Starting a siphon in a over flow help needed

[Neuahda]

I recently built a sump for my tank. Unfortunately, my tank wasn't drilled . So I had to buy an over flow. It's supposed to be a 1000 gph. My problem is I'm not sure how to start the siphon. The tube that is used to move the water out of the box is not flexible. It's a U tube and it will not bend. I was wondering if any one had any tricks to starting the siphon? I can get it started with some difficulty by dipping the whole tube in the water and plugging the ends of the tube. Then I very carefully place the tube in the water and then unplug the ends. If anyone has any tips please let me know. If the way I'm doing it is the only way please let me know.

 

[ThrillYa]

Take a section of air hose and and slip it into the U tube until the end of the air hose is at the bottom of the U. Place the U tub in the overflow and suck on the other end of the air hose. Once the water is flowing you can wiggle the air hose out without stopping the siphon.

At least that's how I do it.

 

[Anonymous]

Some overflow has a nipple on the top of the inverted U-tube for you to suck the air out and start the siphon. If it does not have it, then ThrilYa's suggestion will work.

I used a small air/water pump (AquaLifter) to make sure the siphon is working at all time. Some people use a powerhead with a venturi adoptor to accomplish the same job (but using a lot more electricity).

 

[danimal]

Dependoing on your set up this might work - If there is no nipple just cut into the straight tube and add a "T" fitting and then run a pc of flexible tubing off the "T" back to the top of the tank - this is now a convenient place to restart the siphon whenever needed and it does not interfere with removing the tube for cleaning. I use this method on my AGA tank to supplement the flow to the rufugium as the corner overflows can not keep up with the pumps - it worrks great!

 

[Neuahda]

Thanks for all the great advice.

danimal- where can I get a T fitting like that?

 

[Mihai]

I used a small air/water pump (AquaLifter) to make sure the siphon is working at all time. Some people use a powerhead with a venturi adoptor to accomplish the same job (but using a lot more electricity).

That's exactly what I was thinking to use for a closed loop, and use the closed loop pump with a venturi intake to make sure the siphon is always maintained. Why do you say that adding a venturi will increase the consumption? Did you say that or I'm just dreaming?.

Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

danimal's suggest will work if your siphon tub has the same diameter as the common PVC pipe. However, if there is nothing special about your rigid siphon tube, you maybe able to replace it with common PVC pipe or use a flexible vinyl tubing... you take the rish when you do modification like that.

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Mihai, a AquaLifer use about 3 watt of electricity. You will be hard pressed to find a venturi setup that can do the same "sucking" with the same amount of electricity consumption.

 

[Mihai]

I plan to use a lot more watts for the closed loop anyway. My questions is if having a venturi on the input will cost me in heat/energy/etc/... (as opposed to a clear input). I was planning to use the same watts for the closed loop as for the sucking part (buy closed loop, get the sucking for free ).
My question is: is it really for free?
M.

 

[Anonymous]

>..My question is: is it really for free?

Nothing is free, and in the case of close loop, the back pressure in the venturi valve will cost you more than you want to.

 

[Mihai]

>..My question is: is it really for free?

Nothing is free, and in the case of close loop, the back pressure in the venturi valve will cost you more than you want to.

Don't stop there... just tell me, what's gonna cost me? Pump dying sooner than it should? Please, don't let me hanging there.

M.

 

[Anonymous]

You are too demanding...

It will cost you more electricity, more heat and less flow.

 

[Mihai]

OK, thanks. I can trade that for peace of mind.
M.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO, AquaLifter is more reliable than venturi vac if you filter the input with the mini filter that it is often assoicated with.

 

[Mihai]

IMO, AquaLifter is more reliable than venturi vac if you filter the input with the mini filter that it is often assoicated with.

You couldn't just stop there, could ya?

What do you mean by that? I'm not familiar with the AquaLifter, but I assumed that it's just a pump that you use with a venturi input and open intake and output for starting and maintaining the siphon... You seem to imply otherwise...

I only need my solution as long as the circulation pump works (if it's dead, there is no danger of overflow, it will just be less circulation in the tank for a while). But, again, you seem to imply that I might lose siphon (how else could be something more reliable than other, if none fail?).

So, what's the deal with the AquaLifter?

M.

 

[Anonymous]

AquaLifer is a fluid pump that can used on both air and water. It is a type of "flapper" air pump. It is not associated with venturi.

I was just giving you an alternative that will save you some energy.

 

[kbauer]

Going back to the original post by Neuadha, the best advice I ever got on starting a siphon in a U tube was also here on this board and it was this: have water in both the overflows, fill the U tube with water, then simply place a piece of saran wrap (I use Stretch-tite), but I'm sure any type film would be fine, over each end of the U tube, invert the tube and when both ends are in water, just pull off the saran wrap and voila! siphon is ready to go. Make sure you have unplugged the pump filling the tank first. It's a pretty easy method, and it sure beats sucking on that airline tubing which was my old method!

 

[Mihai]

AquaLifer is a fluid pump that can used on both air and water. It is a type of "flapper" air pump. It is not associated with venturi.

I see. That's cool. I don't see how this is "more" reliable than the venturi. I see them just as reliable. But I admit that the venturi solution only works if you have a bad a** pump that you want to user for some other purposes (e.g., circulation), and you don't mind the watts.

Thanks for the input, I'm more relaxed now that I got my design OK-ed by others.

Oh, and the saran method: that's super! never heard of it before, but it sounds fool-proof.

Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

>... I don't see how this is "more" reliable than the venturi. I see them just as reliable. ...

If you ever have a venturi skimmer, you will need to clean the valve periodically to get the skimmer to work at optimal setting. As mentioned above, venturi is pone to clog if not clean regularly.

 

[Mihai]

Hmmm... for the skimmer the venturi gets clogged with salt creep. But in this case, the venturi will have water flowing through it at all times. It should NOT clog. This being said, the time might prove me wrong (I didn't build this yet, it's just a plan, will get to it in a few weeks).

Regards,
M.

 

[gabemerrill]

My .02$ If you are worried about reliability, spend $30 and get your tank drilled at a LFS. I've got a CPR overflow (80 bux) that has been running for ~6 months on one tank and one that is drilled... I'm getting the second tank drilled when I move at the end of the month, wish I had done it in the beginning. The overflow requires constant maintenance, and when the venturi gets clogged by a small snail or other stuff it sure makes a HUGE (not to mention very expensive) mess. Not a good way to come back from vacation I promise...