Teeing a Siphon

ca1ore · 07/07/2013, 08:57 AM

For tanks using either a Herbie or a BA plumbed overflow, has anyone put a diverting manifold on the siphon drain? Seems to me that as long as the T is after the gate valve that things should work fine, but was curious whether anyone has actually done it? I want to be able to feed an ATO, frag tank and skimmer from the siphon. Siphon will be approx 1,200 gallons/hr.

Misled · 07/07/2013, 10:19 AM

I don't understand "feeding" an ATO with a drain. Other that that, I personally wouldn't do it. What will happen in a power outage? Or let me rephrase that, what could happen in a power outage? What happens if one output becomes plugged?

ca1ore · 07/07/2013, 11:23 AM

Well, you only ever run a drain siphon, IMO, if your tank also has an open backup. So in the event any part of the siphon gets plugged, the open pipe will handle the extra flow. Even better to have the two backups in the BA design. So, am not worried about blockage, just whether a T or two in the siphon line will allow it to be dialed in reliably.

My approach to plumbing tanks is always to take advantage of gravity drains rather than adding extra pumps, so my plan is to feed the ATO from the siphon drain - I just won't need all of the siphon flow (ATO is 12 inches wide, at 35 gallon/hour/inch).

Speed · 07/07/2013, 11:59 AM

I'm with Misled on not understanding feeding the ATO with a drain.
you should be topping off with straight ro/di unless you're topping off due to a leak and not evaporation.

also not sure you wanna supply a frag tank with drain water, I'd think you'd want skimmed return water for that.

honestly, I'm confused here....

my advice... leave the syphon drain alone, you're asking for issues teeing it IMO. As much as you dont want to...use another pump to supply your skimmer. supply your frag tank with skimmed water from your return and supply your ATO by whatever system you're currently using for RO/DI water.

rickcasa · 07/07/2013, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragga

I'm with Misled on not understanding feeding the ATO with a drain.
you should be topping off with straight ro/di unless you're topping off due to a leak and not evaporation.

I agree, you're only accelerating the system volume loss by transferring it to the ATO and the ATO becomes a purposeless sump chamber.

CHSUB · 07/07/2013, 01:04 PM

i have BA, T, gate value on each side of T. one side goes to skimmer, one side goes to fug. works perfectly!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2130667

ca1ore · 07/07/2013, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragga

I'm with Misled on not understanding feeding the ATO with a drain.

Sorry guys, my typing (or is it spelling?) skill rears its ugly head - meant ATS, not ATO.

Speed · 07/07/2013, 02:29 PM

now I'm with you. yeah, you definitely want to feed that with a drain.

to answer your original question...
I have never tried splitting a syphon so I can only speculate on the effects.
Give it shot and see what happens. its easy enough (and inexpensive enough) to reverse if it doesn't work.

ca1ore · 07/07/2013, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHSUB

i have BA, T, gate value on each side of T. one side goes to skimmer, one side goes to fug. works perfectly!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2130667

Nice neat plumbing! Mine never ends up quite that way ....

Anyhow, you have done exactly what I'm thinking about doing, though I had thought to put a single gate before the split, but I like your approach better.

Thx!

07/07/2013, 08:57 AM	#1
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Teeing a Siphon For tanks using either a Herbie or a BA plumbed overflow, has anyone put a diverting manifold on the siphon drain? Seems to me that as long as the T is after the gate valve that things should work fine, but was curious whether anyone has actually done it? I want to be able to feed an ATO, frag tank and skimmer from the siphon. Siphon will be approx 1,200 gallons/hr.

07/07/2013, 10:19 AM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	I don't understand "feeding" an ATO with a drain. Other that that, I personally wouldn't do it. What will happen in a power outage? Or let me rephrase that, what could happen in a power outage? What happens if one output becomes plugged? __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

07/07/2013, 11:59 AM	#4
Speed Unregister Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 195	I'm with Misled on not understanding feeding the ATO with a drain. you should be topping off with straight ro/di unless you're topping off due to a leak and not evaporation. also not sure you wanna supply a frag tank with drain water, I'd think you'd want skimmed return water for that. honestly, I'm confused here.... my advice... leave the syphon drain alone, you're asking for issues teeing it IMO. As much as you dont want to...use another pump to supply your skimmer. supply your frag tank with skimmed water from your return and supply your ATO by whatever system you're currently using for RO/DI water. __________________ Good Things Happen Slowly..... Bad Things Happen Fast! Current Tank Info: Slowest 125g build in history

07/07/2013, 01:04 PM	#6
CHSUB "Certified Hobby Expert" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 2,038	i have BA, T, gate value on each side of T. one side goes to skimmer, one side goes to fug. works perfectly! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2130667 __________________ Goniopora Police _________________ building a 60"x36"x30" peninsula reef...follow at "NEW TANK BUILD" on reef discussion forum! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110638

07/07/2013, 02:29 PM	#8
Speed Unregister Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 195	now I'm with you. yeah, you definitely want to feed that with a drain. to answer your original question... I have never tried splitting a syphon so I can only speculate on the effects. Give it shot and see what happens. its easy enough (and inexpensive enough) to reverse if it doesn't work. __________________ Good Things Happen Slowly..... Bad Things Happen Fast! Current Tank Info: Slowest 125g build in history

07/07/2013, 11:23 AM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Well, you only ever run a drain siphon, IMO, if your tank also has an open backup. So in the event any part of the siphon gets plugged, the open pipe will handle the extra flow. Even better to have the two backups in the BA design. So, am not worried about blockage, just whether a T or two in the siphon line will allow it to be dialed in reliably. My approach to plumbing tanks is always to take advantage of gravity drains rather than adding extra pumps, so my plan is to feed the ATO from the siphon drain - I just won't need all of the siphon flow (ATO is 12 inches wide, at 35 gallon/hour/inch).