Water siphoning question?

Dundermifflin · 01/01/2015, 11:15 AM

Want to run a line connected to a power head that's at the bottom of my 50 gallon holding container that goes into my sump. I would leave the end of the line above the sump so that water falls in without the line touching the sump water. Want to be able to simply press a button to fill the sump.

Will this set up work without having to worry about siphoning/back filling? If the power goes out the sump water would not touch the end of this line, but will water from the line come through the power head and overflow the sump when the power head is off?

Suggestions for a better set up appreciated?

Thanks.

igadget56 · 01/01/2015, 11:29 AM

As long as the hose is not in the water you will fine. Only the little bit in the hose will run back to the pump.

dkeller_nc · 01/01/2015, 11:31 AM

Yes, the water will siphon through the powerhead if the water level in the holding tank/barrel is above the tube's height in the sump. There are several ways to solve this issue. One's to drill a small hole in the tube - the hole should be located above the maximum liquid level in the barrel, and placed so that it doesn't spray out of the barrel. When the powerhead is turned off, the hole will allow air into the tube and break the siphon. You may have to experiment with the size of the hole to ensure that it leaks enough air.

Another solution is replace the pump with a peristaltic-type. These typically won't back-siphon because the tube is closed off by the rollers in the pump.

Flippers4pups · 01/01/2015, 12:04 PM

image.jpg

I'm installing a barbed fitting to my fill line after the ball valve. From there will be plastic hose with pvc with elbows that will hang on the tank. You could just put a pair barbed fittings, pvc ball valve and pvc pipe sections on your fill hose to control the siphon issue. Just open the valve to fill and close when done.��

01/01/2015, 11:15 AM	#1
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Water siphoning question? Want to run a line connected to a power head that's at the bottom of my 50 gallon holding container that goes into my sump. I would leave the end of the line above the sump so that water falls in without the line touching the sump water. Want to be able to simply press a button to fill the sump. Will this set up work without having to worry about siphoning/back filling? If the power goes out the sump water would not touch the end of this line, but will water from the line come through the power head and overflow the sump when the power head is off? Suggestions for a better set up appreciated? Thanks.

01/01/2015, 12:04 PM	#4
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	image.jpg I'm installing a barbed fitting to my fill line after the ball valve. From there will be plastic hose with pvc with elbows that will hang on the tank. You could just put a pair barbed fittings, pvc ball valve and pvc pipe sections on your fill hose to control the siphon issue. Just open the valve to fill and close when done.�� __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

01/01/2015, 11:29 AM	#2
igadget56 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 820	As long as the hose is not in the water you will fine. Only the little bit in the hose will run back to the pump.

01/01/2015, 11:31 AM	#3
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Yes, the water will siphon through the powerhead if the water level in the holding tank/barrel is above the tube's height in the sump. There are several ways to solve this issue. One's to drill a small hole in the tube - the hole should be located above the maximum liquid level in the barrel, and placed so that it doesn't spray out of the barrel. When the powerhead is turned off, the hole will allow air into the tube and break the siphon. You may have to experiment with the size of the hole to ensure that it leaks enough air. Another solution is replace the pump with a peristaltic-type. These typically won't back-siphon because the tube is closed off by the rollers in the pump.