A stroke of genius!? Please read!

I've got about an extra 6 to 7 gallon capacity in my sump (20 gallon tank, took 12 to get the water flowing over the separators, plus sand displacement), and the return pipe is only like an inch below the water level. When I was tinkering with it getting the thing started initially, I turned off the pump a couple times and it took like 10 seconds before the siphon would already start to get disrupted going down the return pipe. But yea that's something I've been thinking about, as well ;D

Also, my skimmer pump is designed to take air in through airline tubing to create the microbubbles needed for skimming. That's why I figure that would work to restart my siphon, but apparently that won't be necessary.

 

If you're too busy to check your sump level in a simulated power outage.
Just wait, the power company or mother nature will do it for you, and it's a guarantee you won't be home when it happens

Jim

 

good luck hope everything works out... sounds like a good idea to me......

 

Well not that I doubted anyone, but naturally you were correct! The U-Tube in fact kept its siphon after I unplugged my Mag-Drive. The Sump had MORE than enough room to handle the extra load during my "power outage." And everything was up and running again without a single thing done by me when the "power came back on."

Frankly I don't totally understand the physics behind that (how the U-Tube keeps its siphon - I kinda get it...I think...), but who cares?? The bottom line is that it works and I feel like I have NOTHING to worry about now. Right?

 

happy for you. I'm pumped when things i try work for me. CONGRATS

 

Danger Danger

HI,
I have a tube siphon on the main tank and four months it has worked flawlessly no problems with air gap or overflow.
And the other nite some big old turbo snail decided to have lunch in the tube and he was sucked up to the point the tube diameter is smaller. reducing the flow on the return feed.
Well now the bad news, my super powerfull return pump was filling ye'olde tank up and then water started pouring over the top of the tank. Very nice effect ,,OMGD my wife looked up and said is that a desired effect? I said naw thats not good. DUH!,it did short out ye'old pump finally UMM wher's the wet vac dear..
SO I made a screen guard for the overflow to keep those algae slurping turbo's away.
Things can go bad rather suddenly how do you plan for every possiable dissaster utilize the principal it could happen, and you may prevent some fun...
Doug
PSPS note to self get a wet vac

 

Screen Is A Good Idea.... Ive Had A Lown Mower Bleeny Algae Hungry And Jump Into The Box. Then Got Sucked Up And Went Throught The U -tube And Striaght Doen The Pipes To My Wet Dry System 1st Stage Pad Filter. After 3 Days Of Not Finding Him The House Stunk. So I Know Have A Screen With Ruber Band Holding It!.

 

Both of the above have happened to me also.
Excellent suggestions for people with a new overflow...
Thank you for posting them.

Jim

 

Hey you cant complain you got a zero edge tank (temporarily) cheaper

 

If you have it all plumbed correctly there is little chance of anything other then the sump filling up a little should the main pump go down.. Thats why we went with drilled tanks and overflow stand pipes and if the Hang on overflow was designed and installed properly then there is little chance of that not breaking the flow and not the siphon so all will restart as it should.. But then I have seen perfectly tanks overflow when a snail or something got into the drain. Only way to totally prevent anything on an aquarium from ever flooding is to not have one.. As a old plumber told me 50 yrs ago when I started in the trade hoss anything that hold water will leak at some point . And he was right!