View Full Version : Help Needed to Prevent Siphon in Power Failure
windyridge
12/07/2011, 08:57 AM
I don't know how to figure out if the sump will hold all the water that siphons back in the event of a power failure. We are going to upgrade to a 92G bowfront corner tank. Corner cabinets do not have much room because of their shape. This is a used tank and the previous owner only had a 10G sump in the cabinet. We will be using a 15G sump and will have a skimmer and fuge. In our current 29G tank the 15G sump works fine with several inches to spare when there is a power failure. In this tank teeth of the overflow are about an inch high but the inflow tube is lower still and adjustable. I can see putting a check valve on the inflow but obviously can't do that on the overflow pipe. What to do?:worried:
Vinny Kreyling
12/07/2011, 09:32 AM
Set the tank up with the return just below the water level.
Shut the system off & watch the sump level.
If you have room to spare you can lower the return into the water until you are comfortable.
If you still have to go lower you will have to drill a siphon break.
The suction or overflow pipe will determine the water level in the tank to some degree.
You want the water to go over the teeth but not drop into the overflow too much,
the lower the noisier.
HTH
windyridge
12/07/2011, 09:50 AM
Ok my husband tells me that I asked this question wrong. It's not a siphon, it's just an overflow box that is not adjustable. The only thing that can be moved around by bending is the pipe from the sump to the tank.
Vinny Kreyling
12/07/2011, 10:27 AM
That is the return.
Keep it HIGH to start then slowly lower it into the water.
You will have to turn off the pump & check sump level after each adjustment.
davocean
12/07/2011, 10:36 AM
Keeping lockline returns high is best for early siphon break, and if it's your actual overflow level you are concerned about you need to keep sump level low enough to hold what spills down, that's really all you can do.
A check valve will only handle the return line, not your overflow/drain, and I would never rely on those anyway.
This is probably tough to do w/ a 15g, can you add a bigger sump?
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