siphon break?

[reeferhabit]

I just added new retun hosing and last night I flooded my floors because I turned off my power resulting in my sump overflowing.

My question is what is the best way to make a siphon break in a loc line?

[joe 09]

i am not an expert, if you drill a small hole in the return line just below the water line it will break the siphon

[stingythingy45]

Drill a 1/8 hole in one of the links just above the water line.
(make sure it's pointing down)

[NirvanaFan]

I would guess that any drill bit and drill would work. Make sure you test it by shutting off the pump and make sure it stops. Make it a little big just in case something is partially blocking the hole like algae, or a snail, or something like that.

[drparker]

Drill a hole on the under side of it so it sprays into the water. I put my holes on the skinny part. I use two, spaced out so a single snail can't cover both. Remember to check an clean them on a regular basis.

[AZDesertRat]

Drilled holes become plugged and fail. The only foolproof method is to keep the returns close to the surface so they break suction when the tank drops only an inch or so. Always provide at least that much freeboard in the sump at all times. On my 100G tank its only like 4 gallons tops.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
Drilled holes become plugged and fail. The only foolproof method is to keep the returns close to the surface so they break suction when the tank drops only an inch or so. Always provide at least that much freeboard in the sump at all times. On my 100G tank its only like 4 gallons tops.

if the loc lines are two long --you can shorten one so it is closer to the surface

AZ--what's wrong with a drilled hole if you test it every two weeks--I do when I do a water change from my sump--I have to turn off the pump and it simulates a power failure.

[AZDesertRat]

You have no control over when power outages occur, nor do you have control of snails which love to park over drilled holes, algae, flake or frozen food, small fish etc. Its a false sense of security just like check valves that can be defeated by a single grain of sand. The best thing to do is design the returns properly the first time so you don't have to rely on a less optimal method. Properly placed returns should backsiphon no more water than the level of the fingers on your overflow box in most cases.

[dsn112]

if you have one return split into a Y(standard on Oceanic megaflow kits) Can you break syphon with one at water level and one well below, or will it not matter if one breaks?

I currently have them both at water line, but could I be safe with one in the water and one at the line?

[weaselslucks]

my return line is a spray bar so if one hole doesn't work the next one will. just make sure your sump can hold the amounf of water when things turn off

[_E_]

dsn112,
Having one at water level is all that is needed.
Eric

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by dsn112
if you have one return split into a Y(standard on Oceanic megaflow kits) Can you break syphon with one at water level and one well below, or will it not matter if one breaks?

I currently have them both at water line, but could I be safe with one in the water and one at the line?

this is why a suggested chopping one of the loc lines rather then both--I rely on mine going deep because it is a high tank--so I could see cutting one close to the surface and letting the other stay long.