PVC pipe siphon to increase turnover?

Hello guys and gals!

For a while I've been playing with the idea of making a siphon out of 1/2" pvc pipe to increase my turnover between sump and DT. Unfortunately my tank is not a reef ready tank, so I have to go over the DT's rim for any water drain or input.

My sump is set up in the following way:

FUGE --> SKIMMER --> RETURN

I have an overflow CPR-90 (1" output) with a split, feeding my fuge with a low flow and the rest of the water goes to the skimmer section. But I really feel this overflow does not cut it.

My return is dialed back with a ball valve to probably less than 25% of it's capacity and I have a Mag Drive 9.5 (950 gph) and I don't like to have to limit this pump so much. I don't mean to have it open all the way, but I would like to increase the turnover a good bit.

I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning that I have bubble trap bafflers before the return, and the space between each of the 3 panels is 1".

I would definitely put a filter I can remove and clean, mostly for snails at the intake and another one on the output.

The siphon assembly would be simple: Straight piece of 1/2 inch pipe to suck water from the DT with a small hole to brake siphon in case of power failure, then two elbows to get out and above the rim of my DT, after that, straight piece down to the skimmer area in the center of the sump possibly with gate valve to regulate the amount of flow to the sump and a union for future cleaning. I may even drill another hole and put another bulkhead to connect the siphon pipe to the sump, if the idea is feasible.

So, as usual, I have a few questions and would really appreciate your advice:

1) Would 1/2" pipe be too much for a full siphon considering my return pump?

2) How do you even start a siphon with a setup like this? I considered a small hole a little bit above water level in the sump, with a piece of flexible 1/4" plastic tubing to suck the air and start it, but please let me know if that's needed at all.

3) I've been thinking of all kinds of catastrophic possibilities, like siphon braking and return pump still dialed to pump a lot more water than what my CPR overflow box can take. Any possible workaround this issue?

4) Will the space between the bafflers be able to manage the extra flow? I think it should since it's 1 solid inch all along the 12" of my sumps' depth from front to back glass.

5) Is there anything I'm not thinking about? Please, let me know. I really need help with this project.

As always, thanks in advance for your input. It is very much appreciated it.

- Magnus.

 

There is really no point. If you want to increase flow then get a bigger/better overflow, adding one is not a good idea.

As far as flow... you probably need a bit more. Throttling a Mag to 25% is no big deal.... I would not suggest going less. However, you do not need a lot of flow. The only real point of getting water down to your sump is so your skimmer can process it. Your skimmer is probably doing 350 gph or less. So providing more flow than that through your sump is not accomplishing anything.

But hey... 450-550 isn't the end of the worl either. you want to open your valve a bit more to feel better that's fine.... I would suggest looking into a overflow that gives more flow. And even the one you have with one inch... that should still be enough???

.... ya a CPR 90 is rated for 600 gph... plenty.

 

I think the 600 gph for my overflow are bs rating. I have that thing as deep as it will go in the tank hoping it would create a siphon effect but it didn't.
The reason I wanted a little more flow in the tank is for moving water more and avoid detritus to deposit on the sand, since i have 2 blind spots. I really don't think my overflow is pushing that much water. Wish I gotten the 2 output one instead of this one.

But yeah... I think a little more flow would definitely make me feel better. I was going to buy another koralia... we'll see about that... it still won't increase my turnover.

 

Got it.

You want to supply the skimmer what it needs to do it's job but that's it. there is no way you will provide enough flow in your tank from a return pump. Waste of power too. Power heads are much more efficient at moving wate rin the tank. Get you some Korillias to keep that sand clean.

 

Will do!! I really wanted at least one more Koralia. I have a 55 gallon with a Koralia 4 in it, and two MaxiJets with flow deflectors (the ones that spin around all day), one is a 600 and the other one 1200.

What do you recommend? I mean, how much flow is too much flow, considering I have some softies, shrooms and frogspawn that like slow flow?

I also have acros that I recently purchased and are just starting to come back from the whole shipping and blah...

One more thing, would you recommend the placement of the Koralias to be on the same side? Like, unidirectional flow? or opposed corners?

- Mag.

 

I bought a sure-flow mod for my maxijet 600 and it rips. makes it push out 1400gph instead of 196 gph stock. I have 2 of those in my 55g, and no dead areas.

 

Dude! That's a great idea as well! I've seen the sure flow mods around and they're fortunately not high dollar! I'll probably go this way, or buy another 600 + sure flow and put the one in the tank to mix my salt.

Awesome Idea! Thanks

- Mag.

 

Hey Night-Rida...where did you get the MJ kit for the MJ 600?

 

Take a look on ebay.They're only like $15.00.

 

Ya... give it a try. With softies and what you have you don't need a lot of flow... but ya, you want to keep the tank clean and no dead spots. No real sure set way to achieve that, every tank is different. Just trial and error. I have some flow down the back of my tank... just be sure to get some flow through your rock work.