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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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07-31-2009, 01:13 AM
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#1
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clowns rock
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: maryland
Posts: 733
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i have an idea
now you get from your display by some sort of overflow and you get water out of a sump by use of a return pump but if the power goes out you get back-syphon and more water in your sump, now what if you use a return pump to get water to the sump, this way if the power goes out the water goes nowhere. Any thoughts?
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07-31-2009, 01:33 AM
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#2
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 525
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well even with two pumps its still create a syphon. you have to make a air hole somewhere on the pipe going to the sump, unless you have hangover over flow, which I don't think you need to have air hole. Let's see what others have to say....
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07-31-2009, 01:46 AM
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#3
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The Muddy Mod
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Posts: 5,522
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Pumping water in both directions is a recipe for disaster. If the return pump fails/clogs you have a wet floor!
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Butch
***Factory Trained BMW Driver***
****Proud member of the PRG**** 
*President of Tri-State Reef Society*
"I'm King of the Sea People" - Cartman 
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07-31-2009, 05:39 AM
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#4
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Super Swole Fish
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: anderson sc
Posts: 319
Reviews: 26
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like whatevva said that will mess up if a failure happens
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gettin SWOLE
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07-31-2009, 05:51 AM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Lewisville, TX
Posts: 112
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you could just put a check valve in the system
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Sorry if I offended anyone with my biz offer. Was just trying to give everyone the some opportunity I have been given. 
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07-31-2009, 07:11 AM
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#6
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whatevva
Pumping water in both directions is a recipe for disaster. If the return pump fails/clogs you have a wet floor!
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Ditto!A cople of holes just under the top of your water levle in the return tube will break the spyon.
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07-31-2009, 07:46 AM
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#7
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The Muddy Mod
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Posts: 5,522
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The best solution is to have a sump large enough to handle any water that siphons out. Check valves help, but can get stuck.
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Butch
***Factory Trained BMW Driver***
****Proud member of the PRG****
*President of Tri-State Reef Society*
"I'm King of the Sea People" - Cartman
Last edited by whatevva; 07-31-2009 at 07:53 AM.
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07-31-2009, 10:31 AM
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#8
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Highland Heights, KY
Posts: 771
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drill your anti siphons and you're good... unless you lose siphon, that'll still wet everything
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07-31-2009, 10:38 AM
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#9
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spaceman spiff
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,633
Reviews: 72
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drilling holes (just below the water surface) in the return plumbing will eliminate siphoning and minimize any water transfer when the power cuts off. Trying to match pump flow rates is (as Butch points out) a surefire flood in the making, and I've never seen a check valve with enough reliability to use with confidence.
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07-31-2009, 08:35 PM
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#10
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Shark
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Orange Park, Fl
Posts: 2,475
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Anti-siphon holes and using a sump big enough to hold the amount of backflow are the only way to go. It is not possible to keep two pumps adjusted to match the flow. There will always be some variation in flow from each pump due to a variety of reasons. Some of them are buildup on the plumbing or intake screen, power variations and even water temp will alter the amount of water flowing constantly.
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07-31-2009, 09:03 PM
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#11
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It's a reef life!!
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St Marys, GA
Posts: 948
Reviews: 51
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DO NOT TRUST A CHECK VALVE!!! DO NOT TRUST A CHECK VALVE!!! DO NOT TRUST A CHECK VALVE!!! DO NOT TRUST A CHECK VALVE!!! DO NOT TRUST A CHECK VALVE!!!
Its not a matter of if they fail, its when they fail. And hopefully your not on vacation. (IME)
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07-31-2009, 09:40 PM
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#12
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,534
Reviews: 52
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I have tried anti siphon holes, but they always happen to get covered in Coraline or a snail when the power fails... I just put the outlet (locline)at the waters surface mostly submerged leaving just a tad above the water line. Not enough to cause splashing or anything, but enough so that is the power fails a siphon doesn't have a chance to develope. And i get the benefit of more surface aggitation for gas exchange 
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08-01-2009, 08:59 AM
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#13
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Tarpon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Orange Park Florida!
Posts: 1,811
Reviews: 48
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I just keep my main pump on a battery backup and dont worry about it.
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08-01-2009, 09:16 PM
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#14
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Keeper of the Kracken
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Martin, SC
Posts: 11,407
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I cannot remember where I saw it before, but this guy had a setup that looked like a laboratory. He had 3 tanks that all sat on a long table at the same height. Somehow he had them plumbed in a circuit, so that one pump pushed water through the entire system. If the power went out the circulation just stopped. I now wish I would have spent more time paying attention to how he actually plumbed it this way, but unfortunately cannot offer anything more than a story at this point.
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08-01-2009, 09:22 PM
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#15
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clowns rock
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: maryland
Posts: 733
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kinda makes me want to get a generater just for my tank
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