Don't know if they make something like this

EWC88 · 03/01/2007, 06:49 PM

Hey guys I was wondering if they make some type of electronic that when your power knocks off or something happens and your tank starts to overflow that it shuts off the pump so it won't overflow. Like you put some sensor into the tank that when it touches that it cuts off the pump. Do they make something like that?

capncapo · 03/01/2007, 07:03 PM

They make float switches that will shut current off when the level gets too high. They make switches that will shut current off when a sensor detects water. Noone makes anything that will shut your power off when it's already off.

EWC88 · 03/01/2007, 07:08 PM

Ok, I was just worried that if my power went off it would overflow. I have a overflow box with "U" tube is that possible for this type for no?

JR719 · 03/01/2007, 07:10 PM

Sounds like what you need is a sump large enough to accept the amount of water that will siphon from the display. If the power is already out, electronics won't work.

jer77 · 03/01/2007, 07:15 PM

The water will go down to the bottom of the teeth in the overflow, or where the lowest return is in your tank, which ever is lower.

returnofsid · 03/02/2007, 01:13 AM

When power goes out, your tank will drain via your return lines more than via your overflow. Unless you drill "siphon breaks" in your return line, they'll drain to the lowest point of the return line. It's very easy to fix this potential problem by drilling a small hole in the return just below the water line. When water drains below this hole, the return will suck in air, which breaks the siphon and stops the draining of the tank. For safety reasons, you might drill 2 holes. Helps in case one gets encrusted with coraline or plugged by something. Also, clean them periodically with a toothpick or something. The problem you run into with your overflow is if air bubbles collect in your U tube. This will break the siphon from the tank to the sump and your return pump will continue pumping water from the sump to your tank. Problem is that the U tubes aren't draining the tank to the sump and your tank may overflow. This can be solved by drilling a tiny hole in the very top of the U tube, plase some tape over this hole so you can make the hole even smaller by using a needle to puncture the tape. This will allow air to escape the U tube through the hole instead of building up in the U tube. I've also installed an extra U tube in my overflow for redundancy and extra flow capacity. The problem I've run into by adding a second tube is that now I'm collecting more air bubbles because my return pump isn't pushing enough water to keep both U tubes flowing rapidly enough to keep air bubbles from collecting. Now I've got to find a larger return pump to use. These are a few examples of problems you can have and possible solutions to those problems.

dippin61 · 03/02/2007, 03:52 PM

um, am i missing something here... but, if your power goes out, you wont have power to power anything, even your "electronic cutoff"

03/01/2007, 06:49 PM	#1
EWC88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,114	Don't know if they make something like this Hey guys I was wondering if they make some type of electronic that when your power knocks off or something happens and your tank starts to overflow that it shuts off the pump so it won't overflow. Like you put some sensor into the tank that when it touches that it cuts off the pump. Do they make something like that?

03/01/2007, 07:03 PM	#2
capncapo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 4,664	They make float switches that will shut current off when the level gets too high. They make switches that will shut current off when a sensor detects water. Noone makes anything that will shut your power off when it's already off. __________________ S.L.A.S.H. ............ Often imitated, never duplicated! Venture forth and enjoy life .... the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Current Tank Info: Which one?

03/01/2007, 07:10 PM	#4
JR719 Tang Cop Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: OK Posts: 2,240	Sounds like what you need is a sump large enough to accept the amount of water that will siphon from the display. If the power is already out, electronics won't work. __________________ Can't sleep, clowns will eat me. America is the most grandiose experiment the world has seen, but, I am afraid, it is not going to be a success. Sigmund Freud Current Tank Info: 300 reef, Aqua controller, Deltec calcium reactor, Reeflo 250 skimmer, Icecap bla bla bla

03/01/2007, 07:15 PM	#5
jer77 Phish Lover Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,642	The water will go down to the bottom of the teeth in the overflow, or where the lowest return is in your tank, which ever is lower. __________________ - Jonny -, 120g 5 Year Old Reef w/ SPS, BTA, Zoos & some Softies. 40g Frag Tank. 40g Sump. Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 External Cone Skimmer. 250W Radiums. TaoTronics LED. PanWorld 200PS w/SQWD

03/02/2007, 03:52 PM	#7
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	um, am i missing something here... but, if your power goes out, you wont have power to power anything, even your "electronic cutoff" __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

03/01/2007, 07:08 PM	#3
EWC88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,114	Ok, I was just worried that if my power went off it would overflow. I have a overflow box with "U" tube is that possible for this type for no?

03/02/2007, 01:13 AM	#6
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	When power goes out, your tank will drain via your return lines more than via your overflow. Unless you drill "siphon breaks" in your return line, they'll drain to the lowest point of the return line. It's very easy to fix this potential problem by drilling a small hole in the return just below the water line. When water drains below this hole, the return will suck in air, which breaks the siphon and stops the draining of the tank. For safety reasons, you might drill 2 holes. Helps in case one gets encrusted with coraline or plugged by something. Also, clean them periodically with a toothpick or something. The problem you run into with your overflow is if air bubbles collect in your U tube. This will break the siphon from the tank to the sump and your return pump will continue pumping water from the sump to your tank. Problem is that the U tubes aren't draining the tank to the sump and your tank may overflow. This can be solved by drilling a tiny hole in the very top of the U tube, plase some tape over this hole so you can make the hole even smaller by using a needle to puncture the tape. This will allow air to escape the U tube through the hole instead of building up in the U tube. I've also installed an extra U tube in my overflow for redundancy and extra flow capacity. The problem I've run into by adding a second tube is that now I'm collecting more air bubbles because my return pump isn't pushing enough water to keep both U tubes flowing rapidly enough to keep air bubbles from collecting. Now I've got to find a larger return pump to use. These are a few examples of problems you can have and possible solutions to those problems.