anyone use this continuous siphon overflow?
- Thread starter johns120
- Start date
Imagine what happens when the pump fails.
A good concept in theory is to attach the airline to the venturi of the return pump--that way if the pump fails you don't get a flooded floor. However, the airline may get clogged, and then you have problems. U tube type overflows have much better reps if you have to go the external route.
A good concept in theory is to attach the airline to the venturi of the return pump--that way if the pump fails you don't get a flooded floor. However, the airline may get clogged, and then you have problems. U tube type overflows have much better reps if you have to go the external route.
I use a similar setup on my refugium, although mine is connected to a powerhead venturi. the concept is the same, all overflows will eventually trap air in the top of the U, but using a venturi, even if the pump failed the end of the tube would still be submerged, allowing the siphon to continue. Would the vacuum pump leak air and fail without power? I dont know, and dont care to find out.
I use this. It works great. Ok.. Everyone is afraid of it over flowing, but let me explain how it works. The aqualifter stays on all the time, making a continuos vacuum in the overflow chamber. The water flows down to the sump and is pumped back up by a return pump. if your sump has sufficient volume, and you drill a hole in your return line apx 1 inch below the water line so when the power goes out, it loses it's siphon, you'll never have a flood. I have a 15 gallon sump, it ussually has about 7 gallons in it at all times, when I turn the power off, the water level in my tank can only go down to the bottom lip of the overflow, then it can drain no more.. My return line from the sump to the tank is drilled about 1 inch below the water line because it creates a siphon also when the power goes out, but as soon as it hits the small hole I drilled, it stops the siphon.
I did almost have a flood a few times when I tried using one of these without the aqualifter, because there would occasionally be air in the overflow chamber. The aqualifter keeps all the air out, and keeps it filled with water. This chamber would ussually run for 3-4 days without ever needing the air removed, but when you put an aqualifter on it, it works like a charm, and is worry free. I think the only bad thing that could happen with the whole system would be if the aqualifter failed, and you didn't pay attention to it for about 3-4 days.
Anyhow, this system is safe, works wonderfully, and if it floods, then you must have plumbed it wrong.
Speaking of plumbing it, I went to lowes, and purchased some 3/4" ID 1" OD tubing, and I run it from the overflow to the sump. (I had to play with some silicone and water proof tape initially to get it hooked to the overflow without a leak).. I use 1/2 inch ID tubing to go from my return pump back to my tank where it connects with some 3/4 inch pvc that I made a U with and a barb to return the water.
I did almost have a flood a few times when I tried using one of these without the aqualifter, because there would occasionally be air in the overflow chamber. The aqualifter keeps all the air out, and keeps it filled with water. This chamber would ussually run for 3-4 days without ever needing the air removed, but when you put an aqualifter on it, it works like a charm, and is worry free. I think the only bad thing that could happen with the whole system would be if the aqualifter failed, and you didn't pay attention to it for about 3-4 days.
Anyhow, this system is safe, works wonderfully, and if it floods, then you must have plumbed it wrong.
Speaking of plumbing it, I went to lowes, and purchased some 3/4" ID 1" OD tubing, and I run it from the overflow to the sump. (I had to play with some silicone and water proof tape initially to get it hooked to the overflow without a leak).. I use 1/2 inch ID tubing to go from my return pump back to my tank where it connects with some 3/4 inch pvc that I made a U with and a barb to return the water.Not with a quality u tube overflow (lifereef) and a properly sized return pump. This only happens if the return pump is undersized for the overflow. Normally ALL the bubbles zip right through the u tube and can't get trapped becuase of the force of the water. I have used lifereef overflows many years and never had one fail. I have gone countless power outages with out any problem. I stop the return pump every other week for a water change and never have to manually restart the overflow unless I remove the U tube from the overflow box.
Any overflow that uses a pump just has more parts to fail and cause a problem.
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