air out of overflow box

juan jose · 05/04/2006, 06:16 PM

IÃ‚Â´ve always hated to sip out the air from the overflow box since I always get water and algae in my mouth which I think itÃ‚Â´s not healthy. IÃ‚Â´ve now started to make a reef and after reading about how toxic my corals can be IÃ‚Â´m more scared to sip out that air. I would like to know if there is an overflow box that doesnÃ‚Â´t need to sip the air out, if it doesnÃ‚Â´t exist how about the best metho to do this. Should I really be concerned about sipping water from the tank?
Thanks.

VSpeck · 05/04/2006, 06:35 PM

what about something like an aqualifter pump thats what i use it works good for me

joe healey · 05/05/2006, 01:05 AM

I have mine connected to the nearest powerhead. works good for restart the siphon on power outage too.

sandstorm1221 · 05/05/2006, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by joe healey
I have mine connected to the nearest powerhead. works good for restart the siphon on power outage too.

Yep

sjm817 · 05/05/2006, 05:20 AM

You should only need to suck air out when first installed or if you take it apart for cleaning. I temporarily use an Aqualifter for this duty, then put it away. A power outage should not require anything to restart the siphon.

juan jose · 05/05/2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
You should only need to suck air out when first installed or if you take it apart for cleaning. I temporarily use an Aqualifter for this duty, then put it away. A power outage should not require anything to restart the siphon.

I have to suck air every two weeks because an air bubble keeps building up and becomes bigger. I thought this happened to everybody.

rooroo · 05/05/2006, 09:48 AM

Are these the boxy, CPR/weir- type overflows or the ones with a U-tube?

Either way, it sounds like you don't have enough water flowing through the tubes to suck the air bubbles along with them. Try increasing your water flow to as much as the overflow will handle. If you have two overflows, take one off and see if that helps. If you still have trouble, consider changing the type of overflow or hook it up to a powerhead.

juan jose · 05/05/2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rooroo
Are these the boxy, CPR/weir- type overflows or the ones with a U-tube?

Either way, it sounds like you don't have enough water flowing through the tubes to suck the air bubbles along with them. Try increasing your water flow to as much as the overflow will handle. If you have two overflows, take one off and see if that helps. If you still have trouble, consider changing the type of overflow or hook it up to a powerhead.

ItÃ‚Â´s the cpr/weir type, I only have one, I upgraded the pump that works as the return pump about a year ago. I canÃ‚Â´t remember how much it pumps back. What do you mean hooking the overflow to a pw, "an airline tube form pw to the inside of the overflow to drain the air inside"?

aufan1 · 05/05/2006, 10:17 AM

On the CPR overflows, there should be a nipple to connect a small pump to pull out the air.

juan jose · 05/05/2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aufan1
On the CPR overflows, there should be a nipple to connect a small pump to pull out the air.

ItÃ‚Â´s a cpr type mine doesnÃ‚Â´t have that nipple to connect a small pump.

KooDeep · 05/05/2006, 10:42 AM

I have a Lifereef overflow (u-tube design). It's pricey, but I haven't had problems with air bubbles forming.

As far as sipping the water is concerned, I don't think you should worry too much considering beach-goers are basically swimming/wading in skimmate.

Jon770 · 05/05/2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by joe healey
I have mine connected to the nearest powerhead. works good for restart the siphon on power outage too.

How, exactly, do you do this? Does anyone have a pic? I have been wondering this for a long time, as I have hte same exact problem with a bubble forming. I will try to upgrade my return pump eventually, but for now I have a bunch of small powerheads lying around anyway....

sjm817 · 05/05/2006, 02:53 PM

Yeah, CPR or CPR type overflows accumulate air and need external pumps to pull the air out. A U Tube overflow does not accumulate air.

Jon770 · 05/05/2006, 03:05 PM

I have a U-Tube and it totally accumulates air.

sjm817 · 05/05/2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon770
I have a U-Tube and it totally accumulates air.

If a U Tube accumulates air, you dont have enough flow through it. You need enough to push the bubbles through. A U Tube overflow should run indefinitely without accumulating any air.

Jon770 · 05/05/2006, 03:40 PM

I know, I need to get a better return pump. But for now - many people have stated you can 'hook up' a powehead to pull out the bubble. How is that done?

sjm817 · 05/05/2006, 03:44 PM

That is for a CPR box. I would not do it with a U Tube overflow. I slide in an airline and suck the air out with an Aqualifter pump when first getting it started, but then pull it out. since it is no longer needed.

TekCat · 05/05/2006, 03:58 PM

If you don't like the taste of saltwater use long airline tube, so before water gets into your mouth there will be plenty of air sucked out.

juan jose · 05/05/2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TekCat
If you don't like the taste of saltwater use long airline tube, so before water gets into your mouth there will be plenty of air sucked out.

I will put that in practice, itÃ‚Â´s not that I donÃ‚Â´t like the taste of saltwater itÃ‚Â´s the toxins of corals that seems unhealthy to drink.

joe healey · 05/06/2006, 01:54 AM

the overflow box has a nipple on top to remove air to start the siphon. the power head (mine is a maxijet 1200) has a place to install the nipple to hook up an air line to allow the pump to blow bubbles in the tank if thats what you want. all you have to do is put an airline between the 2 and the ph continuously sucks any air from the box along with water. only drawback is every minute or so a small blast of bubbles come out of the ph into the dispaly tank, not a ral big deal.

05/04/2006, 06:16 PM	#1
juan jose Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: guadalajara mexico Posts: 232	air out of overflow box IÃ‚Â´ve always hated to sip out the air from the overflow box since I always get water and algae in my mouth which I think itÃ‚Â´s not healthy. IÃ‚Â´ve now started to make a reef and after reading about how toxic my corals can be IÃ‚Â´m more scared to sip out that air. I would like to know if there is an overflow box that doesnÃ‚Â´t need to sip the air out, if it doesnÃ‚Â´t exist how about the best metho to do this. Should I really be concerned about sipping water from the tank? Thanks.

05/04/2006, 06:35 PM	#2
VSpeck Slash Smack Talker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wright City, MO Posts: 4,116	what about something like an aqualifter pump thats what i use it works good for me __________________ Ask DSmack about his momma... Current Tank Info: 150g African

05/05/2006, 01:05 AM	#3
joe healey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 18	I have mine connected to the nearest powerhead. works good for restart the siphon on power outage too. __________________ Joe 75g tank w/ 40g sump/fuge aquac ev-150 southdown and live rock

05/05/2006, 05:20 AM	#5
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	You should only need to suck air out when first installed or if you take it apart for cleaning. I temporarily use an Aqualifter for this duty, then put it away. A power outage should not require anything to restart the siphon. __________________ - Scott

05/05/2006, 02:53 PM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yeah, CPR or CPR type overflows accumulate air and need external pumps to pull the air out. A U Tube overflow does not accumulate air. __________________ - Scott

05/05/2006, 09:48 AM	#7
rooroo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Market, MD Posts: 406	Are these the boxy, CPR/weir- type overflows or the ones with a U-tube? Either way, it sounds like you don't have enough water flowing through the tubes to suck the air bubbles along with them. Try increasing your water flow to as much as the overflow will handle. If you have two overflows, take one off and see if that helps. If you still have trouble, consider changing the type of overflow or hook it up to a powerhead.

05/05/2006, 10:17 AM	#9
aufan1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 137	On the CPR overflows, there should be a nipple to connect a small pump to pull out the air.

05/05/2006, 10:42 AM	#11
KooDeep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 53	I have a Lifereef overflow (u-tube design). It's pricey, but I haven't had problems with air bubbles forming. As far as sipping the water is concerned, I don't think you should worry too much considering beach-goers are basically swimming/wading in skimmate.

05/05/2006, 03:05 PM	#14
Jon770 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 509	I have a U-Tube and it totally accumulates air.

05/05/2006, 03:40 PM	#16
Jon770 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 509	I know, I need to get a better return pump. But for now - many people have stated you can 'hook up' a powehead to pull out the bubble. How is that done?

05/05/2006, 03:44 PM	#17
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	That is for a CPR box. I would not do it with a U Tube overflow. I slide in an airline and suck the air out with an Aqualifter pump when first getting it started, but then pull it out. since it is no longer needed. __________________ - Scott

05/05/2006, 03:58 PM	#18
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	If you don't like the taste of saltwater use long airline tube, so before water gets into your mouth there will be plenty of air sucked out.

05/06/2006, 01:54 AM	#20
joe healey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 18	the overflow box has a nipple on top to remove air to start the siphon. the power head (mine is a maxijet 1200) has a place to install the nipple to hook up an air line to allow the pump to blow bubbles in the tank if thats what you want. all you have to do is put an airline between the 2 and the ph continuously sucks any air from the box along with water. only drawback is every minute or so a small blast of bubbles come out of the ph into the dispaly tank, not a ral big deal. __________________ Joe 75g tank w/ 40g sump/fuge aquac ev-150 southdown and live rock