how to start siphon with overflow box?

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 02:01 AM

I need help getting the siphon to start. It doesn't have the lifter pump to start the siphon and someone told me to put a piece of airtube through the external overflow box into the tube and suck the air out but I don't see how that works because I tried it and no luck. I have some pictures to show how the overflow box looks. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

PRDubois · 12/23/2009, 02:07 AM

Put the airline into the pipe till the end is at the top.
As you suck out the air, Water will raise in the tube.
(Best way is using a powerhead that has a airline attachment or a aculifter pump)

You want to suck out 100% of the air.

PS when you are not sucking on the tube ether pull it out or plug it up with your finger or you will just let the air back into the tube

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 02:09 AM

I tried that but the water level doesn't rise. Does there need to be water in the external overflow part of the box? because as you can see from the pictures, the internal part is only a pipe in the tank and the external part has no water in it. I tried sucking on the airline tubing that I put in the pipe and nothing happened.

PRDubois · 12/23/2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dviper150

I tried that but the water level doesn't rise. Does there need to be water in the external overflow part of the box? because as you can see from the pictures, the internal part is only a pipe in the tank and the external part has no water in it. I tried sucking on the airline tubing that I put in the pipe and nothing happened.

YES - Water needs to be on both sides

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 02:19 AM

How do I fill in water on the external side, Wouldn't the water just keep down the pipe? I don't have any valves on the inflow pipe to stop any flow.

PRDubois · 12/23/2009, 02:23 AM

The top of the white pipe should be higher then the bottom of the U pipe.
SO - If you pour some water in that side with a cup some water should always stay

PRDubois · 12/23/2009, 02:25 AM

Like this:

jrp1588 · 12/23/2009, 02:26 AM

is your overflow missing a part? It looks like an eshopps overlfow, but it missing the black part that goes inside the tank. Something like this.

To fill the external part, you just need to fill the section that the U tube goes into. I hope you have the black overflow part, if not, it won't work right at all.

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 02:57 AM

Thanks a lot Paul. I just did what you said and it started working. the problem that happened was I left the airline tube in the pipe while the siphon started and i had no idea water was coming out from the airline tube. Part of my carpet got wet but it wasn't much. I have a hole drilled in the return pipe right beneath the water level so if the power goes out the siphon will break and it won't over flood.

Felix T Cat · 12/23/2009, 05:41 AM

As a side note check google "gurgle buster" or follow this link:
http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/

Build one and stuff it in the out of the tank box. It will help with the overflow noise.

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 03:17 PM

New problem just came up, As the the sump started, it drained the tank water a little. Now when I filled up my tank, the water went to the sump and the sump water level increased. the tank water level is still a little low so if I had another 5 gallons will it overflood the sump?

jrp1588 · 12/23/2009, 03:23 PM

You never answered me whether or not your overflow has the black part I have pictured above. the part that would hang on the inside of the tank that has the teeth. This part regulates the water level in the display tank. You move it up or down as desired. If you don't have this part, then you can't adjust, and all additional water will go to the sump.

dviper150 · 12/23/2009, 05:15 PM

I'm sorry...I didn't have that internal box and I went out and bought it today and you were right, that was the problem. Thanks for the all the help guys. Happy Holidays!!!

jrp1588 · 12/23/2009, 05:18 PM

I suspected as much. haha. I've got almost the exact same setup on my tank. It works pretty well once you get it dialed in. I haven't lost suction on it once.

12/23/2009, 02:01 AM	#1
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	how to start siphon with overflow box? I need help getting the siphon to start. It doesn't have the lifter pump to start the siphon and someone told me to put a piece of airtube through the external overflow box into the tube and suck the air out but I don't see how that works because I tried it and no luck. I have some pictures to show how the overflow box looks. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 02:07 AM	#2
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Put the airline into the pipe till the end is at the top. As you suck out the air, Water will raise in the tube. (Best way is using a powerhead that has a airline attachment or a aculifter pump) You want to suck out 100% of the air. PS when you are not sucking on the tube ether pull it out or plug it up with your finger or you will just let the air back into the tube __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

12/23/2009, 02:09 AM	#3
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	I tried that but the water level doesn't rise. Does there need to be water in the external overflow part of the box? because as you can see from the pictures, the internal part is only a pipe in the tank and the external part has no water in it. I tried sucking on the airline tubing that I put in the pipe and nothing happened. __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 02:19 AM	#5
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	How do I fill in water on the external side, Wouldn't the water just keep down the pipe? I don't have any valves on the inflow pipe to stop any flow. __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 02:23 AM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	The top of the white pipe should be higher then the bottom of the U pipe. SO - If you pour some water in that side with a cup some water should always stay __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

12/23/2009, 02:25 AM	#7
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Like this: __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

12/23/2009, 02:26 AM	#8
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	is your overflow missing a part? It looks like an eshopps overlfow, but it missing the black part that goes inside the tank. Something like this. To fill the external part, you just need to fill the section that the U tube goes into. I hope you have the black overflow part, if not, it won't work right at all.

12/23/2009, 02:57 AM	#9
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	Thanks a lot Paul. I just did what you said and it started working. the problem that happened was I left the airline tube in the pipe while the siphon started and i had no idea water was coming out from the airline tube. Part of my carpet got wet but it wasn't much. I have a hole drilled in the return pipe right beneath the water level so if the power goes out the siphon will break and it won't over flood. __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 05:41 AM	#10
Felix T Cat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Honey Brook, PA Posts: 557	As a side note check google "gurgle buster" or follow this link: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/ Build one and stuff it in the out of the tank box. It will help with the overflow noise.

12/23/2009, 03:17 PM	#11
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	New problem just came up, As the the sump started, it drained the tank water a little. Now when I filled up my tank, the water went to the sump and the sump water level increased. the tank water level is still a little low so if I had another 5 gallons will it overflood the sump? __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 03:23 PM	#12
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	You never answered me whether or not your overflow has the black part I have pictured above. the part that would hang on the inside of the tank that has the teeth. This part regulates the water level in the display tank. You move it up or down as desired. If you don't have this part, then you can't adjust, and all additional water will go to the sump.

12/23/2009, 05:15 PM	#13
dviper150 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 2,799	I'm sorry...I didn't have that internal box and I went out and bought it today and you were right, that was the problem. Thanks for the all the help guys. Happy Holidays!!! __________________ When in doubt, always have a way out.

12/23/2009, 05:18 PM	#14
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	I suspected as much. haha. I've got almost the exact same setup on my tank. It works pretty well once you get it dialed in. I haven't lost suction on it once.