Self Prime HOB Overflow

Has anyone used one of the self priming HOB overflows. One of the tubes on my existing overflow keeps loosing siphon and I'm getting cocerned about a flood! Just curious if these overflows that have the pump on them work or are there other risks to consider with them.

 

Are you getting an air bubble in the siphon tube?

 

Put a nipple on it, and hook a maxi-jet to the nipple. Make sure you have the nipple right at the apex of the u-tube.

Ginny

 

Could you clarify what kinda nipple and how you hook a maxijet to that..

 

I have used a check valve, drilled a hole in the u-tube and silicone the check valve to it. You use the air intake on a maxi-jet (comes with it) and the hose that comes with it as well. Put the maxi-jet in the tank (affixed to the side) and turn it on. The MJ will pull the air out of the u-tube to start the siphon and it will add flow to the tank.

 

Cool can you take a pic of this setup. I'm trying to counter this problem as well. When ever I feed Rod's Food, for some reason my siphon tube gets an air bubble, and it gets bigger. I just keep an airline tube in there and suck the air out myself.. getting a nasty dose of saltwater.. boo. I don't think I could fit a maxijet in my little tank no room.. is there another way?

 

You can use an aqualifter, but the pump will go out every 3-4 months. I will try and find a pic on-line I have this set-up on customers tanks when they refuse to go drilled or already have their tanks.

 

I bought an Aqualifter tonight and ordered a new overflow. Here is pretty much what I got. Will flow more water then what I have now so upgraging my pump will now be an option. I've heard that you need to keep the nipple clean or it will clog and break the suction. Guess I will be adding that to my maintenance list. Anyone else have one of these.

CPR Overflow Box

 

I have two, one on each tank. I suggested adding the nipple to save you some money. They work well, but yes you have to clean the nipple at least weekly. Also, get the suction filter for the aqua-lifter.

Ginny

 

so you place a checkvalve on the top of the utube at the bend?? Currently I have an air line tubing going down to my sump. That sucks the bubbles out. But my problem is that when the return goes off(power outage ect) the siphon will not stop until the airline has sucked all of the water from the utube. Then when the return turns back on....the siphon is broke so my tank will overflow. Without the airline, everything works perfect. With it, the siphon stops when power goes out. How can a check valve be different. Any other options that might fix this? I was thinking an aqualifter attached to the check valve. That way when the power returns, the aqualifter will re-start the siphon on its own. I just dont have an aqualifter to test.

Connecting the end of the airline coming out of the utube to a maxijet venturi might do the trick. When the power is restored, it should restart the siphon.