siphon break

nick063 · 01/19/2007, 07:35 PM

i was wondering if someone could tell me more about how to install a siphon break and provide some pics please, also what are the alternatives, is there some alternative like a one way valve or something, anyone have any links for an example? thanks!

192clark · 01/19/2007, 07:41 PM

all you do is drill a small whole or 2 about 1 in below where the waterline is in display. A check valve can get fouled or get stuck open. The best and safest way is siphon break. Pretty much everyone on here will agree. I said to drill more than one hole because a snail could clog one then you would have a back up.

nick063 · 01/19/2007, 07:46 PM

could u show me a pic of one?

AZDesertRat · 01/19/2007, 08:01 PM

The best and safest way by far is the combination of returns being high enough to break the waters surface after a slight backflow and maintaining enough room in your sump to contain that amount of water. A drilled siphon break is a distant second and check valves are dead last.
Drilled holes can and do become plugged with algae, slime, snails, flake food etc. and must be cleaned and maintained regularly. Check valves are a mechanical device and depend on a small sealing surface to work, a grain of sand, slime, algae, a tiny snail, a flake of food or a mysis shrimp or anything can make them fail. You know that stuff you brush or scrape off you glass every day, it also collects on the valve seat.
Proper height returns don't plug, are large enough a snail cannot block them and provide a positive air gap or siphon break. Extra room in the sump is a given no matter what you decide.

Everyone will not agree the drilled holes are best as plainly they are not.

192clark · 01/20/2007, 06:06 AM

you need to maintain enough room in your sump just because the power will fail. That is a given.

01/19/2007, 07:35 PM	#1
nick063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 246	siphon break i was wondering if someone could tell me more about how to install a siphon break and provide some pics please, also what are the alternatives, is there some alternative like a one way valve or something, anyone have any links for an example? thanks!

01/19/2007, 07:41 PM	#2
192clark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 635	all you do is drill a small whole or 2 about 1 in below where the waterline is in display. A check valve can get fouled or get stuck open. The best and safest way is siphon break. Pretty much everyone on here will agree. I said to drill more than one hole because a snail could clog one then you would have a back up.

01/19/2007, 07:46 PM	#3
nick063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 246	could u show me a pic of one?

01/19/2007, 08:01 PM	#4
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The best and safest way by far is the combination of returns being high enough to break the waters surface after a slight backflow and maintaining enough room in your sump to contain that amount of water. A drilled siphon break is a distant second and check valves are dead last. Drilled holes can and do become plugged with algae, slime, snails, flake food etc. and must be cleaned and maintained regularly. Check valves are a mechanical device and depend on a small sealing surface to work, a grain of sand, slime, algae, a tiny snail, a flake of food or a mysis shrimp or anything can make them fail. You know that stuff you brush or scrape off you glass every day, it also collects on the valve seat. Proper height returns don't plug, are large enough a snail cannot block them and provide a positive air gap or siphon break. Extra room in the sump is a given no matter what you decide. Everyone will not agree the drilled holes are best as plainly they are not.

01/20/2007, 06:06 AM	#5
192clark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 635	you need to maintain enough room in your sump just because the power will fail. That is a given.