Nice Cheap DIY Overflow

You want the vent pipe to be high enough that on the off chance that something plugs the output in the sump the overflow would back flow thru the vent. Plugged up media, a kink in the drain hose and the low cap could back flow. If that sound bother you you could LOOSELY pack some filter floss in the vent. Enough to muffle the sound but not enough to interfere with the function of the vent.

 

This is a great thread and a great device. This is obviously a gadget for us folks with undrilled tanks myself included. So this gets the water up and over and out of the tank. I don't mean to take things in a different direction, but are there any similar concerns/gyrations necessary to get the water from the sump back into the undrilled tank? Or do you just hook up the pump and the output just goes up and over back in no problem? Sorry I'm just still trying to get my head around they dynamics of pump placement and water flow. Anyone care to share the other return side of their system?

 

Thought I would create a diagram of this device for future reference. I welcome any feedback on it. Let me know if the dimensions seem right.

 

Great work on the graphic.

BTW The reason that "C" in in place is to deal with bubble back up.
Everyonce in a while bubbles collect inside the discharge hose and bubble up through the unit. If the "C" is not there than the water above the bubble overflows and makes a mess. If it is tall enough, it can have a cap with smaller hole.

Wayne;D

 

Hey everyone, I made one of these the other day and just cant get it to start the siphon. I did glue all pieces together and followed aklaums great diagram. I tried restarting the return pump to raise water level and then sucking on the tube attached to the check valve. (and did make sure it was facing the right direction) But still nothing it just would not start the syphon. Could someone please help me out here? Would love to get this thing working.

 

amazing! LOL THE HITS ON THIS THREAD ARE INSANE! chart topper for 2006 for sure. (in the HIGHEST VIEWED THREAD category) !!!

still laggin on my setup... need to build a stand built a poker table instead! LOL fish keep disamapearing into the carpet anenome. and i just fished out my KORAN angel fish. It was a gift to my wife from her brother while i was in IRAQ. i wish she knew he was a REEF EATER RIP zoos!

 

Welcome to 3reef!
I'm guessing the outside U below the tee isn't filled with water. When you start it for the very first time there is no water in that so when you try to start it you can't pull the air out there is no seal. Pour water in the vent until it starts running out the output and try again.
Do you have a pic?

 

I built one too, should be up and running by monday, and mine wouldn't start because the 'U' inside the tank wasn't low enough, I'm redoing it tommorrow and making sure that it is at least half way down....next time I just might take the extra 2.25 minutes to do a dry run.

 

AH! Thanks Covey! I didnt even think to add water to the outside U. DOH! I did however make the mistake of glueing and painting before testing. (should have known better) Is there a way to test these things in a 5 gallong bucket?

Wont be able to try again until next week:-/ I did however paint it with Krylon Fusion Satin Black. Looks great but if you accidentally rub it up against any rock the paint comes right off. And I did let it cure for a good 3 days before trying.

p.s. I dont even have saltwater, followed a link from cichlid-forum. this thread is huge!

 

Yep I used a 5g bucket and a garden hose and made "power outages" until I was sure it worked.