do they make a?

wiscsaltwater · 04/10/2008, 07:49 PM

I had a power outage last night and one of my fuges overflowed a bit, not much maybe a gallon but it led me to wonder if they make such a thing, maybe a plumber could answer better.

Do they make such a thing as a powered valve for the 3/4 inch pvc that my return runs, something maybe low voltage that is open when there is power to it but would snap shut if the power went out and it lost power, it would seem to be a failsafe for preventing overflow when your fuge is just a bit full to accomodate the tank overflow water.

I know ideally you should keep your water level in your fuge low enough so your tank doesnt fill it up but sometimes its just a bit full or whatever.

demonsp · 04/10/2008, 07:59 PM

Drilling a hole in the return pipe an inch or so below the surface will stop the siphon.

NewFish3 · 04/10/2008, 08:02 PM

Hmmm..Just a thought, What about a check valve. When the pump is running the water is flowing.....but if the pump stops & the water starts to go backwards the check valve stops it.

Not sure if they make check valves for 3/4". I have a McMaster Carr catalog....if its made, they will have it

I will look & let you know

demonsp · 04/10/2008, 08:04 PM

I think these would not work so well after time whene algea and other debris collect in the tube.

Toddrtrex · 04/10/2008, 08:07 PM

They do make 3/4 inch check valves, however check valve will fail. Its not a matter of if, but of when.

Just design your system so that when the main pump is off that there is enough room in your sump/fuge to handle the extra water.

Siphon holes help, but they can get clogged with algae. Just make sure that your return line is high enough in the tank that it stops pulling in water before the sump/fuge over flows. That really is the only sure fire way to assure that you won't have a flood.

wiscsaltwater · 04/10/2008, 08:11 PM

check valve would be useless on a syphonn return since the water does not change direction in a power outage.

NewFish3 · 04/10/2008, 08:16 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Toddrtrex
[B]They do make 3/4 inch check valves, however check valve will fail. Its not a matter of if, but of when.

Ah Ha...Didn't think of that.........as you & demomsp both said. Dam algae......ya.....as soon as it builds up, there goes the use of a check valve.

PLEASE. explain what you said.....Iam getting ready to set up a 90..or..120 gal tank. I would like to jot this down in my notes for my set up.

dunham16 · 04/10/2008, 08:16 PM

They do make motorized ball valves with on/off switches that could be wired that way but i only know of brass ones not sure if they are made in PVC.

kau_cinta_ku · 04/10/2008, 08:17 PM

actually water does change direction during a power outage, the return pump pushes water to the main tank from the sump when power is on, when power is off the return line from the ruturn pump creates a syphon and will rairn water through your return line back to the sump till the end of your return line in the main tank gets air.

3 things to cure it.
1 drill 2 - 1/8" holes a about 1" below the water line in your return nozzle (this will drain the tank only 1")

2. check valve

3. lower the water level in your sump to accomadate the extra water.

number 1, and 2 will require you to keep checking and cleaning to make sure they don't get clogged.

Toddrtrex · 04/10/2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewFish3
Ah Ha...Didn't think of that.........as you & demomsp both said. Dam algae......ya.....as soon as it builds up, there goes the use of a check valve.

PLEASE. explain what you said.....Iam getting ready to set up a 90..or..120 gal tank. I would like to jot this down in my notes for my set up.

Would be happy to explain, just ask anything you want.

(( with out coming off as sarcastic.... It makes sense to me, so hard to explain it any differently, so the more specific the question the better. ))

04/10/2008, 07:49 PM	#1
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	do they make a? I had a power outage last night and one of my fuges overflowed a bit, not much maybe a gallon but it led me to wonder if they make such a thing, maybe a plumber could answer better. Do they make such a thing as a powered valve for the 3/4 inch pvc that my return runs, something maybe low voltage that is open when there is power to it but would snap shut if the power went out and it lost power, it would seem to be a failsafe for preventing overflow when your fuge is just a bit full to accomodate the tank overflow water. I know ideally you should keep your water level in your fuge low enough so your tank doesnt fill it up but sometimes its just a bit full or whatever. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/10/2008, 08:02 PM	#3
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	Hmmm..Just a thought, What about a check valve. When the pump is running the water is flowing.....but if the pump stops & the water starts to go backwards the check valve stops it. Not sure if they make check valves for 3/4". I have a McMaster Carr catalog....if its made, they will have it I will look & let you know __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

04/10/2008, 08:07 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	They do make 3/4 inch check valves, however check valve will fail. Its not a matter of if, but of when. Just design your system so that when the main pump is off that there is enough room in your sump/fuge to handle the extra water. Siphon holes help, but they can get clogged with algae. Just make sure that your return line is high enough in the tank that it stops pulling in water before the sump/fuge over flows. That really is the only sure fire way to assure that you won't have a flood. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/10/2008, 08:11 PM	#6
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	check valve would be useless on a syphonn return since the water does not change direction in a power outage. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/10/2008, 08:16 PM	#7
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Toddrtrex [B]They do make 3/4 inch check valves, however check valve will fail. Its not a matter of if, but of when. Ah Ha...Didn't think of that.........as you & demomsp both said. Dam algae......ya.....as soon as it builds up, there goes the use of a check valve. PLEASE. explain what you said.....Iam getting ready to set up a 90..or..120 gal tank. I would like to jot this down in my notes for my set up. __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

04/10/2008, 07:59 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Drilling a hole in the return pipe an inch or so below the surface will stop the siphon.

04/10/2008, 08:04 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	I think these would not work so well after time whene algea and other debris collect in the tube.

04/10/2008, 08:16 PM	#8
dunham16 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: connecticut Posts: 259	They do make motorized ball valves with on/off switches that could be wired that way but i only know of brass ones not sure if they are made in PVC.

04/10/2008, 08:17 PM	#9
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	actually water does change direction during a power outage, the return pump pushes water to the main tank from the sump when power is on, when power is off the return line from the ruturn pump creates a syphon and will rairn water through your return line back to the sump till the end of your return line in the main tank gets air. 3 things to cure it. 1 drill 2 - 1/8" holes a about 1" below the water line in your return nozzle (this will drain the tank only 1") 2. check valve 3. lower the water level in your sump to accomadate the extra water. number 1, and 2 will require you to keep checking and cleaning to make sure they don't get clogged.