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Thread: preventing a flood

  1. #1
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    Cesar A. Castillo

    Default preventing a flood

    Hi all,

    So I just got my 75 gallon tank to the point where it is circulating water with an overflow box down to a sump and back up. My question, how do I prevent a flood if my siphon in the overflow box breaks and the pump continues working, which it would since there is no power loss.

    Also, hey I am very green at this, and even though I think I have heard all about preventing flooding if the power fails, I will take any and all suggestions/advice you guys have to offer. Thanks!

    I have a lifereef overflow box. A 30 gallon sump. I have a check-valve to prevent siphoning of water back into the sump via the pump return hose.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: preventing a flood

    There shouldn't be enough water in the sump to overflow the tank by much if the siphon breaks. Having multiple U-tubes helps as well.

  3. #3
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    James Walker

    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Do you have a single drain or is it a herbie or beanimal setup? Typically you want to size it such that the stand-by/emergency drain will be able to drain the full speed of the pump until the siphon re-establishes. In the perfect world you should be able to completely close off your siphon return and run the system exclusively through the emergency drain for 10-15 minutes.

  4. #4
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    Cesar A. Castillo

    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Not sure what you mean by drain, so I guess the answer is no, I don't have one. As for the overflow, I don't think I mentioned it was a hang-on-back overflow box.

  5. #5
    Homesteader Adam S's Avatar
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    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Those boxes are okay, but not nearly as bullet proof as bean animal or even herbie overflow setups.

    The usual solution is a Tom Aqua Lifter pump attached to the siphon tube. If too much air gets into the tube and the siphon breaks, the pump will start it again.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Sorry I was confused, I am assuming you are talking about the siphon from the tank to the overflow box? What Adam said should work, another option is to tap a hole at the highest point of the siphon tube and attach a small powerhead to that. The flow will pull any air that gets into the siphon tube and very rapidly re-establish the siphon. You also get some added water movement!

  7. #7
    Registered Member farebox's Avatar
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    Roland E. Wilson

    Default Re: preventing a flood


  8. #8
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    Cesar A. Castillo

    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesW View Post
    Sorry I was confused, I am assuming you are talking about the siphon from the tank to the overflow box? What Adam said should work, another option is to tap a hole at the highest point of the siphon tube and attach a small powerhead to that. The flow will pull any air that gets into the siphon tube and very rapidly re-establish the siphon. You also get some added water movement!
    I like that!

  9. #9
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    Cesar A. Castillo

    Default Re: preventing a flood

    Quote Originally Posted by farebox View Post
    This is what I am using.

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