Couple questions

hey guys, i just got started with a 55gal reef tank. it is in the cycling process right now. i just have a couple questions.

1. my return line is 3/4 vinyl tubing with a U shaped plastic piece, I am really scared that it will flood during a storm so how should i drill a hole to prevent back siphon?

2. I have a lot of microbubbles comming out as well. could it be that the skimmer isnt broken in? or could it be that my sump is too small? 13 gallons with baffles...
thanks!

 

1) I have a similar setup and don't have/need a hole drilled in the return. Just make sure the end where the water comes out is elevated to the point that the water level is about a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch below the nozzle. Not much back siphoning will occur before the nozzle sucks in air and breaks the siphon. I use an empty cigarette pack placed between the top tank edge and the u shaped nozzle to hold it up high enough. No, I don't smoke but plenty of people do, so getting one is pretty easy. An empty box from a set of cards would be about the same size and would also work quite well. A drilled hole can become clogged by debris or covered up by a snail and that would defeat the purpose of having one. So in my opinion, they are not necessary at all.

2) I would say it's probably the skimmer. They usually take about a month before they start working correctly on a new set up.

 

ReeRon is correct. I was a little confused on what he wrote and I wouldn’t suggest the box he used for a spacer. It was get soft from water vapor and salt creed and your height would change for the worse.

Cut the end of the pipe where the water comes out so that it goes a quarter of an inch (or so) into the tank’s water. You don’t want it above the water as this will splash and be noisy. Test it to ensure you have proper spacing in your sump to collect the quarter inch or so of tank water on the back siphon prior to it sucking air and breaking the siphon.

You can also install a back flow preventor (like the ones on basement sump pumps) - that would do the trick.

As for the micro bubbles, you may need baffles in your sump or a sponge on the skimmer return – can you please post a picture. Sometimes its as easy as moving the skimmer further from the return pump

 

Here's a few pics.
My power went out about an hour ago and my sump almost flooded. I need to fix this today. Can you guys mark where i should drill, and how big of a hole? Thanks!

 

I would drill it just below the current water line so it doesn't spray all over the place.

 

Thanks for the help..to start the cycle i dropped in a couple pieces of shrimp. now theres brown algea all over my live rock (has been like this for the last 2 days). is it a good time to remove the shirimp or should i leave it in there longer?

 

That's way too deep. unless you have a monster sump you simply will beck siphon too much water. As suggested drill a hole under the water level that way it will break the siphon sooner. Look into a reverse flow gate valve that will prohibit the water from flowing in reverse - I suggest both. The drilled hole can block up over time and in a power outtage you can have a mess on your hands.