aqua-ed Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Wow, it finally happened to me. Today, the power went out and the return pump from my sump stopped running. I have it all plumbed with 0.5" PVC. When the pump turned off, it created a little thing called a siphon that sucked the water from my tank back down into my sump. It kept sucking until the water level dropped below the return. By that time, about 5 gallons had emptied onto the floor. Unfourtanetly, I was not home to witness any of this and stop it from happening. My question is, how do you prevent this siphoning? Is there something I can use to prevent back flow? Or do I just need to keep my return high enough so that the water it siphons isn't enough to overflow my sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Are you talking about a normal overflow. everyone should turn there tanks off to see what the level is in the sump. If you have an auto fill in the sump, you need to lower it, to lower the water height in the sump when running. Allowing for this extra water. More details please:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 As stated above if it is a normal overflow just move the return up a little. You must have that return low in the tank? I know in my 90 when the power would go I could bring it down 4 inchs and not have any issues. How much water do you run in the sump? Now if it is a HOB overflow I know nothing about those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 You need a siphon break in the return line. Drill a small hole at the water level. When the power goes out, the water starts to siphon to the sump. When the water gets to the hole it sucks air and breaks the siphon. Piece o cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I agree with Impur, quick fix drill a hole where it wont be trouble with a little water coming out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua-ed Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Bada Bing, a hole in the return. Absolute genius, I knew you guys wouldn't let me down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Make it to where its in the upper part of the return. No to low to flood and not to high to shoot out the top of the tank. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevinmc Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I will do the same, as I am leaving at noon on vaca for a week, .....LOL, can not afford to ruin my remodel. What if the return is divided into two sections, how many inches of water should I allow it to drain before it stops. Thanks Guys Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriswaters Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Definately a siphon break! I drilled a hole just below water line. I also have one of my returns lines (y loc-line) set at the perfect level to aid the break. I have a line drawn on my sump for absolute minimum and max! It was one of the first things I did when I set up the tank as I feared what happened to you. Its an easy fix! Good luck and peace knowing your tank will not flood again. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Kevin - no more than an inch or 2 i would say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Siphon breaks are a good idea, but they can clog with algae, salt, gunk, etc. I think the best protection is making sure your sump can handle the total possible siphon volume from the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I agree that a siphon hole needs to be checked regularly. My return goes over the top and about 1/3 of it is out of water so when power goes out it there is no siphon back to sump, easy to do with some loc-line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriswaters Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Agreed on the possible failure...hence I have one of the returns that is the back up break, and at 1/2" it will break siphon quite quickly. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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