I would not take the chance, I drilled siphon holes in all 6 of my returns. I also do not use check valves because the chances of all 6 siphon holes failing is virtually nil since the primary siphon hole is above the water level. Even when the power goes out the siphon breaks prior to the water dropping to the level of the overflow and I still got about 4-5" reserve capacity in the sump.

 

[pledosophy]

Every check valve I have ever used has failed over time. JME

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7398525#post7398525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
Every check valve I have ever used has failed over time. JME

Get SPEARS

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7398558#post7398558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by My F1sh R D34D!
Get SPEARS

Over time, many things grow in the pipes and small critters and such like snails and chitons and all it takes is a small gap in the seal of the check valve to make it worthless. I'm sure if you ask most reef veterans they will tell you that "over time they normally fail." But I am not the one who would discourage going overboard on safety precautions so if you feel comfortable backing up the siphon holes with it, "go for it!"

 

[GTR]

Never owned a check valve.

SteveU

 

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7399240#post7399240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll
Over time, many things grow in the pipes and small critters and such like snails and chitons and all it takes is a small gap in the seal of the check valve to make it worthless. I'm sure if you ask most reef veterans they will tell you that "over time they normally fail." But I am not the one who would discourage going overboard on safety precautions so if you feel comfortable backing up the siphon holes with it, "go for it!"

CORRECT! Over time, at the very least, they leak!

I just sugusted to do both in another thread.

 

[golfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7399987#post7399987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog


I just sugusted to do both in another thread.

Alright young man, I've had just about enough of you. Get in the corner, no, GET IN THE CORNER.

Ken, I use high dollar stainless steel check valves\check balls at work. The balls or pretty good but the spring loaded check valve fail, its not a lot but enough to make me not want to use em...and we're talking clean stuff here.

 

[Konadog]

I'm not going to any stinking corner!!! :worried2:

Right after I set up my tank, Edison decided that they wanted to replace the power lines in the neighborhood. I was going on vacation the week they were going to shut down the power (typical vacation plans) I decided I wanted to be home to make sure that my check valve didn't leak because I didn't have time to test it for any length of time. Power was off for only 2 1/2 hours, but at least a gallon or two of water leaked past the valve and back into the sump. It was only a week old, and very clean. It is one of the flapper type. I now have holes in my return lines for added protection!

No, I don't wana go in no corner, you can't make me............. MOM!!!!!

I hear it every day!

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7398558#post7398558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by My F1sh R D34D!
Get SPEARS

Like I said, every check valve I have had has leaked. JME