U-Tube

crispyreef · 05/12/2007, 10:54 AM

I wanted to know if anybody out there has any good tricks for getting U-tubes started without having any bubbles at the top. I can't seem to to get a good siphon. TIA

Toddrtrex · 05/12/2007, 10:58 AM

The way that I get mine started is to stick an airline tube in there and suck.

Best to have the airline tube at the highest point of the U tube.

Once it is running the flow though the U tube should be fast enough to prevent any bubble from collecting. I have two U tube overflows on my on 2 of my 3 tanks and have never had an issue with bubbles collecting. Check that, there was time, and that was shortly after a move and my return pump needed to be cleaned and was running to slow.

HTH.

sjm817 · 05/12/2007, 10:59 AM

If the return pump is running, the bubble at the top should be pushed through. If it isn't, you may need more flow.

DarG · 05/12/2007, 10:59 AM

I use an aqualifter pump left over from when I had a CS overflow. I just shoved the airline about 1/2 way up one side of the u-tube and 20 seconds or so later, I had siphon.
It may be worth getting one just to restar siphon after cleanings. They are all of 12 bucks.

In Lieu of that, airline tubing and your built in vacuum cleaner, IOW, suck them out with your mouth.

luke33 · 05/12/2007, 12:27 PM

Yea, thats the only thing i don't like about my utube's. When i want to start them i always get a taste of sw. Not so good, but they never loose syphon when used correctly.

kdblove_99 · 05/12/2007, 01:41 PM

I also use the airline..

But after the water hits the top of the U tube and starts going i pinch the airline and then pull it out.

crispyreef · 05/13/2007, 10:32 AM

Thanks fellas. I think I need more flow from my return. I'm going to put on a different pump and see how it works.

Toddrtrex · 05/13/2007, 10:36 AM

Which pump do you have now?

JOSEPHLB · 05/14/2007, 08:29 AM

I just pulled my U-tube overflow box off this weekend to clean it up.
After initially setting it up with the start of my tank setup I learned a few things that carried over to me starting it up again this weekend.

1) Make sure the inner box is at its correct level and has water in it.

2) Make sure outer box is full or a tad bit lower than the pipe/drain.

3) Use soft tubing. It pulls out of the U-tube easier without the risk of disrupting the siphon.

4) Stick the soft tubing up into the U-tube up until almost to the top of the peak of the U-tube.

5) Raise the U-tube up about half way out of the boxes, but maintaining them in the water still. Now, the outer side of the tube is longer, and the inner part of the tube is shorter. With the positioning of the soft tubing up toward the top, you'll hardly get any SW.

6) A light sucking action should pull water through the inner part of the tube. It will also pull some through the outer part of the tube. Since you have the soft tubing pushed up to almost the top of the U-tube, the inner part of the tube will fill up quicker and proceed to overflow through the the rest of the tube. At that point lower the U-tube down to its position. Pull the soft tubing out of the U-tube.

My Hurricane U-tube overflow came with a piece of the harder, rigid tubing and it was a pain to pull out of the U-tube. I've found that the softer, flexible tubing pulls out much easier.

05/12/2007, 10:54 AM	#1
crispyreef Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Bay Posts: 1,189	U-Tube I wanted to know if anybody out there has any good tricks for getting U-tubes started without having any bubbles at the top. I can't seem to to get a good siphon. TIA

05/12/2007, 10:58 AM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	The way that I get mine started is to stick an airline tube in there and suck. Best to have the airline tube at the highest point of the U tube. Once it is running the flow though the U tube should be fast enough to prevent any bubble from collecting. I have two U tube overflows on my on 2 of my 3 tanks and have never had an issue with bubbles collecting. Check that, there was time, and that was shortly after a move and my return pump needed to be cleaned and was running to slow. HTH. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

05/12/2007, 10:59 AM	#3
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	If the return pump is running, the bubble at the top should be pushed through. If it isn't, you may need more flow. __________________ - Scott

05/13/2007, 10:36 AM	#8
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Which pump do you have now? __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

05/12/2007, 10:59 AM	#4
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	I use an aqualifter pump left over from when I had a CS overflow. I just shoved the airline about 1/2 way up one side of the u-tube and 20 seconds or so later, I had siphon. It may be worth getting one just to restar siphon after cleanings. They are all of 12 bucks. In Lieu of that, airline tubing and your built in vacuum cleaner, IOW, suck them out with your mouth.

05/12/2007, 12:27 PM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Yea, thats the only thing i don't like about my utube's. When i want to start them i always get a taste of sw. Not so good, but they never loose syphon when used correctly.

05/12/2007, 01:41 PM	#6
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I also use the airline.. But after the water hits the top of the U tube and starts going i pinch the airline and then pull it out.

05/13/2007, 10:32 AM	#7
crispyreef Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Bay Posts: 1,189	Thanks fellas. I think I need more flow from my return. I'm going to put on a different pump and see how it works.

05/14/2007, 08:29 AM	#9
JOSEPHLB Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Spring Grove, PA Posts: 287	I just pulled my U-tube overflow box off this weekend to clean it up. After initially setting it up with the start of my tank setup I learned a few things that carried over to me starting it up again this weekend. 1) Make sure the inner box is at its correct level and has water in it. 2) Make sure outer box is full or a tad bit lower than the pipe/drain. 3) Use soft tubing. It pulls out of the U-tube easier without the risk of disrupting the siphon. 4) Stick the soft tubing up into the U-tube up until almost to the top of the peak of the U-tube. 5) Raise the U-tube up about half way out of the boxes, but maintaining them in the water still. Now, the outer side of the tube is longer, and the inner part of the tube is shorter. With the positioning of the soft tubing up toward the top, you'll hardly get any SW. 6) A light sucking action should pull water through the inner part of the tube. It will also pull some through the outer part of the tube. Since you have the soft tubing pushed up to almost the top of the U-tube, the inner part of the tube will fill up quicker and proceed to overflow through the the rest of the tube. At that point lower the U-tube down to its position. Pull the soft tubing out of the U-tube. My Hurricane U-tube overflow came with a piece of the harder, rigid tubing and it was a pain to pull out of the U-tube. I've found that the softer, flexible tubing pulls out much easier.