siphon break holes

[cbcostanza]

I was reading melev's reef website and found this paragraph about breaking the siphon if the power goes out.

I]"You need to drill two small 1/8" holes in your return line, 1/2" below the water's surface when the tank and sump are running normally. These holes are referred to as a siphon break. When the pump is off, water is sucked out of the tank by the return line, but as soon as the water level reaches those holes, air is sucked in and stops any more water from being siphoned out of your display tank. Two holes are better than one, in case it clogs or a snail decides to park on the hole at the worst moment possible."[/I]

This may be a dumb question, but he means 1/2" below the water line of the main display, right? Just wanted to make sure, and has anyone done this before? Thanks!

Chris

 

[shawnz28]

Yes that is correct.

 

[cbcostanza]

thanks, Shawn

 

[shawnz28]

No problem.... angle the hole down those, that way when the water starts flowing it does not squirt up and out of the tank if possible

 

[Howieytown]

I drilled mine at an angle down and its about 1/4 above my normal main tanks water line. And yes it squirts out onto the top of the water, its small enough not to cause any bubble issues.
I had one lower and didnt like all that drainage.
Now when the power goes out it doesnt have much drainage at all.

 

[cbcostanza]

howieytown,
do you have any pics of yours?

 

[Howieytown]

Hope the pic works.

One thing you have to remember since this hole is small it eventually will or could get clogged. I just poke something handy in it if the water flow seems to be slowed down or stopped.

When I first set up this 75 gal system I did a test and nearly overflowed my sump so then I came on here and I learned how to do this just like you, from the RC!

dont you just love this place~

 

[Howieytown]

Hope this pic works, I need the book "uploading pics to RC for dummies"

 

[Howieytown]

IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c332/howieytown/DSC03007.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Howieytown]

]

[url]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c332/howieytown/DSC03007.jpg[/IMG][/URL] <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img
src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c332/howieytown/DSC03007-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

I'm hoping one of these shows up as a link.....some easy to follow directions would be great, I cant seem to get any pics loaded into my gallery either :-(

 

[Howieytown]

Last try, think I've got it and sorry, lol

[/IMG]

 

[cbcostanza]

Thanks for the pic. But how does that work being in your main display, since when the power goes off the water level drops?

 

[itZme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9387475#post9387475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbcostanza
Thanks for the pic. But how does that work being in your main display, since when the power goes off the water level drops?

Chris,
The siphon breaks are there to prevent the display water from draining into the sump. When the pump is running you have a full tube of water going INTO the tank. When the power goes out the water would just reverse and flow through the impeller down to the sump until the water reached the bottom of the return plumbing where it could suck air and break the siphon.

The holes are usually a bit below the surface to prevent splashing and creating more salt creep and noise.

During a power failure they will suck in a bit of air when the water is trying to reverse its flow and it will prevent the creation of a siphon.

Does that explain it well enough?

-- Kevin

 

[cbcostanza]

Kevin that clears it up. Thanks!
By the way my corals aren't taking to the tank change very well. I lost one coral already and I only had one coral with any PE today. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I'll keep my fingers crossed.