Sump Return\avoiding flood question
- Thread starter chrisstie
- Start date
chrisstie
Premium Member
I am going to haave to set everything up outside and use a hose i guess.
Where do you recommend putting a siphon break then? We were going to put it on the side of the U tube on the part inside the overflow so that instead of flooding the sump if the return pump failed and water drained out of the tank and down, it'd hit the hole and stop.
How do you make it so your U tube doesn't loose siphon? My overflow setup is very similar to the site that was linked.
I apologize for asking so many questions but i've never dealt with this sort of thing before and just want to make sure i have everything setup right so i dont have to invest in a wetvac
Where do you recommend putting a siphon break then? We were going to put it on the side of the U tube on the part inside the overflow so that instead of flooding the sump if the return pump failed and water drained out of the tank and down, it'd hit the hole and stop.
How do you make it so your U tube doesn't loose siphon? My overflow setup is very similar to the site that was linked.
I apologize for asking so many questions but i've never dealt with this sort of thing before and just want to make sure i have everything setup right so i dont have to invest in a wetvac
mfinn
Active member
Never apologize for asking questions.
It may keep you from trying to explain to someone else why the carpet is all wet.lol
The ONLY place you need a syphon break is on the return line from the sump pump.
And you can do that by drilling a hole approx. 1/8" to 3/16" on the return line after it goes over the top of the tank and down in the water about 1" to 1-1/2".
It may keep you from trying to explain to someone else why the carpet is all wet.lol
The ONLY place you need a syphon break is on the return line from the sump pump.
And you can do that by drilling a hole approx. 1/8" to 3/16" on the return line after it goes over the top of the tank and down in the water about 1" to 1-1/2".
Its not as hard as you think. To break a siphon, you have to have a lot of air to break the "chain" of water. Both ends of he U Tube are always submerged, even if there is no power. If that is not the case, your overflow is not setup correctly. The other way for air to get into the siphon is the water flowing over the weir carries bubbles with it. As long as you have sufficient flow through the U Tube, bubbles are carried through and do not accumulate.
Here is where there can be differences between overflows. Some are well designed to do this. Some are not.
Again. DO NOT drill a hole in the U Tube.
Here is where there can be differences between overflows. Some are well designed to do this. Some are not.
Again. DO NOT drill a hole in the U Tube.
mfinn
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8434884#post8434884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
I am going to haave to set everything up outside and use a hose i guess.
Where do you recommend putting a siphon break then? We were going to put it on the side of the U tube on the part inside the overflow so that instead of flooding the sump if the return pump failed and water drained out of the tank and down, it'd hit the hole and stop.
How do you make it so your U tube doesn't loose siphon? My overflow setup is very similar to the site that was linked.
I apologize for asking so many questions but i've never dealt with this sort of thing before and just want to make sure i have everything setup right so i dont have to invest in a wetvac
When the power goes out,, the water will drain down in the tank untill it reaches the bottom of the teeth on the overflow box that sits in the tank. Once it reaches that level, no more water enters the overflow box from the tank. Water stops flowing at this point.
Approx. 1-1/2" of water will remain in the front box and the same will remain in the back box and water will remain in the tube/tubes.
As long as no one disturbes the tubes, the syphon stays intact, and when power is restored water begins to flow into the first box which forces water through the tube and into the outside box and down the drain lines.
chrisstie
Premium Member
Hmm I think I am starting to see the picture here. Perhaps I will take everything outside tomorrow and give it a test run so I can see everything in action. I will definitely figure it out by then!
I thikn then its just a matter of locating the overflow box part inside of the tank to be at the right level so the water will go below the teeth before the sump is at a maximum.
I also wanted to ask inside the outer part of the overflow box ...
Is it okay to have water just drain down the hole thats on the bottom? Or will I need a fitting in it so the box will be able to fill up enough for the utube to be sitting in the water?
it would be like
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|____|
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OR
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I thikn then its just a matter of locating the overflow box part inside of the tank to be at the right level so the water will go below the teeth before the sump is at a maximum.
I also wanted to ask inside the outer part of the overflow box ...
Is it okay to have water just drain down the hole thats on the bottom? Or will I need a fitting in it so the box will be able to fill up enough for the utube to be sitting in the water?
it would be like
| |
| |
|____|
| |
OR
| |
| | | |
|_| |_|
| |
chrisstie
Premium Member
Yes that much I've gotten. I was just unsure about the true inner workings of the overflow box. But now we have unlocked its true secrets
let me ask your opinion.. if my sump is split in 3 with baffles..
what do you think of
return\skimmer | refugium | intake from tank
I am not sure the best order to set those up but this I think is the most common configuration?
let me ask your opinion.. if my sump is split in 3 with baffles..
what do you think of
return\skimmer | refugium | intake from tank
I am not sure the best order to set those up but this I think is the most common configuration?
Howdy Guys ----
OK, thanks for the pointer to Lifereef. Looks like they are direct order only, but no problem with that. Gonna order one on Monday.
Noticed they rated their flow up to 700 gph on this unit. In the interest of keeping bubble build-up probability to a minimum, wondering if it is a good idea to try and run toward that number? While my tank is a 58 gallon, even 10x the capacity per hour is already 580 gph. I would think that would be enough, also given the reef environment looking for good water movement. Comments??
I have seen alot of different numbers (multipliers) thrown around about water turnover in reef environments. And I want to pick my pump properly too --- Comments???
Thanks Guys ---- Bob ---
OK, thanks for the pointer to Lifereef. Looks like they are direct order only, but no problem with that. Gonna order one on Monday.
Noticed they rated their flow up to 700 gph on this unit. In the interest of keeping bubble build-up probability to a minimum, wondering if it is a good idea to try and run toward that number? While my tank is a 58 gallon, even 10x the capacity per hour is already 580 gph. I would think that would be enough, also given the reef environment looking for good water movement. Comments??
I have seen alot of different numbers (multipliers) thrown around about water turnover in reef environments. And I want to pick my pump properly too --- Comments???
Thanks Guys ---- Bob ---
Howdy SJM ----
Yes, given that suggested flow range, a Mag 5 pump looks like plenty cuz I have a head rise of about 4 feet. Mag's tables show the 5-model to give about 300 gph at that head rise. Sound reasonable ??
That would also keep down some 'water noise' too keeping the flow rate down a bit.
Starting to zero in on some of the components.
Thanks --- Bob ---
Yes, given that suggested flow range, a Mag 5 pump looks like plenty cuz I have a head rise of about 4 feet. Mag's tables show the 5-model to give about 300 gph at that head rise. Sound reasonable ??
That would also keep down some 'water noise' too keeping the flow rate down a bit.
Starting to zero in on some of the components.
Thanks --- Bob ---
BTW, if this is a new 58G, why not drill it?
-----
Yes, it is a new tank.
Well, is that fairly safe to do ?? The glass is thick, around 0.25" --- what would it take ??? Diamond cutter drums in a hand drill or similar ?? How are guys doing this feat ??
Curious ---
-----
Yes, it is a new tank.
Well, is that fairly safe to do ?? The glass is thick, around 0.25" --- what would it take ??? Diamond cutter drums in a hand drill or similar ?? How are guys doing this feat ??
Curious ---
Last edited:
Check the DIY forum. I've done it a few times. Not hard at all. I used a Diamond hole saw. Took about 5 min.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8435908#post8435908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BadRambo
BTW, if this is a new 58G, why not drill it?
-----
Yes, it is a new tank.
Well, is that fairly safe to do ?? The glass is thick, around 0.25" --- what would it take ??? Diamond cutter drums in a hand drill or similar ?? How are guys doing this feat ??
Curious ---
Fishbulb2
New member
I run an overflow box and had a small flood a while back. The problem was an algea build up in the u-tube that I let get out of hand. I think overflow boxes are fine pieces of equiptment and floods are almost always user errors. Your overflow box will not be "set it and forget it". Every time you do a water change, look for algea or anything that might clog the u-tube. I definetely prefer the u-tube style to the CPR models because the u-tubes are so much easier to clean. What I did was to drill a hole in the u-tube and insert airline tubing into it. The hole is airtight with the tubing inserted. I attached a tomtom aqualifter pump to it so that if siphon ever breaks for any reason, the tomtom will pull air out of the tube, recreate the siphon, and spit the water back into the rear chamber of the overflow box. I intentionally break the siphon and check things out everytime I do a water change. I also keep a small snail in the overflow box and he cleans things out all day. He goes back and forth between the two boxes via the u-tube and even cleans out the tube for me. Just make sure he's small enough not to restrict flow through the tube.
Most important things though, keep it clean.
FB
and I use a cheap overflow box I bout new for $50. I think the lifereef is great but pricey.
http://www.aquauniverse.com/compone.../category_id,33/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/
Most important things though, keep it clean.
FB
and I use a cheap overflow box I bout new for $50. I think the lifereef is great but pricey.
http://www.aquauniverse.com/compone.../category_id,33/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/
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