OK I have a problem. On the return line from my sump if the power were to go out, I would have a major syphoning issue. What happens is the pumps stops then starts sucking water from my main tank down into the sump. Pretty my I have some PVC running up to two elbows that are in the water. How can I stop the syphon without redoing it all?
FastFish720
You need to drill a couple holes in the return pipe just below the water level. Either that, or install a check valve (or both).
It's hard to do now that your setup is running, but if you can take any pipe apart to temporarily break the siphon, do that and then drill 2 or 3 small (1/16" or so, maybe a little larger) holes in the pipe so that the holes are jsut below the surface of the water. When power goes out, the water will backsiphon until the water surface is level with the holes. It will break the siphon.
Make sure you keep the holes clean and free of any debris. If they become clogged, you lose the anti-siphon. When I used this method, I cleaned them with a pipe cleaner about every 3 or 4 days...
It's hard to do now that your setup is running, but if you can take any pipe apart to temporarily break the siphon, do that and then drill 2 or 3 small (1/16" or so, maybe a little larger) holes in the pipe so that the holes are jsut below the surface of the water. When power goes out, the water will backsiphon until the water surface is level with the holes. It will break the siphon.
Make sure you keep the holes clean and free of any debris. If they become clogged, you lose the anti-siphon. When I used this method, I cleaned them with a pipe cleaner about every 3 or 4 days...
FastFish,
Where does your return pipe go when it gets to the main tank?
Down to the bottom?
trodder,
I wouldn't trust a check valve alone, but anti-siphon holes do require that you don't neglect them. I learned the hard way with about 30 gallons of salt water on my floor (when I was renting a duplex, above my landlord
) and a bunch of stressed-out corals...
Where does your return pipe go when it gets to the main tank?
Down to the bottom?
trodder,
I wouldn't trust a check valve alone, but anti-siphon holes do require that you don't neglect them. I learned the hard way with about 30 gallons of salt water on my floor (when I was renting a duplex, above my landlord
) and a bunch of stressed-out corals...-
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