how do i prevent my drilled 125's returns from siphoning too much water?

fast57 · 05/23/2010, 06:05 PM

i have a drilled 125 with 2 returns, one on each side of the tank. I attached the ball and socket adjustable ends to them but if their not set pretty high and above the overflow pipes they'll keep siphoning water back into my sump and overflow it. How can i prevent this? i already tried drilling small holes at their highest point where they attach to the bulkheads at the tank but its still happening!!......i hate working the bugs out...

rayn · 05/23/2010, 06:10 PM

Can't think of the correct name, but isn't there a one way only valve you can put on the pipes to keep the water from flowing back?

fast57 · 05/23/2010, 06:13 PM

a check valve.....was my solution earlier today but after doing some reading here everyone says they fail

Chris27 · 05/23/2010, 06:13 PM

The only way to break the siphon is to drill a small hole in the return plumbing that is above the water level.

fast57 · 05/23/2010, 06:18 PM

i did that...thought that would solve the problem...it makes the sucking sound and for some reason still pulls water. i dont get it!

FearTheTerps · 05/23/2010, 06:24 PM

Once you have the holes drilled to break the siphon you will need to find out how much water flows back into your sump from the return lines. There's still alot of water thats in the pipes that's is going to flow back, there's not much of a way to get around that, you just need to have your sump accommodate that extra water.

FearTheTerps · 05/23/2010, 06:30 PM

You want the anti siphon holes right above the water line, if it's above the waterline there's no way water will enter. The sucking sound you hear is the air getting sucked, once enough air enters then the siphon will break. Try making the hole alittle bigger, more air will enter and break the siphon faster. You will need to do this for both returns lines.

Palting · 05/23/2010, 06:44 PM

Are you sure the water is coming from the return pipe? The anti-siphon hole in mine is tiny, like a pinhead, and I don't get the siphoning effect. To make sure it is NOT the return, raise the ends of the return pipes so its out of the water, then turrn your pumps off. If the backflow and flooding still occurs, then it is not coming from the return pipe siphoning. I would check for leaks anywhere else that may be causing the flooding.

reefWW96 · 05/23/2010, 07:03 PM

if you have one of those flexible joint return line things like i and most people have, you must make sure you dont cover up the small hole that breaks siphon with one of the other joints being bent.

fast57 · 05/23/2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefWW96

if you have one of those flexible joint return line things like i and most people have, you must make sure you dont cover up the small hole that breaks siphon with one of the other joints being bent.

i have that type. but for some reason there wasnt any holes on it anywhere. I i have a 45g with a HOB overflow and on the return line theres a small hole. That one works flawlessly. Thats why i got the idea to drill a hole in it at the highset point.

rayn · 05/23/2010, 08:00 PM

Maybe try more then one hole. Like fear said, you'll always have some flow back just have to plan for that.

iamwrasseman · 05/23/2010, 08:12 PM

one hole will do you are probably just not giving it enough time to end the overflowing water . it wont siphone but will still flow till the level drops . make sure you design the sump to handle the overflow water or it will overflow onto the floor .

Indymann99 · 05/23/2010, 08:22 PM

I have a checkvalve but I positioned my returns almost at the surface so they will only drain about 1 inch from my display. My sump can handle that much extra water.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ankdec2009.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...kdoorsopen.jpg

mihamlet · 05/26/2010, 10:31 AM

Yeah, I had to fiddle with the size of my siphone break hole too on my 55 gallon to minimize the amount of water siphoned back to sump on a power failure. Make sure nothing can clog the hole like salt creep, etc.

05/23/2010, 06:05 PM	#1
fast57 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: southside of chicago Posts: 667	how do i prevent my drilled 125's returns from siphoning too much water? i have a drilled 125 with 2 returns, one on each side of the tank. I attached the ball and socket adjustable ends to them but if their not set pretty high and above the overflow pipes they'll keep siphoning water back into my sump and overflow it. How can i prevent this? i already tried drilling small holes at their highest point where they attach to the bulkheads at the tank but its still happening!!......i hate working the bugs out...

05/23/2010, 06:44 PM	#8
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Are you sure the water is coming from the return pipe? The anti-siphon hole in mine is tiny, like a pinhead, and I don't get the siphoning effect. To make sure it is NOT the return, raise the ends of the return pipes so its out of the water, then turrn your pumps off. If the backflow and flooding still occurs, then it is not coming from the return pipe siphoning. I would check for leaks anywhere else that may be causing the flooding. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

05/23/2010, 08:12 PM	#12
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	one hole will do you are probably just not giving it enough time to end the overflowing water . it wont siphone but will still flow till the level drops . make sure you design the sump to handle the overflow water or it will overflow onto the floor . __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

05/23/2010, 08:22 PM	#13
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I have a checkvalve but I positioned my returns almost at the surface so they will only drain about 1 inch from my display. My sump can handle that much extra water. http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ankdec2009.jpg http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...kdoorsopen.jpg __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Return line siphon break question??	chase0830	New to the Hobby	4	11/15/2009 09:30 PM
Drilled tank (back) Anti-siphon setups	Mouse	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	03/10/2009 04:03 PM
Drill the return or over the top return?	Fishdisease	New to the Hobby	22	02/29/2008 08:55 AM
Return Pipe Siphon Question	Avgou	New to the Hobby	11	02/27/2008 08:18 PM
Return line siphon break?	rob020880	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	7	06/05/2007 03:25 PM

05/23/2010, 06:10 PM	#2
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Can't think of the correct name, but isn't there a one way only valve you can put on the pipes to keep the water from flowing back?

05/23/2010, 06:13 PM	#3
fast57 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: southside of chicago Posts: 667	a check valve.....was my solution earlier today but after doing some reading here everyone says they fail

05/23/2010, 06:13 PM	#4
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	The only way to break the siphon is to drill a small hole in the return plumbing that is above the water level.

05/23/2010, 06:18 PM	#5
fast57 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: southside of chicago Posts: 667	i did that...thought that would solve the problem...it makes the sucking sound and for some reason still pulls water. i dont get it!

05/23/2010, 06:24 PM	#6
FearTheTerps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hagerstown, Maryland Posts: 87	Once you have the holes drilled to break the siphon you will need to find out how much water flows back into your sump from the return lines. There's still alot of water thats in the pipes that's is going to flow back, there's not much of a way to get around that, you just need to have your sump accommodate that extra water.

05/23/2010, 06:30 PM	#7
FearTheTerps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hagerstown, Maryland Posts: 87	You want the anti siphon holes right above the water line, if it's above the waterline there's no way water will enter. The sucking sound you hear is the air getting sucked, once enough air enters then the siphon will break. Try making the hole alittle bigger, more air will enter and break the siphon faster. You will need to do this for both returns lines.

05/23/2010, 07:03 PM	#9
reefWW96 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 300	if you have one of those flexible joint return line things like i and most people have, you must make sure you dont cover up the small hole that breaks siphon with one of the other joints being bent.

05/23/2010, 08:00 PM	#11
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Maybe try more then one hole. Like fear said, you'll always have some flow back just have to plan for that.

05/26/2010, 10:31 AM	#14
mihamlet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 52	Yeah, I had to fiddle with the size of my siphone break hole too on my 55 gallon to minimize the amount of water siphoned back to sump on a power failure. Make sure nothing can clog the hole like salt creep, etc.